A Bit of News

 This has been another pretty fall day - mostly bare trees, but the sun was shining and we had temperatures in the 50s for a little while, at least. It's chilly, but now we're expecting more rain showers with a possibility of some snowflakes involved. Ski resorts are gearing up to open around Thanksgiving weekend - which seems early, but if they can make snow and keep it on the ground, why not. 

We still need more rain, so I'm hoping our weather doesn't turn too cold and freeze the ground before we have a chance to replenish some of that moisture.

I heard from Marti Talbot this week that Carolyn Hamilton landed back in the hospital after they left Joe's Pond. She had yet another operation, but Marti said this time it will be very beneficial - she's doing fine and I'm sure she'd like to hear from friends here. Their Florida address is:  8151 Green Mountain Rd., Boynton Beach, FL 33473.

Jamie and Joanne Stewart stopped by yesterday - it was great to see them and catch up. I hardly saw them at all this summer - everyone was pretty busy, especially them with all the milfoil harvesting. They will be leaving for Florida soon. Lots of others have already gone, and the lake is pretty quiet.

I'm looking forward to perhaps getting a better leg support on Friday when I see the doctor - I should be able to begin some PT and get my knee limbered up! The knee hasn't given me any problems at all, but I'm really tired of not being able to do some of the things I'd like to. I'm getting really lazy with all the help I've been getting. I did manage to do some of the work getting my porch furniture covered for winter - and the weather cooperated so it was quite pleasant being out there. However, wrangling a walker while I'm trying to get things done is a chore. I am pretty steady without it, and sometimes turn around to find I've left it someplace not close by and I have to hobble to find it. A clear indication it's time to graduate to something less cumbersome and restrictive, I think. 

This week I completed a project in collaboration with Amanda (Legare). We worked with Cedric Alexander and Melvin Churchill who are on the Cabot Cemetery Commission, and got new signage put up at the Center of Town. That is a lovely historic site where Cabot's first cemetery is located, plus there are several acres of town-owned park space where  the first meeting house, pound, stocks and whipping post were -  and there is now on a well-maintained walking/biking trail that Cabot Trails Committee oversees leading there from the village. The old signs that had been there for many years were either stolen or damaged by being used for target practice, unfortunately. There has been conversation about replacing the signs, and Amanda and I volunteered to pay for them with funds from our book sales (Cabot, Vermont, Memories of the Century Past), but nothing was moving to get it done, so we did it ourselves. The signs came out very nice, and we are very happy to have them in place. I couldn't be there on Tuesday when Cedric and Melvin put them up, but Amanda took pictures. 

It's interesting that there are I believe 11 Revolutionary War veterans buried at the Center. Cabot was first settled by several soldiers who had possibly been part of the 110 men who worked on the Bailey-Hazen Military Road in 1776, and most of the town's first officials were military men. Because of their service to their country, they were considered more worthy of holding offices in town government than others, apparently.The little cemetery was last used I believe in 1846, but it is maintained along with Cabot's six other active cemeteries, and is an interesting place to visit. The road leading there is off of Danville Hill Road, about a mile east of Cabot Village, and is called "Old Center Road." It forms a four-cornered intersection with Danville Hill Road and Langone Road. Plenty of parking space there, and worth a visit.

Don't forget to set your clocks back 1 hour on Saturday night. We are certainly noticing shorter days, and changing the clocks always makes it a little more noticeable, I think. But it's what we do.   

Catching Up

 As our lovely autumn days begin to turn a bit chill and dreary - the transition from October to November is like that  - I want to share some of the beautiful photos friends have sent to me. While the foliage overall seemed pretty dull this year, there were some gorgeous spots in other sections of Vermont - and even here at Joe's Pond. A good example of that is this photo that  Alicia Hengston (Old Homestead Rd.) took this morning as the sun made its first tentative appearance. This is along the West Shore Road side of the pond - much more color there than I would have guessed. Further up that road where I live, most of the trees are bare.

My friend, Mary Whitcomb began taking pictures in September and sent me some samples of some of the shots she got. She didn't say where there were taken, but I am guessing around the Randolph area. Mary travels far and wide, sometimes hiking and taking pictures, and they are always lovely. 

