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The Cabot Chronicle

March 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 March 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

Is It Time for That Ice to Go?

A highly technical and sophisticated piece of engineering made up of cinder blocks, pallet, ski rope and fishing line.

Well into a long, cold, snowy winter we are looking forward to having the ice on Joe's Pond leave! This will be the 38th year of the Joe's Pond Ice Out Contest, and tickets are still $1 apiece. At the moment, there are multiple shanties and it's snowing, but it is finally staying above 0 . Our latest report is 27 inches of mostly white ice, not the hard, clear kind. The ice thinkers here at Joe's Pond think that whiter kind might melt more quickly. The past three years the ice has officially "gone out" in mid-April. Past ice out times and dates are all on the Joe's Pond Association web site, joespondvermont.com, as well as a complete history with pictures and the opportunity to buy tickets online. Last year's winner was John Vincent of Wadsworth, OH, who took home $7,790! John's brother has a long distance truck driver and stops often at Hasting's for snacks and lunch. For fun, he buys ice out tickets, which he gifts to family members. Ice out tickets are available at multiple local places: Cabot Village Store, Walden Corner Stop Inn, Marshfield General Store, Bentley's bakery, Hasting's Store and Marty's, as well as Aubuchon, Center Tower, and the Elk's Club in St. Johnsbury. Barre and Montpelier both have several locations. It's also easy to just purchase and enter tickets online - joespondvermont.com - go to the ice out pages.

Wishing sugarmakers well. Rollin Tebbetts photo.

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Offices to be Elected at Town Meeting 2026

It takes many hands to accomplish the business of running a town. Significant dedication and problem solving is required. According to the 2025 Annual Town Report, the following positions will be voted on in person at the next Town Meeting and in the ballot box in March. Consider how you may be able to serve fellow community members:

AUSTRALIAN BALLOT VOTE:

Town Clerk 3-year term Selectboard Member 2-year term School Director 3-year term School Director 2-year term ELECTED FROM THE FLOOR:

Town Meeting Moderator 1-year term 2 Listers 3-year terms Delinquent Tax Collector 1-year term Grand Juror 1-year-term Cemetery Commissioner 3-year term Library Trustee 3-year terms, 2 positions CCIF Committee 3-year term Willey Building Committee 2 3-year terms, 1 1-year term Contact the Town Clerk for information on where to find details about position responsibilities,.

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LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Finally, a little bit of sun and above freezing temps! I think the political climate is similar in Montpelier. I’ve been pushing hard for adjustments to be made to Act 181 of 2024 (an act relating to community resilience and biodiversity protection through land use) and the consensus in the Statehouse is growing. The changes that Act 181 will make to development in our region (if left unchecked) will be drastic. Large swaths of Cabot and every town in Vermont will fall under Act 250, so that single family dwellings and accessory buildings like sheds and barns would require an Act 250 permit. In a recent exclusive meeting with the executive director and the chair of the Land Use Review Board, I was reassured with some good news. At this time I am not able to share as they asked me to wait until it is public information given at their next board meeting. What I can share is that much of Act 181 will be delayed by a year. To illustrate the consensus, the Rural Caucus and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns are both pushing for delays and VLCT is pushing to repeal the Road Rule which would trigger Act 250 on land that is over 800 feet away from a public road. Myself, ditch or having a more serious accident. I cannot imagine the emotional scars we will impose on whole busloads of small children after sliding off the road or getting mired in mud. I still have a vivid memory from 20 years ago of driving home on an icy, wind swept hill; of my extended cab pickup truck sliding off in slow motion, turning on its side in the ditch and stopping just before it hit a big old maple tree on the side of the road; of my two young children hanging from their car seats and me wondering how the heck I was going to get them out and back home 2.5 miles away. We live in a beautiful, sparsely populated, rural and mountainous state. It is what draws people to live here and raise a family, visit, and start small businesses: the natural beauty, the peace and quiet, the lack of the hustle and bustle, crowds and stress. And the quality of education that small schools provide.

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

Letter to Governor Scott

Dear Governor Scott, Secretary Saunders, and Vermont State Legislators:

I am a retired educator, with 40 years’ experience in teaching and leadership roles. I don’t understand how you can continue this absurd push for school consolidation: creating huge districts, closing small schools, mandating class sizes, imposing spending caps: all for the purpose of saving property taxes. Show me the studies indicating improved academic performance when you:

 Deprive young children of adequate sleep (because they must get up earlier to get to school)  Subject children to the stress of long bus rides in the cold and dark, snow, rain and mud  Subject children to the ever-present risk of getting stuck, landing in a many other legislators, and various political groups are pushing for Tier 3 areas to be minimized. This has become a nonpartisan issue. The Senate now has bill S.325 that will help make these changes. My hope is that by the end of the 2027 session that most of the kinks will be worked out. It’s more than a little frustrating that legislation that was passed so recently is needing this kind of overhaul. Act 73 (an act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems) continues to be a bit of a quagmire. In recent talks with legislators on the House Education Committee, there seems to be little consensus on where to go next. Choice towns have more recently voiced their opposition to a redistricting map proposed by Chair Peter Conlon. With 80 towns or so having some form of school choice, their support will be necessary going forward. In my short tenure in Montpelier, I have come quite easily to see that redistricting is a mistake. If you would like to know more about my stances on education, feel free to email me at [email protected]. On the Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Resiliency Committee, we are working on updating statute regarding the role of municipal bylaws and agriculture, heavy metals in baby food and formula, the pesticide paraquat, and farm employee pay rates and housing. My main goals on the committee and in the legislature generally are to reduce taxes, boost our economy, bolster public safety and health, provide our kids with excellent education, and preserve our core values as Vermonters.

