NEWS FLASH!

FROM THE DESK OF PRESIDENT JOE HEBERT:

  It is now official that the new wake boat rules have been approved by the State of Vermont and are effective June 11th, 2026.  As previously indicated this does not ban wake boats from Joes Pond but does prohibit wake sports. Please refer to the attached link for more specific information regarding which lakes are approved and the inspection requirements. As discussed at our spring meeting, this ruling was anticipated but I wanted to notify the membership that it is now official.

Joe Hebert 

President JPA   

***************

 

 Summer seems to be here with glory and some discomforts. It is very hot, very humid, and today hardly a breath stirring. So far we haven't had mini rain showers like we did yesterday, but that's a good thing. In some nearby towns (Hardwick, Morrisville, Wolcott) there was a lot more rain and they have had flash flooding that took out roads and has caused considerable damage. This seems to be "normal" weather, and will probably only get worse. It is costing towns (and government) dearly.

 

So much going on here at Joe's Pond! Gretchen Farnsworth let me know earlier in the week that one loon chick had hatched; then yesterday she announced the arrival of a second chick! (See her photo of the family on the left. This is great news - and as Jack LaGue put it in a message to me later in the day, "New residents at Joe's Pond!" Jack said he got the photo while on a "cocktail cruise" around the pond. That reminded me of years ago when so many people did those evening rides around the pond. It is very pleasant to proceed slowly off shore, sipping a drink and waving to friends on their decks or in their boats. It doesn't get much better than that! Thanks for the photo of the loons, (above right) Jack. It's good to know we have at least two chicks; now we hope they can survive. Only a day or so old and they are already stars!

 

As we have said before, please give the loon family(s) plenty of space - and warn others who may not be as familiar with Joe's Pond wildlife - to not interfere with the birds by going too close, and to always keep an eye out for them when cruising on the water. 

 

My friend, Mary Whitcomb, sent this photo of a Canadian tiger swallow-tail butterfly that she saw in her yard. Mary hosts all kinds of birds, bee, and butterflies, and is adept at photographing them. Thank you, Mary! I'm seeing lots of bees and butterflies around my place this year. The lilacs were especially abundant, and my apple trees bloomed beautifully - but briefly. Along with the good bugs, there are the black flies and ticks. Fortunately, I haven't seen ticks yet, but I keep watch - I'm sure they are out there and will hitch a ride on my shoes or pant legs sooner or later.

 

Middle son, Bob came on Wednesday and trimmed my cedar hedge that we didn't dare trim last year because it was so dry. I lost one large cedar tree at one corner of my house because it wasn't getting enough water, but I was able to save another one that was suffering by transplanting it to a spot close to my pond and it is thriving this year, but we decided not to trim it - it's doing fine and giving it another year to acclimate seems like a good idea. It seems that there is plenty of moisture for everything so far this year!

 

We have lots going on to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation - mostly on the 4th of July. Cabot has their usual parade scheduled on the 4th and the Cabot Historical Society will be open that day (and we are hoping to be open every Saturday this summer, hours to be announced later!) There will be fireworks on the Route 15 side of the middle pond on July 3rd - I'm sure they are still accepting donations, so contact Steve Larrabee (802-684-2247) if you can donate. 

 

Be aware that there is a bear in our vicinity. It has been spotted near my house towards the west end of West Shore Road, and got into some mischief at my neighbor's, but hasn't found anything interesting at either Jamie and Marie's or my house yet. I have seen tracks, but that's all. I take my hummingbird feeder in every evening, just in case. I did find some suspicious smears of mud on my front deck back in May, and a plant was tipped over and some of the plants were gone. Probably they were salad for whatever visitor it was, but there wasn't a trace. They were small cactus plants and perhaps a spring of hoya that I was hoping to preserve. All gone. I also had a small spider plant rooting in that pot, but that is intact. I have enough house plants, so I don't mind losing some to a hungry bear or whatever.