I posted here about our friend and neighbor, Julie Ackermann, who passed away earlier this month. Her obituary is now available and should you wish to send a message to her husband, Walt and their family, the address is 3041 Cabot Plains Rd., Cabot, VT 05647.

On a personal note - I'm still navigating with a big stabilizing support for my right leg that keeps it straight out - no bending that knee!! It makes doing some things difficult - forget lowering myself into a chair gracefully or getting up from one without lots of planning ahead, and even then it's never pretty. Getting my foot past the door opening getting into a car is always a challenge, but I've got steps and stairs down so they are no problem as long as I have a walker waiting for me wherever I land. Getting into my jeans takes a little time and careful navigation because I like to have the brace over the trouser leg so I can loosen it when I'm sitting in my recliner. I have to keep the leg stiff - good think I've never had a problem reaching my toes without bending my knees! I sometimes forget to take the walker with me when I'm here in the house - there are plenty of things to hold onto and occasionally I find myself standing in the middle of a room, no walker in sight. I have about one more week with this very limiting brace, but hopefully after that I will graduate to a less restrictive one and be able to do some PT to get the knee operating normally again. Someone recently told me it can take a year or more to get full motion back. I hope I can do better than that - so far the knee has given me no pain at all, so I think I should be back to near normal within a month or so. I may not be up for shoveling snow off my deck this year, but that's ok - it is not something I really look forward to, although I have enjoyed measuring snowfall during the winter.

Funny story: When I first hurt my knee, my three sons quickly took action and ordered stair lifts - one for the long flight into the basement, and another for the few steps from the garage to my kitchen door. Last Sunday, both were installed - no problem. Everything worked beautifully. I got instructions on how to operate the things and then the installer said he wanted me to ride down to the basement just to be sure I felt secure. I got neatly seated at the top of the stairs and began to turn the chair so it could proceed down  and as my foot bumped the door jamb, I realized that with my right leg extended, there wasn't room! I was able to stop the chair from turning before any damage was done, but the installer (his name was Bob), looked completely baffled. Part of his installation was to be sure the owner/user of the new system felt safe, and here I was scrambling out of the chair and declaring that I couldn't do it! I was actually eager to try it out and never gave my extended leg a thought.

I'm sure it will be fine later - and in the meantime, I can manage stairs perfectly well - slowly, but safely, without the chair, and can send loads on the chair, freeing me to hang onto the railing. All is good, and I'm sure I'll use the lifts eventually - as the boys keep saying, "When you need them, they are there, Mom." We have to adapt as we get older - I'm just getting a big dose of that right now that I hadn't anticipated. 

I have been taking rain measurements this past week! It has been very gratifying to have a few days of real rain. I've measured just about 2 inches total. Not enough to bring water levels all the way back to where they would normally be this time of year, but it helps. There is nothing running into my pond yet, and I suspect it will remain mostly empty until spring. What we need is more rain dancing! Enjoy your day!

 

 

  

EWM Reports, 2025

IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL (EWM)   Wed, Oct 22, 2025 From Barry Cahoon, EWM Management

    First, on behalf of the JPA EWM Management Committee, I wish to express my appreciation and convey thanks to all JPA members who have contributed physically, financially, organizationally, even spiritually, or in any other way to the efforts of the association to contain, control, and manage the Eurasian Watermilfoil infestation over the past season.

    Several newsworthy items of interest have occurred recently that seem appropriate to share with the membership so that you all are as informed about EWM management status in Joe's Pond as you may wish to be or should be.

    Arrowwood Environmental has conducted a post-treatment (ProcellaCOR) aquatic plant survey that is required under the Aquatic Nuisance Control Permit issued to the JPA by the VT Agency of Natural Resources.  JPA has not yet received the final report (it is several weeks out, according to AE, due to their time commitments nearing the end of the field season).

    But in conversation with Michael Lew-Smith of AE, in summary, the AE survey determined that 100% mortality of EWM was achieved throughout the two herbicide treatment areas along Sandy Beach and Channel Drive.  It also appears that complete, or near complete mortality also occurred in areas adjacent to the treatment zones including the entire littoral zone from the big island to the Island Drive shoreline and the Clubhouse Circle cove.  Additionally, no surviving EWM has been found in the area of the Joe's Brook inlet or other areas adjacent to the Sandy Beach treatment zone.