Please show me any studies with improved social, emotional, physical and mental wellbeing from:

 Lack of sleep  Excess stress  Longer time away from caregivers  Going to school far from home  Less individual attention to student needs  Less community interaction and socialization Vermont schools have a nationwide reputation for Inclusion and meeting the needs of children with a wide range of disabilities. Small rural schools in Vermont have historically demonstrated excellent academic outcomes, by addressing individual strengths and needs. In small schools everyone knows everyone else. Principals, teachers, support staff, maintenance and custodial staff, bus drivers, food service staff, all know each child by name and truly care about every child. Things have only gone downhill, when budget drives staffing decisions and standardized computerized testing (as low as kindergarten), analyzed by bureaucrats, judges learning, instead of highly trained teachers with intimate knowledge of each individual student. Please stop this effort to destroy our small rural schools and communities. When you close small rural schools that are the heart of the community, you not On January 21, through all fault of my own, I fell in my bedroom and broke my right humerus (trust me, it’s not that funny). Somehow, I managed to get to the phone. When I dialed 9-1-1, I got absolutely no response. I tried again – same. Then I tried on my cell phone and again

– NOTHING. No dial tone, no busy signal, no static – nothing – just dead air. Knowing where the Cabot Ambulance lives, I called Ruth Goodrich at the sugarhouse. I told her my dilemma. Ruth immediately said, “Hold on.” I could hear her calling Jean, her daughter, and then she said, “Give us a few minutes.” They were at the door in less than 15 minutes, with slings and cloths in hand.

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 2 onward.

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Tire Piles in Lower Cabot

I would like to appeal to Cabot voters to vote yes on Warned Article 12 on the Town Meeting ballot. This article requests up to $10,000 from CCIF funds to enable Cabot Conservation Committee to remove 1000-1200 tires from the former Spencer property in Lower Cabot. The project would gather up these tires from where they were dumped in and near a tributary of the Winooski River off Route 215, and send them to an approved facility out-of-state for safe and effective recycling. By properly disposing of these tires, we accomplish two things: 1) cleaning up an illegal dump in the wetlands of the Winooski River and 2) removing a breeding ground for mosquitoes which have plagued the area for years with numbers far in excess of normal levels. The expanded mosquito population constitutes a public health threat not just to the nearby residents but to the community as a whole. According to the CCIF Plan, one of the goals of the fund is to protect and enhance the quality of life and the character of the Town of Cabot by preserving and protecting the environment and abating pollution. We feel this project meets these goals-so please vote yes on Article 12. Thank you, Gary Katz Resident of Lower Cabot One of the goals of the Cabot Community Investment Fund is to, “Protect and enhance the quality of life and the character of the Town” by “Preserving and protecting the environment and abating pollution”, among other means. The general fund portion of the CCIF has grown by over 40% during the past three years, (to $773,496 as of 12/31/2025), and last November, Cabot voters approved using $250,000 of it to support flood mitigation efforts in Cabot Village. Once again, a portion of CCIF funds are available each year for “Town Meeting Grants” to community organizations in Cabot. Over the years these grants have supported a wide range of community investments: from improvements to town and school buildings, to new equipment for the Fire Department and Cabot Ambulance, and to support organizations like Neighbors in Action and the “Cabot Connects” mentoring program. After reviewing the CCIF goals and the Fund’s financial status, the CCIF Committee unanimously approved putting the request from the Conservation Committee to fund the tires’ removal and disposal on the Town Meeting Day warning for voters to consider. At its special January 22 meeting, Cabot’s Select Board also unanimously supported adding the request to the warning. The article states, “Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to the Cabot Conservation Committee a sum of up to $10,000 for the removal and proper disposal of an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 used tires that have been dumped into and along a stream and wetland in Lower Cabot from CCIF funds available for Town Meeting grants in 2026?” Please remember to vote (on this and other Town and School questions) on or before Town Meeting Day, Tuesday March 3. Chris Tormey Chair, CCIF Committee

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From page 3

We buried the former Chief of the West Newbury Fire Department on Sunday, February 1. Dennis Ross was a close friend and important member of the Marshfield community; my husband Will and I built his casket, and Ben Ackermann dug his grave. Dennis had served on the West Newbury Fire Department for 18 years, the last five as Chief. An aggressive brain tumor correlated with the carcinogens that rise from burning houses -something called a glioblastoma- killed him within five weeks of diagnosis. Glioblastomas also claimed the lives of two firefighters in East Montpelier last year; Alex Boguzewski died in May and Sandi Conti died in August. Larry Clark, who was Chief in Bellows Falls, died of cancer in October. Sandy Ladd, former Chief in Colchester died of cancer that same month as did Albie Lewis, former Chief in Berlin, and Peter John, former Barre City Chief. I was recently at a training with Stowe’s Assistant Chief – Scott Reeves- who told a room full of firefighters just beginning their careers that he is “sick of going to cancer -related firefighter funerals”. It is important to note that, with the exception of Alex, who was just 33 years old, all the men mentioned above were in their sixties and early seventies when they died, and all became firefighters before there was general understanding of the toxic carcinogens that are released when a home full of modern materials burns. We know now-in ways that we did not in the 80s, 90s and early 2000sthat the black oily smoke that we see over a structure fire, or that which leaches out of an extinguished burn site (we should remember ‘The Pile’ in New York which smoked for weeks after 9/11) is strongly correlated with what the State of Vermont now calls ‘job related cancers’. We know now, as reported by the Legislature in 2024, that “firefighters have a 9% greater risk of cancer and a mortality rate that is 14% higher than the general population due to occupational exposure to carcinogens.” The leading cause of death for firefighters is not burning or crushing accidents, it is cancer. We know now what communities in the 80s and 90s and early 2000s did not: that firefighters must have access to decontamination equipment and practices for both their persons and tools, and that consistent and rigorous use of decontamination equipment can mitigate the risks of cancer. It’s important to note that the question of whether communities should make investments to protect firefighters from cancer, or help them if they become ill, is it is no longer just a moral one (when we ask unpaid volunteers to risk their lives for us, do we have a responsibility to care for them if they get sick or hurt?) - it’s a matter of State Statute with direct impact on local finances. Act 26 passed the Legislature in July of 2023. In a nutshell, it says that any Vermont firefighter who has served for five years or more, whether volunteer or professional, is entitled to Workers Compensation through their communities if they are diagnosed with cancer up to ten years after retirement. Most of us have had a relative or friend who has battled cancer, most of us know how expensive that treatment is. The Town of Cabot is subject to Act 26. I have heard some community members suggest that the pricetag for decontamination facilities and practices in the new Public Safety Building design is too high for a Town the size of Cabot, and that such things were not necessary in the past. I would offer a clear-eyed and brutal truth: the older generation of firefighters did not know that their service might give them cancer, and an unacceptably high percentage are now dying of horrifying and likely service-related cancers. If we do not want to shoulder the enormous cost of caring for firefighters with cancer- there is only one way to mitigate that: provide robust equipment, decontamination spaces, and decontamination practices for our current firefighters. Providing decontamination infrastructure now in the new Public Safety Building will save us money in the future. When we know better, we do better….and we need to do better by the younger generation; the law requires it and cost management demands it. As for the question of morality and care how we care for those who care for us - I would respectfully suggest that this too should remain a centering question as we make decisions about whether and how to minimize cancer risks for our firefighters. Karen Larsen

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Tire Dump Cleanup

On Town Meeting Day, Cabot voters will be asked to approve the use of up to $10,000 of CCIF funds to remove and properly dispose of between 1,000- 1,500 used tires that have been dumped on private property along a stream and wetland in Lower Cabot. As voters consider whether to approve this request, here is some background information.