  

Also, we have a colony of beavers in residence on the brook by Ned and Carolyn Hamilton's. They are foraging for food and building materials along the west shore, damaging or taking down precious trees. Kim Bertrand got in touch with the Fish and Wildlife people who are sending someone to help, although Kim didn't know what they will do. We will keep you informed. In the meantime, if you have a nice maple, apple tree, poplar, willow, or other tree you think they might like, you can wrap the base with wire mesh - chicken fence wire works, or even some kind of other wrap might work - just something high enough so they can't chew through or above it. They aren't interested in evergreens or cedar trees. Sometimes they just snack on a tree, but damage it enough so it dies; other times they take the whole thing to use for building their dams and houses. This was their lake long before it was ours, and they do have a place in the scheme of things, so it's sad when they have to be killed. Much better to discourage them around your property or have them moved to a better spot. We will let you know what F&W does (or doesn't do).

As often happens, when I finish a blog and log out, I go back to my email and find something new has come in that needs to be included. That happened this morning, so here is "the rest of the news" for today - a dedication in honor of the late Garey Larrabee by the West Danville Community Club (WDCC): Click on the image to enlarge. 

   

 

 

Treasur Island Chicken Dinner

 

Good Morning Everyone! 

 Peter Crosby just let me know that there are a few tickets remaining for the Joe's Pond Association's first dinner of the season coming up this Saturday, June 20! The menu: "Treasure Island Chicken," that promises to be a delicious meal (as always). This is a change from the mac 'n cheese dinner originally scheduled, and although I've always really enjoyed Marion's mac 'n cheese, the Treasure Island Chicken sounds like an exciting substitute - I believe it's roasted chicken with a sweet-sour, gently spiced sauce that will have us thinking "grass skirts and palm trees." 

You don't have to be a member of JPA - we welcome friends old and new - just email Peter (petercrosby13@gmail.com) or call him at 802-535-4949 so  he can reserve tickets for you. Tickets are $25 and there are always lots of delicious  h'ordeuvres ) Joe's Ponders always come up with wonderful appetizers (so many great cooks!). It's always appreciated if you bring an appetizer to share, but not necessary; but definitely  BYOB (in this case, "bring your own booze") -- non-alcoholic beverages are usually available. Expect a good time and good food, amid good company. 

Social hour begins at 4:30 and dinner will be served at 6. Don't wait until the last minute -  get your reservation now so you don't miss out on this special meal and a chance to socialize with fellow campers and to meet new people and visitors. I hope to see you there!

AI Gets Personal

 Regardless of how we feel about AI, it's definitely here to stay. While it feels intrusive sometimes and occasionally just plain silly, but also pretty scary, it is proving to be a huge assist in some ways. I have experimented using it in writing and sometimes it's helpful, but I really don't trust it and try to find sources outside of AI to confirm and prove facts. It is only as good as the information being fed to it by humans - who sometimes make mistakes.

Yesterday I received notice from Noah Newman (no, not the one on Y&R!) at Colorado Climate Center, the headquarters for Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS). I began recording precipitation for CoCoRaHS in June of 2009 - daily all those years with only a few breaks when I was away or like last winter when there were a few days I didn't feel safe going outside to measure with a bum knee. Noah let me know that the information I have been collecting was used to train AI on how to better predict snowfall and snow-to-liquid ratio. In recent studies it's been found that the measurements CoCoRaHS volunteers take and submit daily are more accurate and useful than what the sophisticated weather stations used by the National Weather Service provide. Here's a direct quote from his email:

 “For this study, researchers used data from nearly 1,000 observers in the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS), a grassroots program of volunteers who measure precipitation in their yards and at other sites.” And  “…published online in January 2026 in Weather and Forecasting, … The authors found that their machine-learning method “outperforms existing methods” used by the National Weather Service.”

Being selected for part of this study was a pleasant surprise. If you go to the CoCoRaHS site, you will see how many daily reports there were for today, so it amazes me that I was chosen to participate. 