    Michael also indicated he did observe some observed herbicide toxicity to non-target species including the native Northern Watermilfoil and Water Lily.  Magnitude of which was not specified.  More detail will undoubtedly be provided in the AE report.

    A follow-up aquatic plant survey is also required next growing season (2026).  Post-treatment surveys conducted in other VT lakes in which ProcellaCOR has been applied, and toxicity noted to non-target species, have all shown quick recovery of the native plant populations, even expansion into the areas within which EWM had previously established a dominant presence.  It is anticipated the same pattern will be observed in Joe's Pond and the 2026 survey will hopefully confirm that.

    Also required under the ANC Permit is an annual Pesticide Minimization Measures Report in which JPA is obligated to document every action that was taken and implemented which would serve to avoid or minimize the use of herbicides.  That report was filed with VT ANR and is attached.

    After overcoming a couple of manufacturing glitches with the SNUBA unit, it has been operating flawlessly for a couple months now and has been supporting and enhancing the JPA dive team operations.  Most recently, under JPA President Joe Hebert's initiative, a 6 month extension of the warranty on the SNUBA compressor was obtained.

    The JPA EWM Management Committee has elected to move forward in an attempt to gain approval from the VT Departments of Fish & Wildlife and Environmental Conservation to construct a boat wash and decontamination station at the DF&W boat access area.  The committee feels that despite the fact that EWM is already in Joe's Pond, there are more invasives out there lurking of which we should be doing everything in our power to prevent introduction, and that the JPA has a responsibility to ensure EWM is not being exported from Joe's Pond to other currently non-infested lakes.  

    To this end, a wetlands delineation at the boat access has been completed by Arrowwood Environmental.  We are presently seeking additional engineering services to assist in development of a preliminary design plan to present to DF&W (as the facility would be on their land) and, assuming we receive DF&W approval, then prepare and submit a Wetlands Encroachment Permit application.  Hopefully (and ideally), this process can be completed over the winter and JPA will be able to have the station constructed and operational sometime during the next summer season.

    The JPA dive team, under Jim Bernotas' leadership, has continued hand harvesting operations right up until mid-October despite water temperatures dropping down into the 50's.  Dive operations have now largely been suspended, and Jamie Stewart's amazingly reliable support boat has been pulled out of the water for the season.  But don't be surprised if Jim and his niece Josie Cicia are seen back in the water at least one more time.

    The most concerning and disheartening piece of news is the discovery in mid-September of extensive infestations and establishment of EWM in the First Pond and then in early October of the Second Pond.  Six dive sessions were conducted in the First Pond and three in the Second.  Complete removal has not been accomplished.

    If the same pattern of explosive and unrestrained EWM growth and expansion that we observed at Sandy Beach and Channel Drive between fall, 2024 and summer, 2025 (despite intensive Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) and multiple hand pulling operations) is repeated on the First and Second Ponds in 2026, the JPA EWM Management Committee could potentially be considering an extensive herbicide treatment in those two sections of the lake next season.

    The simple fact of the matter is that, up until the ProcellaCOR treatment on 08/13/25, EWM growth, spread and proliferation outpaced all the management and containment resources and efforts we could throw at it.  By mid-July, in the Sandy Beach and Channel Drive concentration areas, hundreds of plants were visible, had grown to the water surface and were expanding and forming mats of plant material.  At that time, the dive team elected to suspend operations in these two concentration areas as we felt we would be causing more fragmentation and contribution to proliferation than the benefits we could achieve.  We also knew at that point that the herbicide treatment option was open to us because we had received the ANC permit.

    We have learned an awful lot about EWM management over this past season, being our first full year at it (and acknowledge there's still plenty more still to learn).  An important element of this learning curve is understanding what it is about EWM and Joe's Pond that makes control and containment so difficult (if not impossible by non-chemical management means).