Origin: The tires were accumulated over the years by the property’s previous owner, who used a large portion of them for animal fencing. There was illegal dumping of tires by previous tenants of the property and the Department of Environmental Conservation initiated an enforcement action for cleanup. However, after the death of the property owner (Spencer) the enforcement action was not pursued.

Concern: Filling over time with snowmelt and rainwater, the tires have become an extensive breeding ground for mosquitoes. According to recent research from California, the tires may also release chemicals toxic to fish as they gradually decompose.

Remedy: Cabot’s Conservation Committee has researched the costs of removing these tires. They estimate that it will cost approximately $3,000 for the equipment and labor to remove and haul away the tires over a two-day period, and approximately $6,000 for their proper disposal. Their hope is to do the work in April before plant regrowth makes it harder to remove the tires.

Funding: During the past year, the Conservation Committee reached out to several state agencies for grant funding for removal of the tires (VTrans, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Agency of Natural Resources). After finding out in mid- January this year that their last requests for state funding were unsuccessful, members of the Conservation Committee asked if it would be possible to use CCIF funds to move ahead with the cleanup this year.

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Vermonters Encouraged to Support Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery with Nongame Tax Checkoff

Vermont’s Nongame Wildlife Fund is essential to the conservation and restoration of some of Vermont’s most at-risk wildlife, from bumblebees to butterflies, and mussels to mammals. The Nongame Fund checkoff option on the Vermont state income tax form makes donating to the fund easy and impactful. “Responding to biodiversity loss is as important as ever right now, and we’re fortunate that here in Vermont we have strong state laws designed to protect species, and we work hard to safeguard the wildlife and plants we all care about,” says Rosalind Renfrew, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Diversity Program Manager. “Every dollar donated to Nongame Wildlife Fund makes this possible, and Vermonters’ donations through the Nongame Tax Checkoff are doubled or tripled when they leverage matching federal grants, securing even more resources to benefit Vermont’s wildlife.” Vermont’s Nongame Tax Checkoff helped to recover species that were once on the brink of extinction in Vermont, like the common loon, osprey and peregrine falcon. are taking action for species of turtles, snakes, bats, plants, and other birds that now all need our close attention.”

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Time for Fishing Shanties to Go

Vermont state law requires that ice fishing shanties be removed from the ice before the ice weakens, according the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The shanty must be removed before the ice becomes unsafe or loses its ability to support the shanty out of the water, or before the last Sunday in March -- the 31st this year -- whichever comes first. All contents, debris, wood, and supports must also be removed so they do not become a hazard to navigation in the spring. The fine for leaving your ice fishing shanty on the ice can be $1,000, and shanties may not be left at state fishing access areas. State Game Wardens are available for questions via the Vermont State Police radio dispatcher.

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OBITUARIES

Irving F. Robbins Irving Francis Robbins of Cabot, Vermont, age 85, died in his home with his family by his side on February 11, 2026. Irv lived an active and fulfilling life, and he often spoke of how truly fortunate he was. He took great pleasure in family, friends, teaching and coaching, travel, the forest, and UConn basketball. Born in May of 1940 in Torrington, CT, to John and Dorothy Robbins, Irv grew up beside the Weigold dairy farm near Winchester. The youngest of four children, Irv’s early education began in a one-room schoolhouse. A childhood spent fishing and hunting sparked his lifelong interest in the forest and selfsufficiency. Baseball games and jaunts through the woods with his siblings were balanced with work at home and on the farm. As a young man, Irv worked at the Great Mountain Forest in Norfolk, where his interest in the forest grew. A member of the Army National Guard and a graduate of Western Connecticut State University and the University of Hartford, Irv’s teaching career spanned several decades. He was a stalwart figure at Sharon Center School, where he taught for twenty-nine years and coached multiple sports. An advocate for youth athletics, he helped organize the first Region One track meet for elementary students, an event he championed for many years. Above all, he enjoyed the students and staff of SCS. While on sabbatical in the early 1990s, Irv taught English at a language university in Wrocław, Poland for a year, an adventure he relished. Irv married Cindy in 1965. After several years in Oregon and Vermont, the couple returned to Connecticut and chose Cornwall to raise their children. A kind and patient father, Irv was supportive of Leslie’s and Luke’s education and interests. His luge run provided hours of fun every winter, and his maple syrup was a household favorite. Irv’s many extra jobs, from lawn care to security at Lime Rock Park, ensured his family’s educational opportunities.

DavidA . K a y

David Kay passed on to Eternal Rest October 29, 2024, at Salem Hospital. Born August 2, 1940, in Roslindale MA, the son of Mary (Dowd) and Arthur Kay. David attended the Robert Gould Shaw grammar school. In 1954 the family moved to West Falmouth Mass where he attended Lawrence High School graduating in the class of 1958. David went on to study at Boston University, returning to the Cape to work in the sales department David Kay After retiring from teaching, Irv built two homes in Cabot: one atop a hill, off the grid, on a Class IV road, and the other, easily accessible, at the bottom of that hill. He and Cindy enjoyed Vermont living, with Irv working the land with his tractor and backhoe. He developed vegetable and flower gardens, meadows, and forest paths. He planted firs for Christmas trees, harvested wood, and maintained and plowed the long road to his home. Irv was an involved grandfather, lucky to live near both of his children and their families in retirement. A good neighbor, Irv liked to visit and was always ready to lend a hand. He was open to meeting new people and took interest in their experiences. Ever the advocate for independence and self-reliance, Irv tutored newcomers to the United States in English and encouraged people of all ages to pursue their education. He will be missed dearly by those who knew and loved him. Irving was predeceased by his wife, Cynthia Robbins; his sister, Shirley Pedone; and his granddaughter, Madeline Robbins. He is survived by his daughter, Leslie Robbins (Nick); his son, Luke Robbins (Taeryn); his grandchildren, Crawford, Hudson, Silas, and Alaina; his brother, William Robbins; his sister, Patricia Bodmer; as well as many nephews and nieces. A Celebration of Irv’s life will be held later this year. To receive updates about the service, please email: [email protected]. Contributions in Irving’s memory may be made to the Irving and Cindy Robbins International Studies Fund, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, which Irv established to support immersive international travel experiences in cultures outside of North America for students, teachers, and alumni of Region One school district in Connecticut. Contributions to the fund may be made by visiting www.berkshiretaconic.org/donate, or by mailing a check made out to Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, with the fund name on the memo line, to 800 North Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257. Memories and condolences may be shared with family at CaledoniaLifeServices.com. Photo by Sarah Kenyon, courtesy of BTCF.