 For the last couple of years I've contemplated stopping reporting as winter approaches, but so far I'm still trudging out to shovel off the deck, braving wind, rain, and sleet to take measurements most mornings.I am thankful I'm able to do it - but each year it takes a bit more effort and sometimes I think to myself as snow is swirling around me and I'm pushing heavy snow out of the way, "You old fool, you're out of your mind!" Maybe. But then something like this study comes along and I realize that what I observe is useful in some way to make weather predictions more accurate and traveling safer. Out west, observers' reports help predict avalanches in the mountains. Sometimes "hands-on" is just better than technology, but with AI, perhaps the combination of both techniques will prove even more useful. So I'll probably hobble out there as long as I can and make my report - mostly daily, but sometimes I resort to "multi-day reports" and wait for a break in the weather before going out. The precipitation I'm measuring is relativelly the same, whether taken every day or batched into several! It isn't rocket science, but turns out it's useful.

EWM Update & Invitation

 The following message has been sent to JPA members and others in our community: 

 

To the JPA membership:

As announced in the JPA 2026 Annual Newsletter Water Quality Report and repeated at the JPA Spring Meeting on 05/23/26, we are working to expand the Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) Harvesting Team.

The JPA EWM Harvesting Team is composed of volunteer JPA members who are tasked with hand-pulling established EWM patches and individual plants.  The Harvesting Team consists of two elements: a Dive Team and a Surface Support Team.  The Dive Team is made up of SCUBA and SNUBA equipped divers.  The Surface Support Team staffs the mother boat and includes kayakers tasked with watching for and retrieving liberated EWM fragments and providing safety monitoring for the divers.  The Surface Support Team is also responsible for mobilizing, demobilizing and servicing the dive and harvesting equipment.  SNUBA differs substantially from SCUBA in that the diver does not carry his or her oxygen supply but is supplied directly from a nearby floating air compressor (sometimes referred to as a Hookah system). 

In 2025 the Harvesting Team typically worked 4-6 hours per day on two days most weekends between Friday and Sunday.  Harvesting operations began around mid-June and terminated in early October.  Daily operations typically commence mid-late morning and end by mid-afternoon.  Scheduling is somewhat flexible based on the variable availability of team members.  We anticipate the 2026 harvesting operations are not likely to depart substantially from that of 2025.  The team operates under the direction of JPA and EWM Management Committee member Jim Bernotas, a certified and extensively experienced and knowledgeable SCUBA diver.

The limited participation of JPA members in EWM harvesting operations represents the most significant limiting factor in our ability to contain and control EWM proliferation.  Harvesting Team members, in 2025, devoted hundreds of hours working to protect Joe's Pond.  These few dedicated members cannot reasonably be expected to continue this level of effort indefinitely.  We desperately need additional members to step up, introduce now blood, energy and enthusiasm, and sustain the Harvesting Team as a vital, robust and effective element of the JPA EWM management infrastructure. 

The more effective and productive the Harvesting Team can be, the less likely the JPA will have to fall back on herbicide treatments to keep ahead of EWM proliferation.  We work hard yet find opportunities to have fun in achieving a shared objective together.

If you feel you are not able to dive and work underwater but are interested in serving as part of the surface support team, contact Joanne Stewart (verthai@gmail.com) so she can include you on the Surface Support Team contact list and you can be notified of the Harvesting Team schedule.

Anyone who will be involved in EWM harvesting operations will be required to sign a waiver form releasing the JPA from liability for any injuries suffered by the team member during the course of the Harvesting Team's work.

The JPA will offer and conduct a SNUBA and EWM harvesting training session on Saturday, June 20^th at 1:00 PM at the JPA dock near the JPA clubhouse and recreation area.  Please attend if you feel you are able to contribute in any way. 

Divers will need wet suits, gloves, goggles, and fins (not necessarily for the training).  If you do not currently possess this equipment but are committed to becoming involved in this vital effort, please consult with Jim Bernotas at: customshopjim@gmail.com about appropriate equipment.  You can then get fitted for and purchase a wet suit at a supplier.  If financial assistance is necessary for you to be able to make this commitment to the protection of Joe's Pond and the equipment purchase, the JPA will consider assisting you monetarily.  Any member interested and wishing to know more about this can contact Barry Cahoon, JPA Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Coordinator at bear817@hotmail.com.

If you would like to join the Harvesting Team as a diver but are unable to attend this scheduled training, contact Jim Bernotas (email address above) and request to be added to the Harvesting Team distribution list.  You will then be notified of the schedule and mobilization details for harvesting operations so that you can attend and observe the team at work and interact with members as a training opportunity.

