Reminders

Can you believe it? We're nearing the end of August and our summer season at Joe's Pond! The summer has whizzed by so quickly, I'm really not conditioned to the warm weather yet, and already we're headed for cool evenings and slower growing season. I've noticed the difference in my lawn - it was growing like gangbusters only days ago, but now it has slowed considerably. Not only that - the water level in my pond is down - again. It was doing so nicely a month ago, but now the frogs are basking in the sun on the bare banks and I only hear an occasional "ger-lunk" in the evening. I had a lovely chorus out there this spring - lots going on in the frog world, day and night; but not so much now.

We have had a busy summer - lots of Joe's Pond activity, too, with divers inspecting for milfoil, and somewhat reduced activity on the water, due to restrictions in milfoil-infected areas. We think the social events have not been quite as well attended this year, and the pig roast had to be cancelled due to so few reservations. Times change - sometimes we just need to adjust and move on.

Our last social event of the season is coming up very soon, so mark your calendar and don't disappoint these hard-working volunteers!  This is a chance to see friends and give summer a great send-off before many of you head off to your winter homes. Sue Yesalonia sent me this reminder: 

 Nancy Buttura and I have been working very hard to make sure this is a great end-of-the-year social event and we hope to raise money for JPA through donations, our Silent Auction, and raffle. We have collected a great assortment of items thanks to many JPA members and community vendors. Hope to see you there!

 Event details:

Get ready to have a Party!!

JPA Annual Cocktail Party - August 22, 2026 at the JPA Pavilion from 5:00 to 7:30

No tickets required

BYOB and please bring an appetizer to pass 

Please bring cash and/or checkbook for raffle and Silent Auction

Contact: Susan Yesalonia  (802-793-3973) or Nancy Buttura (802-279-4146) if you have any questions.

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This reminder is not nearly as exciting as Sue's, but the Cabot Historical Society museum is open every Saturday from 1 to 3 o'clock. Amanda Legare and I will be there this Saturday - stop by and say "Hello!" We have interesting exhibits - lots of "cool old stuff" as one of our volunteers put it recently. Like the old butter churn pictured here. Next to it is a folding clothes rack on the left, and wooden buckets and woven baskets on the right - all items used daily in homes years ago.There are albums of photos spanning the years, old newsclips, old diaries, family histories, information on all seven cemeteries in Cabot - old tools, doctors' satchels with little pill viles, and much more. Two floors of items collected over the years, and we have several new items recently added to our collections. Come in, tell us what you are looking for, or just browse. We'll be happy to see you.

 

Fun Visitors

 I received this message from Jenny Gelfen yesterday: 

Jane --

Last Saturday we had a most unusual visitor on Joe's Pond: a beautiful small boat driven by a wood-fired steam engine complete with a whistle. I couldn't paddle fast enough to reach it before it motored away. The Sembrebons got these pictures. 

That is truly an unusual sight. I can't imagine being out on the water under the broiling sun with a wood-fired boiler to tend to! That must have been a hot ride, but whoever it was seemed to be enjoying the fun and that is a very trim vessel! I tried to make out the registration number or find name on the boat, but didn't have any success. I'm sure someone on the pond (or seeing this!) will know who these people are. I would love to know, so shoot me an email. 

Steamers were common years ago - Joe's Pond had at least one that made regular trips around the pond delivering passengers about every two hours. It was called the Mineola and was docked at a small boathouse near West Danville train station in about 1899. Train passengers could take the steamer to various destinations on the pond such as Flint's Park to spend a day fishing or swimming and return by steamer to take the train back home in the late afternoon. You can find more information on page 18 of West Danville, Vermont Then and Now, 1781-2021. Don't have a copy? Let me know, or stop at the Danville Historical Society to pick one up. It's a very complete history of West Danville and Joe's Pond and includes solid information about surrounding communities such as Cabot, Walden, and Danville. Lots of photos and it is well indexed. Every home on Joe's Pond should have a copy!

Stay cool and enjoy the weekend! 

More Sad News

We have lost another soul close to the Joe's Pond Community, Mary Calcagni, who passed away on July 30. The Calcagni family (on North Shore Road) have been active in the Joe's Pond Association for generations and our thoughts are with them at this very sad time. Condolences may be sent to Joe's Pond family members - Joey and Joni at 18 Windywood Rd, Barre, VT 05641; Matthew and Hilary at 317 Shaw Mansion Rd, Waterbury Ctr., VT 05677;  or Robert and Andrea (Calcagni) MacLeod at 15 Chestnut Lane, Barre, VT 05641.  

Odds & Ends

 Just a few odds and ends this morning - 

A blue kayak paddle washed up on our beach today.  We have it leaned up against the picnic table on our patio at 3504 Rte 2.  Gray camp with maroon shutters and striped awning.  Charlie and Linda Livendale

Great day today with lots of sunshine and very little wind! Such a pretty late-summer day, I couldn't resist a quick walk around my pond this morning. I wanted to get out there before the sun gets too hot. My pond is very low - and no water at all coming in from the upper reserve pond, so the rain we had on Sunday didn't amount to much. 