    It is clear that the propensity of EWM to proliferate by fragmentation is its most effective biological survival and expansion strategy.  Three important mechanisms appear to be the primary contributors to fragmentation. \

 

                                                   

       First, EWM will readily auto-fragment, especially later in the growing season (from early August on) as plant stems become increasingly brittle; taking nothing more than boat or wind wake to break off.  Dozens of plant fragments have been observed settled to the lakebed around an individual EWM stalk, many of which will already have rootlets extending off the stem ready to establish and grow another plant. 

       Second, EWM harvesting operations, whether DASH or hand pulling, invariably generate plant fragments; and oftentimes large numbers of them.  We have learned that we must always provide adequate resources patrolling for released plant fragments during harvesting operations.

    The third mechanism is watercraft-induced fragmentation, especially once plants have grown near or to the water surface and additionally, later in the year when more prone to breaking.

    Of these three vectors of EWM proliferation, the first is biological and one over which the JPA has no control.  Of the second, we have the most control.  As stated above, we cannot discount or ignore in any way and must increase our effectiveness at limiting the escape of plant fragments during harvesting operations.

    The third mechanism, watercraft-induced fragmentation, is the vector that deserves the most attention by the JPA membership as we have the ability to exercise some limited control; but it requires the awareness, contribution and participation of all members.  Watercraft operation protocols have been posted on the JPA website.  All JPA members have the ability and responsibility to contribute to and participate in this vital effort to limit EWM proliferation and colonization of additional areas of the lake.

    It seems a logical conclusion, in consideration of the maturity of the plants we have been seeing on the First and Second Ponds, in comparison with those growing at Sandy Beach and Channel Drive prior to the herbicide treatment, that these new areas of proliferation have very likely resulted from EWM fragment drift from the Third Pond during the 2025 growing season aided by the 3 vectors of fragmentation discussed above.

    As EWM effectively colonizes an increasing number of areas around the lake, we can see how proliferation snowballs and containment becomes ever more problematic; even unachievable, especially absent the application of herbicide.  An updated map below shows all the areas to which EWM has spread (of which we are aware) in 2025.  In comparison to this time last year, we knew of only one relatively limited infestation area along the Sandy Beach shoreline.  We still thought at that time that eradication was possible.  This map below shows a tremendous expansion of EWM in just one year.  The hope of eradication is now a thing of the past.  

 

              

Left:Documented EWM establishment in Joe's Pond in 2025

 

    The JPA EWM Management Committee will be working over the winter (meeting regularly and remotely via ZOOM) to evaluate and determine the organizational, infrastructural, and operational enhancements and improvements that can be implemented to enhance the effectiveness of the overarching JPA effort to contain and manage the EWM infestation through 2026.

    But please know, our success at managing the EWM infestation will be much more dependent upon the awareness, participation and dedication of the JPA membership than the work of the EWM Management Committee, the JPA Board of Directors, or any other individual member.  

    Have a happy, healthy and socio-ecologically responsible winter.  

    See you all in the spring.

 

 For the Joe's Pond Association

Barry Cahoon, Water Quality Director

Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Coordinator

One attachment  •  Scanned by Gmail

 

 

2025 Pesticide Minimization Report

Pursuant to Condition #a.15.A. of Aquatic Nuisance Control Permit #4534-ANC-C issued to the Joe’s Pond Association (JPA) and SOLitude Lake Management (SLM) on 07/17/25, the following shall constitute the required “summary of pesticide minimization measures” completed by the JPA during the current calendar year.

1. January, 2025 formed a 10 member Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Committee (EWMMC) to determine and implement the most prudent course of actions in response to the EWM infestation discovered in August, 2024. Members were assigned to the following task areas: Education, Grants Management, Regulatory, Mapping, Survey & Monitoring, Harvesting, and Materials and Equipment Management.

2. January, 2025, began developing and publishing extensive and detailed EWM management information on the JPA website. Continuous updates have been made since then.

3. February, 2025 established digital EWM management mapping program to track locations of EWM occurrence and management activities performed.

4. 02/19/25 Adopted JPA EWM Management Plan.

5. February, 2025 purchased materials and fabricated JPA buoy supply for use in marking EWM establishment and to support geolocation for data entry on the EWM web map.