Working together we can achieve our ultimate EWM management objective: an EWM-free Joe's Pond!

Thank you.

For the Joe's Pond Association

Joe Hebert, President

Barry Cahoon, Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Coordinator

 

********************

 

We hope Joe's Ponders not already involved will consider joining the team. It is critical to engage as many as possible if we are to beat the invasion of EWM at Joe's Pond. Others in the surrounding communities are welcome to join - Joe's Pond is important to many more than just those who live along its shores. Please consider joining the team as a diver or part of the support group. Reach out to Joanne or Jim - there will be some important way you can help, even if you don't dive or aren't a kayaker. This is a hard-working, dedicated group, but they also manage to have fun while doing important work. 

 

Just a note since I haven't posted here on the blog for a while - it's been busy! I've been busy! Last week we celebrated Cyndi Rouleau's birthday (again - she was under the weather on her actual birthday, so we had to have lunch that day without her). We went to "The Nook" in Barton and had a very nice time - it is a little bar/lunch spot right in the middle of town that Bob and I discovered some time ago. The food is good and there's a large variety to choose from. We had fun and of course got a picture for posterity. Here you see, let to right:  Cyndi, seated, me, Sherri LaPrade, Dotty Noyes, and Diane Rossi (seated.) We had very comfortable armchairs at a round table - perfect, and there was lots of activity there even though we arrived quite early. The place was very busy - a popular spot, apparently. The weather cooperated and wasn't too cold and rainy - although it wasn't as warm and spring-like as would be expected for late May.

 

Today is quite nice - a bit warmer than yesterday and the forecast is for a warming trend - welcome news after several really cold nights in the 30s. I broke my own "rule" and put a few of my big house plants out on the porch last week when it was warm - then the weather began to go sideways again and by the weekend we were cautioned about frosts and snow flurries, so I hauled them back inside. I will try again today, I think. My "rule" is that nothing can safely be outside overnight until the 2nd week of June. This was clearly a "Do as I say, not as I do," situation. But hopefully we've seen the last of really cold nights and the plants will be happy outside until October.

 

Now I need to get busy and catch up on some emails and perhaps get outside after lunch to do a little work. Even with the cool, wet weather things grow - especially the grass and weeds in the flower beds. And it's the 1st of the month - time to reconcile the checkbook and do a little bookkeeping. I'm also putting discards together for the big July 4th rummage sale in Cabot. Plenty to keep me busy today! 

Clarificaion

 I gave you misinformation in the last blog about wake boats. Wake boats will still be allowed, but WAKE SPORTS will no longer be allowed on our pond. The wake boats can pull skiers or tubers, but not with ballast so they sit low in the water and put up large wakes. Also, the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) requires that these boats must be completely drained and flushed with hot water before moving from one lake to another to prevent spreading invasive species. This includes bilges, ballast tanks, livewells - any surface that has come in contact with possibly contaminated water from another lake or pond. 

 We hope you will pass this information along to others who may not be aware of Vermont's restrictions.

It is also important for all boats to operate in deep water as much as possible, staying away from shorelines where there may still be Eurasian water milfoil (EWM) that could be spread. Areas known to have EWM are marked with the red-orange ball buoys. That means stay away. The middle and first ponds are hotbeds of EWM at the present time and crews will be working there this summer, and others will be monitoring the shores of the big pond to check for any new infestations there. 

A route will be marked with yellow ball buoys through the two smaller ponds to show boaters a safe route to navigate and will allow property owners access, but if  you don't have to travel with your boat or jet ski in that are, please stay away until information is posted that the restriction is being relaxed. 

In a nutshell, EWM has been fairly successfully dealt with for the present in the big pond and we do not want to recontaminate that area. Stay in deep water in the big pond for fishing, cruising, and skiing; but avoid the smaller ponds for the time being. It's not an ideal way to enjoy Joe's Pond, but if we are to get control of the EWM, desperate measures must be taken and we all need to cooperate.

If you have questions, contact any of the JPA board members or Barry Cahoon bear817@hotmail.com.