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

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From page 5

I, Walter “Skip” Bothfeld, Jr., am running for my third 2-year term as a Cabot Select Board member. Please consider my nomination. I have lived in Cabot my whole life and appreciate everyone who volunteers to make this community a great one. I am a partner in a multigenerational farming operation, formerly dairy and transitioned recently to beef cattle and turkeys. I served as the Cabot Fire Chief for over 30 years, and got a taste of local government in that role. The responsibility as a Fire Chief–getting up at all hours to help others– is much different than serving on the Select Board! As a Select Board member I realize the weight in helping plan the future for the wide ranging residents who call Cabot home. When an issue arises I look at it from the perspective of Select Board member, community member, taxpayer, fire fighter, business owner, and try to be fair to all views. In the past 4 years I have learned a lot more about how town government works. The process of organizing a budget, reviewing and scrutinizing costs is essential to our responsibilities. Listening to people's concerns, views and making tough decisions to problem-solve as able. Making sure every department of the town has the funds to work properly, as well as cost-effectively. One major project that the Select Board will be organizing in 2026 is a new Public Safety Building, following the floods of 2023. The board and the department have been getting grants to build this station and further work is necessary. As a person with unique knowledge of the fire service, and standards and fire coalitions, this is an exciting task to undertake. I approach this not only as a Select Board member, but a fire fighter, and as a taxpayer. Along with the needs of the Cabot Volunteer Fire Department, the needs following the 2023 flooding across the community–bridges, roads, flood resilience mapping, multifaceted funding streams are all on the to-do list of the Select Board. My first term began just before the major flooding event, so getting up to speed on how to best help this community respond, rebuild and thrive has been very rewarding. I look forward to those continued efforts. Please consider voting for me, Walter Bothfeld Jr, so we can continue to help the town move forward in positive and meaningful ways. Respectfully yours, Walter Bothfeld Jr.

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Pruning: Do My Trees Need It?

If you have trees or bushes in your yard, you may have wondered if you are supposed to be pruning them. The answer is: it depends. Not all woody plants need pruning. For those that do, there are multiple reasons why you prune them: safety, plant health, food and flower production, and plant shape.

Safety

Dead or damaged limbs on a tree or bush can be a safety hazard. They can fall, damaging power lines or property, or people unlucky enough to be in the path.

Plant Health

Dead or damaged limbs are also a danger to the plant itself. Weak limbs, cracking under wind or ice, can rip off live limbs below as they fall, or peel bark and vital living tissue from the trunk. Some diseases of woody plants, especially fungal problems, can be controlled by removing the infected branches, preventing the disease from spreading to the rest of the plant.

Flower and Food Production

Some flowering bushes (such as lilac and forsythia) will flower more prolifically when pruned on a regular basis. Pruning reduces crowding and lets in more light, stimulating better flower bud production. Fruit trees and berry bushes also produce better when more light reaches each branch. An apple tree with a very dense, thicket-like crown will produce a few apples on the outside of the crown, whereas the same variety of apple tree with a sparse, open crown will produce very heavily.

Shaping Some bushes, such as boxwood, eastern white-cedar, and yew, respond well to shearing, allowing those with the time and energy for such pursuits to create manicured hedges, round or square or pyramidal bushes, or even topiary animals. Note that size control is not listed among the pruning purposes. With a few exceptions (the “shape-able” shrubs just mentioned), you should not expect to limit the size of a woody plant by pruning. You cannot make an oak tree shorter by removing branches. Attempts to limit the size of trees and shrubs by pruning often result in a disfigured or dead plant. Plan for the mature size of trees and shrubs before planting. If a previous landowner put in a woody plant that is too large for its location, either remove it or find a creative way to live with it.

So, do all trees and shrubs need pruning? No, only prune if there is a good reason. Pruning is similar to surgery; there are inherent risks, no matter how careful you are. If a tree or shrub in your yard is healthy, undamaged and is not being managed for food or flower production, then you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the company of your leafy friend. Enjoy the last weeks of our winter wonderland, and soak up extra sunshine! 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, or visit www.Socks Family Farm.weebly.com.

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Flood Recovery Loan Renewals

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

Under Vermont State statute, the Selectboard can borrow money without voter approval for only up to a period of one year. Any loans or bonds that are for a duration longer than a year must be approved by the voters of the town. At the February 3 and 17 board meetings, the Town Treasurer presented several loan documents, related to the flood recovery expenses, to the Selectboard for their approval and signature. Amy Monahan explained that there were three loans, and she had been able to pay down some of the principal on the loans that were maturing on the 3rd. She announced that they would be renewing one for $300,000, which had been $399,000. Amy added that the third loan that was maturing in two weeks was for $600,000 and she would be able to pay it down so the town only needed to finance $500,000. She also told the board that they were receiving the paperwork for the money the town would be getting for the old fire station demolition. Amy added that she was still waiting for the process to complete for the temporary fire station. She reminded the board that the town received a $999,000 insurance payment for the old fire station which was used to help pay for the temporary fire station. Amy said the total cost of the temporary fire station was $1,400,000 and the paperwork submitted to FEMA was for the cost minus the insurance payment. She stated that FEMA provides 90% of that amount, and if the money is received before the next loan comes due in August, then the town will only have $800,000 in outstanding flood recovery loans. Mike Hogan said that after everything nets out in 2027, the town will have a line item in the budget for the percentage of the expenses that is the responsibility of the town. Amy added that she got an email that day about the 2024 flood recovery expenditures, and all of the projects except for Lovely Road have been paid out. She stated that FEMA has obligated $1,600,000 for the Lovely Road project, which is more than it will cost. Amy mentioned that once all those projects are paid out, the town can put in for category Z. Mike explained that category Z pays for all the hours that he and Dean put into the flood recovery. Amy told Mike that she needs more information to do that, and noted that the email said the amount would be $90,000 for the 2024 flood based upon 5% of the total cost. She added that if they wanted to put in for the actual cost based upon hours, they needed to do that by the following Friday. At the February 17 meeting, Amy notified the board that the third loan was renewing for $500,000, after being paid down from $600,000. Doug Cooke, attending as a member of the public, asked about the duration and rate of the loan. Amy said it was for one year at 4.9%. Mike added that FEMA would pay for the interest. Doug asked if they would pay, or if they promised to pay. Mike stated it was the same thing to him. Doug disagreed.