6. March, 2025 developed, published and distributed educational materials to JPA membership and broader community focused on EWM identification, dangers of uncontrolled proliferation of EWM, actions necessary by lake users to avoid exacerbating EWM spread, and volunteer contributions by JPA membership to support EWM control.

7. April, 2025 mapped lakeshore and littoral zone sections and began recruiting Lakeshore Section Coordinators (LSCs). Established guidance and protocols for littoral zone monitoring and survey, marking EWM locations found, geolocating, and data flow to JPA Mapping Coordinator and Dive Crew Coordinator for hand harvesting.

8. May, 2025 published comprehensive status report of the EWM infestation in the JPA Annual Newsletter urging utmost awareness, attention, and voluntary contributions to the JPA EWM management activities.

9. 05/24/25 distributed educational materials to members attending the JPA Spring Meeting. Made a comprehensive presentation regarding EWM infestation status, outlook and planned control activities.

10. 05/24/25 conducted in-house training for JPA members on EWM identification, LSC responsibilities, survey, marking, mapping and harvesting protocols and distributed marker buoys.

11. 05/25/25 LSCs and JPA member-volunteers commence surveying, patrolling and placement of marker buoy operations by boat, kayak, paddleboard and wading which have continued through September. Total number of hours expended by JPA members conducting this task is unknown at this time but assuredly involves several hundred hours.

12. 05/26/25-05/28/25 participated with Arrowwood Environmental (AE) in conducting a lake-wide aquatic plant survey.

13. 06/07/25 hosted Vermont Invasive Patrollers Workshop conducted by VT DEC with approximately 2 dozen participants.

14. 06/09/25-06/13/25 conducted EWM harvesting operation contracted with VTHozerz involving diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH), hand pulling, and benthic barrier placement. JPA members expended in excess of an estimated 300 hours supporting the VTHozerz operation.

15. Purchased hand-held GPS unit with sub-2 meter precision to enhance geolocation data transfer to the JPA EWM Management web map.

16. 06/14/25 placed floating warning signs around perimeters of areas of most concentrated EWM growth advising boaters to avoid operation, EWM fragmentation and proliferation.

17. 06/21/25 commenced hand pulling operations by the JPA dive team which have continued on an approximately twice weekly basis into October, 2025, typically involving from 3-6 divers and 2-5 surface support members operating from 3-4 hours each day of operation. As of the end of September, 2025, total member-hours devoted to these hand pulling operations including coordination, survey and planning, equipment management, travel time, surface support, fragment retrieval, mobilization and demobilization exceed 700 hours. Hand pulling operations continue into October, 2025.

18. 06/23/25 purchased surface-nexus underwater breathing apparatus (SNUBA) unit to enable expansion of the dive team membership and increase productivity of JPA hand pulling operations.

19. 06/29/25 comprehensive Power Point EWM status presentation made at JPA Annual Meeting that emphasized watercraft operation contributions to proliferation and spread around the lake. Presented watercraft operational protocols to minimize spread.

20. 07/17/25-07/18/25 SNUBA unit delivered and field tested

21. 07/26/25 SNUBA training conducted for approximately a dozen participants.

22. August, 2025, purchased, assembled and erected a modular structure for storage of JPA EWM management equipment.

23. 08/30/25 comprehensive status report and Power Point presentation to the membership attending the fall JPA meeting emphasizing full engagement of the membership in EWM control measures.

24. June-September, 2025 continued monitoring and surveying by LSCs and volunteers, data entry on the EWM Management web map, updating information on the JPA website, occasional educational, informational, and advocacy email distributions to the membership, monthly EWMMC meetings, and hand pulling operations by the dive team.

25. August-September, 2025 researched feasibility of establishment of a decontamination boat wash station at the DF&W boat access area.

26. October, 2025, engaged Arrowwood Environmental to provide wetlands delineation and associated consulting services for preparation and submission of a Wetlands Encroachment Permit application for construction of a decontamination boat wash station.