 We had a very productive Spring Meeting of the Joe's Pond Association on Saturday morning. It was chilly, but at least it didn't snow like it has sometimes. Two long-time office holders resigned, Jack LaGue as treasurer (Jane Segale will assume his duties); and Diane Rossi as chair of the Ice-Out Committee (no replacement as yet). Both received sincere thanks for their years of service. 

Timothy Hutchinson, one of this year's Ice-Out winners, attended the meeting (from Springfield, VT) and received his certificate and check. He said he has been a fan for many years and bought his tickets at the last minute this year, almost missing the deadline. Lucky for him he remembered in time! 

We have a full schedule of activities this summer, and folks are in good spirits, in spite of the EWM. The call went out for volunteers to assist with the EWM Control Project - to join the diving team, contact Jim Bernotas customshopjim@gmail.com; to provide kayak support, contact Joanne Stewart verthai@gmail.com; or to provide meals for VT Hozers crew, contact Susan Bouchard chatotbouchard@icloud.com.

For complete information on EWM or other JPA activities, go to the Joe's Pond Association website: www.joespondvermont.com

NEWS FLASH!

 David Kidney just let me know that the Agency of Natural Resources committee deciding the wake boat regulations change has voted 5 to 3 to adopt the more restrictive guidelines for wake boat use. The new ruling will take effect this summer so wake boats will not be allowed on Joe's Pond this summer!

There will be more about this at our Spring Meeting when David will be on hand to give more details. 

Instant Summer

Today is ike summer - sunny, in the 70s, and perfect for being outside, and one of a nice string of this kind of weather - finally! It's wonderful to open up the house and hear the birds, bees, and frogs! And then there are the black flies and mosquitoes the moment you step outside! Normally the black flies arrive with the wild cherry blossoms, and sure enough, as I was grumbling about having to get out the bug spray, I realized there are cherry blossoms in the woods in back of my house. The mosquitoes probably just love all the wet weather we've had and hatch accordingly. 

I had a message this weekend from Gretchen Farnsworth:  The loons in the channel are now on the nest in the usual spot. Jim has the warning signs out. 

This is good news. Please remember to give the loons plenty of space, especially when they are nesting and if they are successful in hatching a chick or two. With bald eagles in the vicinity, their chances of raising chicks to adulthood are slim, but last year they were successful, so maybe the trend will continue.

Many of our Joe's Pond friends are back from their winter getaways and our spring meeting of the Joe's Pond Association is scheduled for this Saturday. I expect there will be a lot to discuss at this meeting - milfoil, of course, and then there are preparations for celebrating the nation's 250th year. With the Fourth of July being on a Saturday this year, it promises to be an unusually busy weekend. There will be a boat parade to celebrate here at Joe's Pond - the first we've had in many years. Jeremy Grenier is in charge of organizing that, so anyone who is interested, get in touch with him - 802-505-0032. Be creative - the theme is, of course, the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation. Lots to work with there!

It is my understanding that fireworks, provided by generous donations from people around the pond and community members, will be fired off from the Cairns property on the Route 15 side of the 2nd narrows, the same as last year. They will be on the 3rd, with rain-date of July 5th. 

The nice weather has inspired me to get things done I have been putting off and thinking about for a while. I've cleaned and relocated a nesting box for birds - but haven't seen any "takers" yet. I got my hummingbird feeder out this weekend and within minutes, two males showed up. I've already replenished it once, so they are definitely using it. My lawn is getting to the point where it really needs to be mowed, but my mower guy's trailer has broken and it's taking a while to get it fixed. My mower is out of commission - just that the battery hasn't been put back in place yet. Jamie has it and he has been busy every possible moment either at work or getting his own stuff done at home. We'll see hoe it goes - I'm sure Jamie can get my mower going quickly once he has a moment.

I had my house pressure washed - not the usual pressure washing, but a "soft wash" that is used for vinyl siding like mine. It came out better than I would have believed possible. I'm so impressed with the work Top Dawg in Lyndonville did - the two yung men who came were super nice and even though they arrived during a snow flurry, and then had to endure cold rain most of the time they were working, they got it done in good time and did a really nice job - everything looks like new.