I finally have some flowers taking hold around the edge of my pond - but also there are weeds - the usual stuff that grows up around ponds, including cattails and reeds of one sort or another. I'm hoping the iris will take over next spring now that they seem to have a toehold. This year is a lost cause. I'm finding a few treasures - some stray rudbeckia is thriving next to the firepit - I'll transplant that this fall after it finishes blooming - and there are smaller black-eyed-susans here and there (no surprise). Also, I have what looks like a willow coming at the lower end of my pond. I think that will be a nice addition to shade the pond, so I'll try to leave that. My trimmer is no match for the tall weeds that are flourishing around the pond, but I know a guy . . . ! The trick is to be sure he doesn't whack the willow!

SATURDAY - Aug. 8 - Church Supper - Chicken and Biscuits, Baked beans, Salads, and Deserts. Eat in or dine out. 5 pm - 6:30 pm. By Donation. Cabot United Church, Main St.

Goodrich's Maple Farm - SPECIAL of the week!

Maple pecan pie topped with maple creemee, whipped cream and if course maple leaf shaped sprinkles! Stop on by and try this amazing addition!

Blueberry ice cream will be available tomorrow through the weekend along side our "Best in the world " maple creemee and available as a twist! 

 

And in closing, here is the obituary for Bob Noyes, a long-time Joe's Ponder on North Shore Road who passed away last Sunday at his home in Wheelock. I mentioned his passing here yesterday, but did not have the obituary then. I'm sure his wife, Julie, will appreciate hearing from friends at Joe's Pond. Her Address is: Ms. Julie Noyes, 303 Aldrich Lane, Wheelock VT 05851.

Sad News

 It is always with a heavy heart that I introduce a blog with those two words. This morning I learned that long-time Joe's Ponder (North Shore Road) Bob Noyes passed away on Sunday at his home in Wheelock. Bob and Julie have been at Joe's Pond for many years, and Bob's parents, Maxine and Clark Noyes of St. Johnsbury had the camp before that. I don't have an obituary to share, but there was a short announcement in the Caledonian Record today. Condolences may be sent to Julie at 303 Aldrich Ln, Wheelock, VT 05851. My thoughts are with Julie and their family. He will be missed.

We had some much-needed rain yesterday - there were times when it came down "in buckets," but surprisingly, it all amounted to less than half an inch, and I'm sure the ground sopped it up immediately - everything is very dry and we needed rain. Hopefully we'll get more to replenish the water table before the summer is over - it's never good to head into winter with everything too dry.

I was at the Cabot Historical Society again on Saturday afternoon. A family with several young children has visited twice now, and one little boy about 5 years old is absolutely fascinated by some of the things he's finding there. Upstairs there is an old-time traverse sled, some very long wooden skis, and some child-sized furniture he was immediately drawn to. On Saturday, they arrived as soon as the door opened at 1 o'clock and spent at least half an hour exploring the exhibits. He excitedly uses his "outdoor voice" to announce each new discovery, but it's a joy to see him so engaged. I have to wonder what this youngster will become when he grows up. His mom told us they only recently moved to Cabot and originally came to the historical society to try to learn about the home they bought on Main Street. They are convinced there are friendly ghosts living there. Somehow, it seems reasonable that this youngster, smitten with historic artifacts, would attract a ghostly friend from the past. 

The historical society is busy each Saturday while we are open from 1-3. We are excited that so many people - some local, some just passing by or in town for other reasons - stop in. I was there  for only about an hour last Saturday to assist new volunteers Betty Ritter and Deanna "Pinky" (Gould) VanShagen. Those ladies had it well in hand. Pinky grew up in Cabot and has been involved with all sorts of committees over they years; Betty was our town clerk for many years, so both know the town - and most of the people in it - way better than I do. Another long-time friend of the historical society, Bill Wheeler, stopped by while I was there. It's always nice to chat with Bill. He was fascinated by the new collection of snapshots taken of the construction of the Molly's Falls Dam by one of the engineers who worked there in 1926-27 and donated by his daughter this past year. 

We will continue to be open each Saturday afternoon from 1-3 p.m. until cold weather forces us to close - usually mid-October, so plan to visit. It's a nice drive - maybe come by was of Cabot Plain (the view by the cemetery is magnificent!), and stop at Burtt's Apple Orchard (they have added cherries and delicious cherry pies to their store!) for apples, cider, or some of their famous cider doughnuts. Return either over Danville Hill (gravel road) to Route 2 or stay on paved Rt. 215 and  follow the Winooski through Lower Cabot to Marshfield. I highly recommend the maple creemees at Goodrich's Maple Farm on Route 2. Ruth told me they also have interesting flavor combinations with fresh local blueberries and maple, and other "experimental" flavors. Their gift shop has been expanded and is well stocked and fun to browse. Also, I noticed their pricing on maple syrup is really reasonable compared to what I've seen elsewhere. Lots of choices, and they are experts.