27. October, 2025, commenced a comprehensive inventory of EWM management equipment and infrastructure needs for 2026 supportive of pesticide minimization efforts

Respectfully submitted to Olin Reed, VT DEC via email by:

Barry Cahoon, Joe’s Pond Association, Water Quality Director, Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Coordinator

10/04/25

Another Adventure

This week turned out to be a doozie for me. I had anticipated going for a follow-up on my knee on Monday, but instead ended up in the ER at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. The meds I was taking for knee pain started a bleed in my stomach, and that was totally unexpected. They kept me overnight so they could monitor me, and that actually turned out to be most of the day on Tuesday, as well. But I'm home now, feeling fine, on new meds, and no setback as far as the knee is concerned - just time out from my daily routine here at home. Plus, I really couldn't even complain about "hospital food" because I was on a liquid diet until noon yesterday. Then I had a very tasty roast pork dinner! That is one of my favorites, so no complaints whatsoever. And the staff at NVRH are all super nice, considerate and very competent. I'm so thankful we have such good medical care through NVRH.

I was a bit disappointed after the PA from Four Seasons Orthopaedics visited me just before I left the hospital. I had expected to graduate from the almost-full-length stabilizing cast to one that would let me bend my knee a bit, but she said I will need another two weeks with this one. That's ok - I want to do whatever is right so it will continue to heal properly. The dressing is off and that is great - a step in the right direction. These things take time.

Yesterday I learned that my dear neighbor, Julie Ackermann, died unexpectedly. Apparently she had a heart condition and it was mercifully quick, but so sudden, and she is young - about 60, I think. I have known Julie for a long time. Ben Ackermann, who did my pond a few years ago, is one of her sons. Such a nice family, and I'm sure they are devastated. Julie and Walt owned and operated Harry's Hardware in Cabot for many years, so just about everyone in town knows the family. My heart is full of sadness for them and for our community. Julie was a special soul and we will miss her greatly.

Our weather is very "fall like" and the leaves are coming off the trees in clouds. Today is quite windy and cold - I've got a temperature of 42F right now, at 11:15 a.m.  The forecast is for continued cool weather and there are even windchill reports on the local weather broadcasts now! Too soon for that!!!

Moose hunting season starts next week. This is a good time for a reminder to wear bright clothing when you are walking or biking in wooded areas, like along the rail trail or West Shore Road. Deer season is coming right up, too. Bear season is in play now, too, and that lasts to mid-November. There are a variety of "deer seasons" for youths, archers, muzzle-guns, and whatever else, and that is almost non-stop from now through Thanksgiving weekend. Be careful, be noisy, and be colorful! Stay safe!

Sleepy Sunday

 I haven't accomplished much today except I have had two very nice catnaps - one shortly after breakfast and another after lunch. It looks like a lovely day outside, but I haven't tested the temperature on my porch. My thermometer (out of the sun) is reading 61F, and there is a breeze, so I expect it's sweater weather, at least. Last night was cold again, with frost on the ground this morning.

I mentioned on my last post that son, Bob, was diving with the milfoil crew on Friday. They did that - and he sent me a photo of their "Last Dive of '25". This was taken before they entered the water. I expect none of them would have had much luck taking a picture when they got out. Bob told me that after a previous diving session last week, he tried to make a call with his cell phone and his fingers were so cold the phone wouldn't recognize the touch. Even the support crew looks bundled up against the chill! I hope they are all ending the dives - the water is only going to get colder as the night temperatures continue to slip downwards.

Here's what Bob wrote:  Took these yesterday [Friday] before my final dive of 2025!  
From left, Jim Benotas, Jamie Stewart, Barry Cahoon, Bob Dimick. Not pictured is Butch Bouchard who was our cheerful, attentive kayaker yesterday.

They may go longer but I’m done - brrrrrrrrrr! Jim and I spent about two hours in the drink and I couldn’t even feel my hands pulling the last couple of plants in the second pond.

Great team, good friends and incredibly generous volunteers, all. It’s a privilege to be a part of it and I look forward to getting back together with them and the other volunteers in the spring when days get warmer and longer vs. shorter and colder!

I recently looked for some autumn pictures in my files and found lots of them. I nabbed this one (left) taken  Oct. 2, 2008 for my desktop image. I  found another, (right) taken on October 31, 2002 when we had six inches of snow fall on  us.