Hill Rd site also has limited accessibility. Mike Cookson expressed that it made sense just to switch sides. He presented a map to the board with a proposal of where the garage could be located on the Whittier Hill side of the Willey Building. He added that he didn’t want to impact the amount of parking available to the other businesses at the Willey Building, but he also didn’t want to take the garage out of the village center. Gary proposed to the board that they could have the contractor perform further studies on this location in place of the Elm Street site. Mike Hogan added that since it is town property, the voters would have to approve the sale of the town asset. Gary also told the board that he wasn’t sure if the buyout of the garage property would allow for parking since it would be federally funded. Fred Ducharme speculated on whether they really needed to put in a bridge. He said that the problem was really the debris. He felt the culverts could handle the water during the flood, but it was the debris that caused the water to flood into the village when it blocked the culverts. Gary disagreed, and said the modelling showed that if there wasn’t any debris it would still happen. He added that debris racks were still a good idea, but the landowner isn’t allowing further exploration of that approach. Mike Hogan said that the project is just at the evaluation stage, and Gary said this was just to be prepared in case they do get funding for the overall project. Gary said the study of the two sites would come up with a fairly detailed site plan and cost estimates of relocating the garage. Fred expressed concerns about the amount of parking should the garage be located on the other side of the Willey Building. He added that they need to figure out if they are going to turn the town land behind the play structure into parking. The board approved contracting Dubois and King to perform detailed studies on the Whittier Hill and the WIlley Building sites for potential Cabot Garage relocation.

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Australian Ballot Information Meeting

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The Selectboard held the required Town Meeting informational meeting after their Selectboard meeting on February 17. The meeting covered the Australian ballot articles number 8 through 13. Mike Hogan started the meeting by telling those in attendance that the meeting was required by state statute, and reminded everyone that the articles can not be changed. Article 8 General Fund Mike read the article to those in attendance, which stated that the general expenses of the town were projected to be $968,161. Mike stated that the budget is the same as presented at the board’s budget meetings and amounted to a 2.2% increase. There were not questions from the public. Article 9 Highway Fund Mike read the article which stated the proposed highway expenses were $1,130,766. Fred Ducharme told those in attendance that the budget hasn’t gone up much, but everything has gone up a lot. Fred described how they were looking to refurbish a truck for half the cost of a new truck. He added that they are looking at leasing trucks with a warranty to save money. Fred also talked about paving, and said that the sinking fund cannot keep up. He mentioned that the town is talking to the state about taking over the summer maintenance of Route 215, and then the state would pay for the paving. Mike added that it costs about $300,000 to pave one mile. Article 10 New Radios Again Mike read the article which asks for authority to borrow $125,000 to buy new radios. Amy Monahan told those in attendance that she has been working with the Vermont Bond Bank to get a good rate for the proposed loan. She added that if they used a conventional bank loan, the rate would be much higher. Kerri Moll spoke about her disappointment on how the article is worded, pointing out that two of the radios are for the town’s emergency manager and the West Hill Pond Dam coordinator. She also talked about the condition of the current radios used by the Fire Department, and about how much better the new radios would be. Will Ameden read from a prepared statement about the radios, and spoke of the qualities of the new Motorola radios that would be purchased. He also mentioned how the new radios would help with dead spots they currently experience. Mike added that other towns are facing the same issues with their current radios. Dean Deasy talked about the radio protocol in the past, and how it was too expensive. He said he was changing the protocol to minimize the number of radios needed by the Fire Department. Dean described the two types of units, mobile and portable, stating that the mobile goes in the vehicle and the portable is carried on the person. He said there would be five mobile units, one for each apparatus, one for the chief’s vehicle, and one for the assistant chief's vehicle. Dean also said that there would be seven units that would only go to the officers. He also talked about mounting portable units on the trucks so they can be grabbed at the scene. It was asked and confirmed that the total of five mobile and nine portable units was the planned purchase. It was (see, ’Ballot Information’, page 7)

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Cabot Garage Relocation Search

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

Gary Gulka was present at the February 3 Selectboard meeting to request approval for which sites for the Cabot Garage location would receive further evaluation. Mike Hogan asked Gary to explain the importance of the project, for the record. Gary recalled the 2023 flood, and how the two culverts proved ineffective. He added that it happened again in the 2024 flood. Gary added that two businesses had to be rebuilt twice, and the engineers have come up with a design that could virtually eliminate future floods. He said that they still needed to do something about the debris. Gary told the board that the proposed project would cost $1,900,000 for construction, and expressed hope there would be funding for it in the future. Someone from the public asked if the town had gotten any money for the fire station relocation yet. Mike responded that it was in the works. Gary said that the town has funding for the Cabot Garage relocation project, but it will end soon. He stated that there were seven sites under consideration, and they are finalizing the two sites which will be evaluated further. He articulated that the primary site was Creamery property located on Whittier Hill Road, and the secondary site was town property on Elm Street. Gary then mentioned that Greg Moore had emailed a proposal to relocate the garage onto Willey Building property. He then yielded the floor to Greg Moore and Mike Cookson. Greg told the board the proposal was to basically swap sides. He added that parking would probably be opened up on the side where the garage is currently located, and stated that there are currently about 15 parking spots on the garage property. Greg told the board that he felt that all of the seven proposed relocation sites are unacceptable. He emphasized that it was important for his business to remain in the village center, and noted that all of the proposed sites are on dirt roads. He added that the Whittier

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School Facilities Update

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The Facilities Director, Tommy Brico, gave the School Board an update on current projects and problems at Cabot School during the January 26 board meeting. He let the board know that two weeks after the last meeting, the main boiler went “kaput”. Tommy said that the water jet on the combustion chamber had cracked and it was going to be a $32,000 repair. The main boiler is the back up to the wood chip plant and is located within the same building. Tommy told the board the cost of the fob installation on the satellite buildings and the boiler repair would put them over budget for facilities. He mentioned that he reached out to the contractor that was installing the fob system and told them to focus on the three elementary buildings. Tommy described how the school had a second backup system which involves tying the two boilers in the upstairs of the gym to the main line.