Take care, enjoy the nice weather, and make the most of what summer we have left. It's going by altogether too quickly! 

Sunfish results

 

Today was a great day for the sailboat race with a nice, steady wind that made for excellent sailing conditions. The race was completed in just 35 minutes!

       

 

 

 

      Results

Single Division (At right, Jack crossing finish line ahead of Jay)

1. Jack LaGue
2. Jay Chatot
3. Jules Chatot
4. Rob Stewart
5. Lee Erdmann

Double Division

1. David & Sidney Porter (Shown below right)

The fourth and final race of the series will be held on Sunday, August 23, followed by the Caledonian Cup Awards Ceremony at the home of Mark & Rosie Smith. We hope to see everyone there for a great finish to the season!

News Update

 It has been a busy week for me, so I haven't been "johnny-on-the-spot" getting news items posted. However, most are not time sensitive - except the cancellation of the Pig Roast due to low sign-up to attend. So take that off your calendar!

The Paint and Sip party went as scheduled and was well attended, I thought. It was great fun and I learned some tricks about using acrylic paints, too. Susan Bouchard took pictures - that's Susan in the red apron, with her daughter-in-law, Jessie Bouchard, our instructor. Jessie teaches art in schools, so we were in good hands! Speaking of hands - I found out mine isn't as steady as it used to be, and my painting showed it! Trust me - it looks a lot better here that it really is. The further away it is, the better it looks. I may try to "fix" it, but I'm not sure it's worth the trouble. But it was still fun - all women, although Butch did come by to lend a hand cleaning up late in the afternoon. You can see in the group photo there were some pretty competent artists in the group!

 

We have a notice JPA secretary, Jamie Stewart: 

Dear Joe's Pond Association,

       Below is a required notification by the State of Vermont giving you notice that the proposed treatment of the herbicide ProCelloCOR will commence on August 26 beginning at 9:00 am.  The attachment shows that the treatment area will be the 1st and 2nd Pond.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Joe Hebert, Barry Cahoon, or myself.

Sincerely, 

Jamie Stewart

Secretary

 

 

Advisory Notice and Map

The Joe’s Pond Association and SOLitude Lake Management plan to conduct an aquatic herbicide treatment using ProcellaCOR® EC (active ingredient: florpyrauxifen-benzyl) in Joe's Pond as authorized under Aquatic Nuisance Control Permit #4534-ANC-C.

The target date/time for the treatment is: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, beginning at 9:00 am
Signs will be posted around the shoreline, along adjacent roadways; the Town Offices; and at all public and private campgrounds and access points with the exact treatment date/time and updated use advisories.

Lake Water Advisory Use Recommendations:
● NO USE of Joe's Pond waters and water from the outlet stream FOR ANY PURPOSE on the day of treatment including boating, fishing, swimming, domestic (household) use, or irrigation.
● Swimming/wading, boating and fishing may resume 24 hours after completion of treatment.
● NO USE of water from Joe’s Pond and from the outlet stream FOR RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER NON-AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION beginning the day of treatment and continuing until notification is provided that the active ingredient in SePRO ProcellaCOR® EC is at or below 2 parts per billion OR until after a 7-day waiting period has passed, whichever is longer. Established turf may be irrigated immediately after treatment.

The exact duration of the above recommendations on this Notice is subject to change. Please refer to the posted signs and the website listed below for up-to-date information regarding water use recommendations. Bottled water is available upon request by the Joe’s Pond Association (contact information below) to any person recommended from using its domestic water supply for drinking or food or drink preparation on the day of treatment only. 

IF A RESIDENCE OR PROPERTY IS LEASED, RENTED OR USED at any time after the initial treatment until December 31, 2026, the property owner is responsible for informing all tenants of the treatment and these advisory water use recommendations. Any person who chooses to ignore these use advisories does so at their own risk.

Please refer to www.solitudelakemanagement.com/vermont for additional information and updated water use advisories and recommendations.

For additional information contact
Emily Vulgamore
SŌLitude Lake Management
590 Lake Street
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Office: 508-865-1000

Barry Cahoon
Joe’s Pond Association
PO Box 111
West Danville, VT 05873
Cell: 802-535-0049

Olin Reed
Dept. of Environmental Conservation
1 National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05602
Phone: 802-490-6121

I've been busy for the past couple of weeks working with some others to update the Cabot Historical Society website. It was in sad need of an upgrade, having been neglected for some time and also somehow having wrong contact information on it. We have removed lots of the articles - some temporarily, some we may not put back if they aren't relevant to Cabot. Now that we have the bones of the site in place, everything is working, including a pay-online feature which we didn't have before, we will work to get more detailed content either on the site or connected to it. It is going to remain a "work in progress," and we hope to keep it updated well into the future. 

We also have a Facebook page - I don't really do much with Facebook, although I enjoy seeing what others have posted, and I do still have a page, but I haven't updated or even looked at it for months. I should probably take it down and concentrate on my blog. Like Scarlet O'Hara, I'll think about that tomorrow.