 

I took the two below a few minutes ago from my living room window. Pretty dull. The small oak tree is still showing some color, but most of the maples have lost their leaves with the wind we had yesterday and again today. There are still a few bright spots behind my house, but the foliage was never as pretty this fall as it has been many other years.

 

Frosty Mornings

We've had another lovely sunshiny day, but our nights and early mornings are frosty now. Any tender plants left out last night took a hit, I'm sure. I don't know what the low temperature last nigh was - I really didn't want to know. The ground was white with frost when I first looked out (not the first white frost, but this one seemed heavier), and by the time I got myself pulled together and out in the kitchen, I had other things on my mind and forgot to look at the thermometer. I'll try to do better tomorrow morning.

I had a birthday this past week - no need to tell you which one, we all know that I'm getting up there. This year was a bit different because of my knee injury, but it was very pleasant. I've had lots of cards and messages, and I thank everyone for that - I'll try to reach out by email soon to each of you - and the group of Joe's Pond friends that have shared birthdays for the past couple of years brought lunch for me on Wednesday. It was great fun, and we had cupcakes with candles - which was a problem at first because I couldn't find any matches! Then we found some book matches, but they were so old they would not light! Then I remembered that I had a stash of wooden matches, and although they were probably just as old, they were still good! So we had lighted candles! 

Dotty brought a beautiful bouquet from her garden, and Cynthia brought zucchini bread (that I didn't share!), we had sandwiches from Marty's, Burtt's cider, and BBQ chips. Perfect lunch, good company, and I had a great time. As usual, we took a "selfie" (above), and a merrier group would be hard to find! They shooed me out of the kitchen with my cumbersome walker, and waited on me throughout, so all I had to do was eat and enjoy. It couldn't have been nicer. Such good friends, and good times.

In spite of the frosty start of the day, the divers and their support crew were out harvesting milfoil again today. I think they are going above and beyond - a nice way of saying I think they are nuts. Even with wet suits, hands and faces are exposed, and that water is getting colder every night! They are all very dedicated, but not only is the water pretty darned cold, there was a brisk wind today, and that must have been uncomfortable for the support team on board the pontoon boat, as well. Time to call it a day, perhaps? The milfoil will still be there in the spring, guys, and if I recall, experts say growing season is over about now. As the old saying goes, "you don't want to catch your death or never-get-over." 

I was out on my porch earlier in the week when the afternoon sun was keeping things toasty, like summer. As I sat in my recliner, the pungent smell of damp, decaying leaves wafted over me from the wooded area above my house, and I found myself remembering fall weather when I was a youngster going to school on Cabot Plain. The road was lined with bushes and trees on both sides along the "flat" between the school house and where my house was. There were a few remnants of old stone walls on the end closest to the school, and chokecherry bushes and hazelnut bushes growing there. It was a game to eat chokecherries and see how far we could spit the seeds - the more berries we ate, the more puckered our mouths felt, but kids don't pay attention to that when there is a competition going on. 

Collecting the hazelnuts was a different story. We took those to one of the flat rocks on the old stone wall and peeled back the outer, prickly husk, and then carefully hit the hard nut inside with a smaller stone just hard enough to crack the shell and not crush the meat inside. They were so good! We knew which ones were ripe enough to eat, and often I would pick extras to take home, husk and let dry and age. They are even better with age. 

It's strange what seemingly lost memories return with a whiff of fall! As I half dozed in my chair, a bluejay screamed loudly as he flew from one maple tree to another. Another sound of fall, and again I was transported back in time and remembered how I hated having to get dressed up every day and go to school when we had those beautiful, warm fall days. I much preferred shorts and sandals to dresses, shoes, and socks, but come September, I marched off to school like every other kid in the neighborhood. I don't think any of us wanted to be there, but we definitely made the best of it - especially during recess! 

Enjoy what remains of our fall, wherever you are, and be happy and safe. 

 

JPA Isn't Seasonal!

 This is a beautiful fall day here at the edge of the Northeast Kingdom! We have had exceptionally warm days (and nights) but no rain. However, tonight we are looking forward to the first soaking rain we've had in a long time. We might get a couple of inches! That should help the water table, but may not be enough unless we get more again soon. Everything is parched.