He expressed there wouldn’t be a choice without the funding. Mike stated that if the federal government gives the town the money, then it would build the new fire station. Doug Cooke asked if all the Selectboard members were in agreement that the project should go forward, and Mike responded without a clear answer.

He added that the boiler contractor is going to postpone the boiler repair until June so the school will get billed in FY27. Tommy emphasized that they are working to mitigate going over budget for this fiscal year, FY26. Matt Foster, the superintendent, reminded the board of how much money was spent in the past when the wood chip was down and they had to rely on the boiler to heat the school. Jason Monaco asked if a comparison of fix versus replacement was done on the boiler. Matt said it had not, but noted that the backup is a luxury, and Cabot has two backups. Tommy then talked about all the work that was done last summer digging up the underground pipes to fix the leaks. Chris Tormey noted that the guys who did the excavation couldn’t believe the amount of corrosion on the joints. He added that the pipes were installed in 2008. Matt told the board that they need to have inspections in the future to make sure work is done correctly.

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Principal Search

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The School Board discussed the process of hiring a principal for next year at the January 26 meeting. Currently, Cabot School has a part time interim principal filling in after the previous principal, Jennifer Blake, resigned in her position back in September of 2025. Matt Foster shared that the position is currently posted on SchoolSpring, a job posting website specifically for education. He added that there isn’t a search committee yet, but one person has reached out to express interest. He posed to the board that some questions need to be answered, like what type of person are they looking for? He postulated that there is a limited number of qualified people in the job market for this position, and an even more limited number of people that would fit in at Cabot School. He suggested surveying the students and staff to try to figure out what kind of person would be the best fit. Mike Moriarty, assistant superintendent, mentioned that someone had reached out to him as well. Chris Tormey agreed they should put out a survey. Ellen Cairns suggested that when they have the top five qualities needed for the position, they should send it out to the applicants to rate themselves. Matt responded to Ellen’s suggestion, noting that they want to have the widest net possible, and once there are candidates, then it can be determined if they meet the criteria. Chris expressed that it would be valuable to get the criteria from the staff and the board. He also suggested fine tuning the language in the job posting. Matt again pointed out that there are so few people applying for these positions that he doubted rewording the posting will make a difference. Chris suggested having the staff review the job posting and respond if there are any concerns. He noted that getting and keeping a good principal is very challenging, and staff input would help keep it on target. Alicia Heber agreed with Matt, saying that if the funnel is too narrow at the top, they will have too few candidates. She worried about making Cabot look like too challenging of a place for a principal. Ellen agreed that they should keep the funnel at the top wide. Alicia spoke to how Act 173 is creating uncertainty, and they need to find someone who can adjust to whatever the state mandates for graduation requirements. Jason Monaco recalled the lack luster academic reports and suggested that maybe the lower grades should cease project based learning (PBL) and make sure kids can read and write. Chris asked everyone if the survey should be for the school community (i.e. parents) or the larger community (i.e. residents of Cabot). Ellen said the larger community isn’t necessary. The rest of the board agreed. Matt set a timeline to create the committee in early February, and have the application deadline set for the end of March. Steve Ownes, interim principal, noted that they need to move fast to find a candidate.

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Town Meeting: Cabot Candidate Compendium

by Jeanne Johnson Town Clerk Three-Year Term - Brittany Butler (unopposed): My name is Brittany Butler and I am running for town clerk. I hope to bring continued transparency and efficient public service for the town of Cabot. I hope to be a friendly, knowledgeable face to answer any questions residents or visitors have and keep meticulous records for the town of Cabot. I appreciate your vote and look forward to serving as Town Clerk.

Selectboard Three-Year Term– Fred Ducharme (unopposed):

I am running for re-election to a threeyear seat on the selectboard because I see much important work still to be done: Fire Department building Our firefighters deserve a facility that supports their work and contributes to their safety and effectiveness. I am committed to guiding the town through the process of developing an appropriatelysized fire department building that taxpayers can afford and that meets modern fire facility standards. I will do everything in my power to ensure this is done with transparency and respect for the views of all citizens. More parking downtown and at the Recreation Field Pavilion We are fortunate to have vibrant businesses in our village, and they need adequate parking to be viable. Every effort must be made to develop adequate parking in support of those businesses, village residents and town government. Emergency Shelter at the school Mother Nature has made it clear we are not immune from disasters. We need a location to shelter residents where we have emergency power, heat, lights, water. With a relatively small investment, those things are available at the school, a building we already own. There is a commercial kitchen, walk-in freezer, dining space and sleeping space, and an option for showers. This is not a school problem; it’s a town problem. It’s a public safety problem. And we can solve it. We’ve kicked it down the road for years. It’s time we had this backup plan in place. I am asking for your vote to continue this work.

Selectboard Two-Year Term - Michael Walbridge (Challenger): My name is Michael Walbridge and I would like to ask for your support in the upcoming select board election. I am a longtime resident of Cabot. I have worked farms, fields, trees and restaurant kitchens in many locations in Vermont, and Virginia, as well. My goal is to find sensible, fiscally responsible solutions for our current local issues. I would like to offer the experience I have gained in daily leadership positions to achieve that end. I am a working man with a listening ear, and am affected by these decisions, as well. I encourage you to feel free to speak with me any time about your ideas and feelings pertaining to these local decisions. I believe community participation makes us stronger. And so I encourage folks to come see a meeting, you can Zoom it if you wish. This is how you will know if members are thinking on your behalf, or if any don't have a clue, or are just there to be there. I thank you for your time, consideration and vote of confidence.