The foliage has been very spotty this year. I have some nice color around my house, but really only a couple of maples. Most of the maples and other trees are dulled by the heat and dust, and the leaves have either already fallen, or they are showering down quickly in today's breeze.  Fall Foliage Week had very nice weather, and that was a plus for everyone, even if the foliage wasn't up to the usual spectacular standards. Jamie filmed a parade in Groton for KATV last weekend and shared it with me. The parade is interesting, and he added some wonderful fall pictures at the end, taken on his way home that day and a few more on our ride Sunday, so if you are missing seeing nice scenery, check it out. I was impressed with the parade - it had lots of floats and I'm sure the tourists loved it, as well as the locals. 

Even though many of our summertime friends have left Joe's Pond for their winter homes, our Joe's Pond Association Board of Directors is still looking out for us and keeping us in the loop. Here is a recent message from JPA President, Joe Hebert: 

 As many of you will recall, a discussion and subsequent vote regarding the July fireworks was held at our fall meeting on August 30th. At that time the cost of the display for 2026 was unknown. The result of the vote was to proceed with the fireworks with the added stipulation that our expenditure not exceed  $15,000.  A question was posed that if the cost exceeded $15,000 could private donations be used for the difference. This concept had been proposed in 2024 for a potentially larger show.  At that time, the board of directors unanimously agreed that all donations be used to offset and not supplement any expenses. The board's recommendation was then presented at the following meeting and accepted by the members. This position was reiterated prior to the vote at the August fall meeting.

 Last week we learned that the cost for 2026 fireworks would increase from $13,000 to $20,000 which is essentially $1,000 per minute. The board of directors discussed the situation and felt that it is absolutely imperative to honor the vote of the members. Doing otherwise is not an option. Consequently we have notified the vendor of our intention to cancel the fireworks.

Parting with tradition is always difficult,  but it is essential we adapt to the current environmental and financial times. Moving forward perhaps we can collectively find another way to celebrate our nation's birthday.

Joe Hebert

President  JPA

I'm sure we will find some other way to celebrate the Fourth of July. There are always lots of individuals who manage to put on a pretty decent fireworks display, and I expect there will be plenty of celebration going on without a professional display. Joe's Ponders are creative and will come up with something fun to do that will involve everyone one the pond and in the surrounding communities. With solar generated lights available, we could have a pretty decent boat parade that night, with boats and homes decorated with lights. Those who are ordinarily out on the water to watch the fireworks would make an impressive "parade" of watercraft moving slowly around the pond - complete with lights and music (and probably an occasional firework burst!). Our boat parades in the 1970s and early 1980s  used to be during the daytime, and that was always fun, but it got to be lots of work and it was difficult to find someone to organize it. Anything worthwhile usually involves some work - and Joe's Ponders are willing and able to figure this out and put in the work. We have an enthusiastic younger generation who will think of something, I bet!

Our Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) saga has been well documented through the process of first discovery to a variety of methods trying to control it. As you travel along Route 2 past the first pond, you will notice lots of small markers in the water. Those are marking where milfoil has been identified. Our efforts to control it have been legendary, but the fight isn't over, by any means. There is still a lot to do, and although the weather has allowed some activity this late in the season, the water is cooling and divers will need to stop their work until next spring. In the meantime, here is an interesting article that appeared in the North Star Monthly recently: WEED WARS.

On a personal note - I'm still somewhat restricted in movement and using a walker, but making good progress with my knee healing well, I think. I will have a follow-up appointment next Monday and hopefully will be able to begin moving/bending my knee more  - and maybe graduate to using just a cane. I  understand this is a long process, but everything seems to be going well, and although I get tired, there is little or no pain - as long as I don't do anything stupid. I want to thank all the friends who have sent messages, cards, phoned me, and stopped by offering help and encouragement. I love all of you, and thank you for thinking of me. Your concern is very appreciated, and I won't hesitate to call on you if I need to!

Enjoy the nice weather - and especially the coming rain. So many of our neighbors are out of water, this will be a welcome relief, hopefully. Everyone in our area has been warned to conserve water if they still have it, and Cabot Fire Department is providing water for those who no longer have it in their homes. This is very unusual, and not the way we want to head into winter. Hopefully, November will be a really wet month!