Selectboard Two-Year Term – Walter Bothfeld, Jr. (Skip) (Incumbent): Thank you for considering me, Walter "Skip" Bothfeld Jr, for the 2-year term on the Cabot Select Board. I have served in this capacity for two terms, learning quite a lot about how to listen to residents' views, government procedure and precedent, and working as part of a leadership team to problem-solve the issues facing Cabot. As a life-long Cabot resident who has volunteered in multiple capacities, this role has been a rewarding way to help this town move forward. Looking to 2026, the Select Board must address the need for increased village parking for events and shops, continue the rebuilding efforts after the devastating floods in 2023, prepare for the next disaster in anticipating damage zones and potential financial impacts, expect current increase in cost of living to impact the local economy, and make Cabot a welcoming place to call home. There is no shortage of work required of this governance board. My goal is to be an open-minded Select Board member who residents feel comfortable sharing their views with and being able to work efficiently and transparently with the other members to do what is best for the short and long-term future of Cabot.

School Board Three-Year Term – Ellen Cairns (unopposed):

My name is Ellen Cairns and I am running for re-election to a three-year seat on the School Board. I'm running because I would like to be of service to the town and school and serving on the school board seems to me the best way I can do that. I have a background in education, having been an elementary school teacher, and I currently work at the Agency of Education. I've been asked if that presents a conflict of interest with serving on the board, but my work is in pre-service education, mostly working on educator standards. I don’t work on anything having to do with PK-12 schools, but I do think my job helps me understand what’s going on in the field. I also understand the importance of fiscal responsibility and strive to find that balance between making sure the school has what it needs to be successful while keeping our tax rate as low as possible. The job of the board is not to run the school, but to ensure the school is run well. We've had quite a lot of turnover in the administration over the last couple of years, so one goal is to find and retain the right candidate to lead our school with consistency. Another goal is to continue to provide transparency and have regular communication and collaboration with people in Cabot even if they don't have kids in the school. There are a lot of great things happening at Cabot School - and also room for improvement and the more the whole town is aware of what's going on and involved with the school, the more it benefits both the school and the connection of the broader community. I am grateful for the town's support of the school, and if you have any questions for me, please feel free to reach out: [email protected].

School Board Two-Year Term - Jason Monaco (unopposed): I have three kids in school right now and live in town, and I think stability is a key issue and one of my main goals. Being a dad, living here, I can be more informed by being on the board, and help make the school as good as it can be. Ballots are available for early voting at the Town Clerk’s office, and the office will be open on Town Meeting Day, Tuesday, March 3, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. In-person Town Meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. on March 3.

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Two Community Dances in March!

by Karen Mueller-Harder

The Cabot Community Contra Dance will host TWO dances in March, to (hopefully) welcome the approach of spring! Both will be held in the Willey Building auditorium, at 3084 Main Street in Cabot. Our regular second Friday dance on March 13 will feature the friendly calling of Adina Gordon, a popular caller from Burlington. Live music is provided by a great group of local musicians--you can just come and listen if you like! All ages and abilities are welcome, and we all dance with each other. We use genderless terminology and all dances are taught, and easy to learn. The dance is 7- 9:30 pm; 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.

And we will be holding another Family Dance from 3-4:30 pm on Sunday, March 15! This is for families who find evening dances too late for them, and anyone else who would enjoy some daytime frolicking with people of all ages. While all our events are family-friendly, this one will feature active dances especially well-suited to the youngest members of the community. Our teacher will be Erin Smith, who loves leading family dances, and we’ll have the same great live music we enjoy for the second Friday dances! Admission is on a sliding scale, $5-10 suggested, but nobody is turned away for lack of funds! We ask that you bring some clean, dry shoes to change into for dancing to keep snow and mud off the dance floor. Hope to see you at a dance!

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

March 2026 Days are lengthening, and temperatures have finally climbed above thirty degrees for the first time in months, hinting at the arrival of Spring. You may be planning projects for your forest or yard this year; consider also learning about invasive plants and insects. Over the past thirty years, global commerce has introduced many new species to our region through shipments from Asia. Insects often hitchhike in merchandise, while ornamental plants come intentionally. Both quickly become widespread problems once established. Invasive plants that have been introduced and spread significantly in our region include: Japanese Barberry, Border Privet, Buckthorn, Giant Hogweed, Goutweed, Bush Honeysuckle, Giant Knotweed, Japanese Knotweed, Purple Loosestrife, Multifloral Rose, Tree-of-Heaven, Wild Chervil, and Wild Parsnip. Invasive insects that have been introduced and spread to our region include: Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Jumping Worms, Pear Thrip, Sirex Wood wasp, Spongy Moth, and Spotted Lanternfly These are some of the invasive plants and insects that spread to our region. Every year, the list grows with the arrival of a new plant or insect species. It is important to become informed about both invasive plants and insects, as well as the native species present in local forests and yards. This knowledge helps promote a healthier landscape and ecosystem. Identifying invasive species that require removal and distinguishing them from native species that may need care to thrive—especially when challenged by invasives—is essential. Native pollinator species are typically well adapted to indigenous plants; enhancing the health of these native plants strengthens the ecosystem that supports them. Below is a list of sources for more in-depth information on invasive species in our region, if you are interested in further reading on invasives: Invasive Species Resources: Vermont Invasives: www.vtinvasives.org USDA, National Invasive Species Inform ationCenter : htps : / /www.invasivespeciesinfoinvasivespeciesi nfo.gov/what-are-invasive-species US Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/invasive-species

Stay rooted, Roland Payne Jr. Cabot Tree Warden

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Request Bid for Lawn Maintenance for 2026 Season

The Town of Cabot is looking for someone to mow, weed whack, and maintain the Town of Cabot Properties through the mowing season of 2026. The person will provide their own equipment maintained may be obtained at the Town Clerk’s Office. The person would report directly to the Cabot Select Board. Please submit your resume and references and bid to [email protected] or dropped off at the Town Clerk’s Office by Monday, March 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

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Quest: One Play to Rule Them All

by Karen Mueller-Harder

Mark your calendar now for the weekend of May 7-10 to see Cabot Community Theater's amazing performance of “Quest!” Featuring a number of your friends and neighbors onstage and backstage, this comic tale weaves together 9 smaller stories full of misadventure and unintended consequences. Here’s the full cast list of 50 actors, 22 of whom are Cabot folks:

Luciana Abare-Rossi - Mystery Woman Erin Barry - Dr. Muzon Tommy Brink - Crudilus Coraline Brooking Metcalf - Loreth Ellen Cairns - Mystelon Ariabella Clayton - villager Jessica Della Pepa-Clayton - Fortimar Tristan Dill - Hoarding Dragon Lily Dunbar - Villager Luna Dunbar - Haruspex Thomas Dunbar - Gorgondolous LaShelle Easton - Stranger Ranger Macks Frisby - Skater Grrl, Joy Elfi Goldenrose - Scribe Luzsa Hadik - Lemondil Enid Hammond - Riddling Dragon Fern Hammond - Arcumitta Alice Hannan - Grundy Amara Hansen - Natalie Izzy Hatch - Genie Ariella Helfand - Danwyn Silas Irwin - Skater Boi Althaea Irwin - Kyle Rue Jacobs - Wind Katy Kowalk - Ludwig Simone Kulsick - Veritas Cora McIntyre - Aurora Kate McIntyre - Villager Sean McIntyre - Xephus Karen Mueller-Harder - Bowendir Penelope Otto - Bird Ellie Otto - Bird Molly Paire - Rhiannon Gwenyth Pare - Dennisivon Ruthie Podolin - Scribe Tobin Purdy - villager Nora Rader - Predicting Witch Reagan Rich - Sharondo Mary Rogerson - Bowendir Lucille Sewake - Bird Henry Torres - Antony Moirah Usinowicz - Speaking Bird Darren Usinowicz - Herlemachus Lucas Vitale - Micah Spencer Vitale - Jamie Elizabeth Vitale - Cassia Orion Vitale - Cashier Clare Waterman - Crossing Guard Liam Waugh - Topper

Watch for ticket information in the April Chronicle and on Front Porch Forum!

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Hello, my name is Michael Walbridge.

I am a longtime resident of the Cabot area, having spent much of my youth here. And though I have also lived off and on in Virginia, this is my home, this is where I have property, and that is why I am here today. I am running for the two-year seat on the selectboard. In my 26 years of culinary work (mostly as head chef), and countless hours around the barn, the tree fields (both maple and Christmas), and many other outdoor jobs, I have come to know the value of teamwork and organization. To get through those tough 'on the spot' moments, both management and problem solving skills are required to achieve the best outcome for the majority involved. Not everyone gets to be happy every time. And I feel that has led to much of the inability, in many levels of government, to move resolutions forward. The problems remain and fester. I'd like to take my 'in the field' problem-solving experience to try and move important concerns into the direction of resolution. If that costs me some of that so-called 'free time,' then so be it. Here I am, ready to take a look at issues, learn the tools at hand, and find reasonable solutions. I thank you for your time.

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Bingo Night a Great Success!

Edwin Ciemicki, Margerat Currier, Ingram Ciemicki, Katherine Currier, Willem Ciemicki and Mark Christensen checking Katherine's numbers on the grand prize game

On a cold January evening, Cabot Mentoring held a community bingo event at the Cabot School cafeteria. This was a free event and there was a great turnout that included Cabot mentors and mentees, members of their families, local kids and their families and some folks from the community with no specific connection to the program or the school, which was fantastic! There were small prizes for winners of each game, with a grand prize of a $25 gift card to the Cabot Village Store, which was won by second-grader Katherine Currier, who diligently filled her entire card! Popcorn and cider was served. It seemed that a good time was had by all, and it was a great opportunity to promote the program. Thanks to volunteers Mary Ann Tormey and Theresa Lay-Sleeper and to Neighbors in Action for the use of their bingo game set. The Cabot Mentoring Program has Cabot youth waiting to be matched with a volunteer adult. The commitment is for a minimum of one year, meeting with the mentee for four-to-six hours a month. Please contact us if you would like to learn more about the program at: Phone: 802-595-1130, Mark Christensen, Cabot Mentoring Coordinator Email: [email protected] Website: cabotmentoring.org 19 Henley and Shawn Everhart concentrating on their bingo game Mentoring match Lynn Rockwell and Damon Savage taking a break from their bingo game

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 12 onward.

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Highlands View Chamber Ensemble United Church of Cabot April 10, 6:00 p.m.

Director Kathy Charlestream of Cabot Featuring Piano Soloist Lucas Vitale of Cabot Players from Cabot, Walden, Danville, St. Johnsbury, Kirby, Fairlee, New Hampshire and Canada.

Moose on the Loose! at the Tebbetts farm from Chris Campbell's game camera. Rollin S. Tebbetts photo contribution

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 13 onward.

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Administrative Order Clarifies the Movement of Ash Logs and Firewood to Minimize the Spread of EAB

Rules regarding movement of firewood and logs from Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infested areas have been simplified to allow for movement of wood under certain conditions. Since it was first detected in Vermont in 2018, the number of areas infested with EAB has increased steadily. As of October 2025, 90% of the state’s municipalities are within 10 miles of at least one known EAB detection and nearly 140 Vermont municipalities (~55%) have at least one known EAB detection. The Secretary of the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and the Commissioner of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation have jointly issued an administrative order modifying the recommendations regarding the movement of potentially infested ash logs and firewood in Vermont. The order aims to address forest health concerns by minimizing the risk of spreading EAB to un-infested areas while simplifying the rules to enable limited movement of potentially infested ash logs and firewood. Under the new order, the following requirements apply:  EAB flight season (June 1 – September 30): The movement of ash logs and firewood during flight season is now allowed if the transport occurs within and between adjacent EAB-infested towns. However, ash logs and firewood originating from infested towns should not be moved through uninfested towns during flight season.

Non-flight season (October 1 – May

31): The movement of ash logs and firewood is now allowed within and between adjacent infested towns. The transport of ash wood through un-infested towns is allowed if there are no stops within uninfested towns and the ash wood is received and stored at the same destination within the infested town. “This order takes advantage of seasonal differences in the insect’s behavior,” said Josh Halman, Forest Health Program Manager at FPR. “We want to facilitate movement of ash wood when risks are low while preventing new infestations.” For the full text of the joint executive order, visit Joint Order Regarding the Movement of Ash Wood Infested with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) (https://fpr.vermont.gov/document/joint-orderregarding-movement-ash-wood-infestedemerald-ash-borer-eab). Ash wood sourced from towns that are not infested should still be handled as outlined in Vermont’s Slow the Spread Recommendations (https://www.vtinvasives.org/sites/default/files/images/SLS/SlowSpreadWoodVT% 20FINAL.pdf). The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation offers Emerald Ash Borer and Ash Tree Management resources tailored to homeowners, private forest landowners, professional forest managers, and municipalities (https://fpr.vermont.gov/forest/foresthealth/emerald-ash-borer-and-ash-treemanagement).

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