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. 
 

Not Such Good News!

 Sorry to have to tell you - I just had a call from Michelle Parker letting me know that the Pig Roast Dinner scheduled for Saturday is being cancelled due to low ticket sales. Like all of our dinners, this has been a really great meal in the past - but for whatever reason, reservations have been slow and Michelle said they need more to make it worthwhile. So if you were planning to make your reservation last minute - you're out of luck! The committee has to plan ahead and they reached their cutoff time. Please let your neighbors who may have planned to go on Saturday know, too - the committee is trying to reach everyone, but we admit that not everyone reads the Joe's Pond blog. Thanks to those who have made reservations for Saturday night -- we'll hope for a better response next year. 

This was the final supper this year, but there is still the annual cocktail party scheduled for August 22 - more on that later -- and our final business meeting is not far off - Saturday, September 5! Darn! Summer is flying by!

 

Good News!

 From Jamie Stewart: 

Tom Segale, Upper Kettle Ponds

     Butch Bouchard, Tom & Jane Segale, Mark Rudin, Lee & Ginger Erdmann and myself went to the Kettle Ponds to survey for EWM.  We found none.  The littoral zone was loaded with water lilies and bladderwort.  We had two canoes, one kayak, and two paddle boards. None of the open water in the littoral zone had EWM.

     Mike Dornbrook invited us to come to these ponds and was very helpful and also ferried our equipment down to his dock. It was quite a ways from the house. (Photo above right is, from left: Lee and Ginger Erdman, Mark Rudin, Jane Segale, and Jamie Stewart at Mike Dornbrook's dock on the larger kettle pond.)

 

 

 

 

Pickleball Tournament

FromThomas Segale	Thu, Jul 23, 12:19 AM

Hello all.

(Please share with players I may have missed especially the Tues/Thursday group)

It’s that time of the year again.  The 2026 Picklefest is coming up Saturday Aug 8th at 10:30am.  We hope you all sign up for another great day of pickle!

*****Please let me know by Aug 1st if you would like to play. ******

 Please show up between 10:00-10:15 to sign in and warm up.  

And a reminder that Sat the 8th’s Picklefest is not a competitive event for several reasons.  There are way too many levels of players and also players from age 7 all the way up to the mature pickleball members playing.  Please keep this in mind when we are playing the games. 

This is a day to celebrate PB at JP that Thierry and Julie introduced to us and all the friendships that have formed as a result.   And it’s also a chance to raise some money for the courts as we have done in the past.    We will all be randomly paired with all sorts of players so there is no real way to make it fair for everyone.

We ask for a suggested $50 donation,  made out to Joes Pond Association.  Cash is also fine.  Thank you in advance.   

Sun the 9th, 10am is another story.   9:30 Warmup

This will be a typical doubles tourney.  You will play with the same partner and it’s meant to be competitive.  If you need a partner let me know.  

We are going to try and have 2 levels again this year if we get enough people.  We will be capping the teams so sign up early.  

*****Please let me know by Aug 1st if you would like to play in the doubles tourney. ******

The two levels are Intermediate and advanced.  If you would like advice where you think you should play let me know.

If we get enough teams for both levels we’ll try this out so more people can play.  

****And finally if anyone would like to host the Picklefest party on Saturday night please reach out. ****

Tom Segale

617.909.0960

 

Upcoming Events

 Just a few reminders that there are interesting things going on in our community that you may want to check out. This Sunday, July 26, there is a special service being held at the United Church of  Cabot. Here are details:

The United Church of Cabot is delighted and grateful to welcome back Arthur Zorn, baritone and organist; and Denise Ricker, flautist, this Sunday.  Pinky (Deanna VanSchagen !!) will be leading the service.  Arthur has a soft spot for Cabot and he particularly enjoys the acoustics of the church.

Church services in Cabot start at 10 a.m. with light refreshments after the service. Cabot has no regular minister and depends on lay preachers. "Pinky" VanSchagen and her sister, "Marvie" Gould Domey, grew up in Cabot's lower village. They, along with a few others, are faithful leaders for Sunday worship services. The church is sustained by a small group of volunteers who work hard to keep the doors open. It is a beautiful little church and if you haven't visited, please do. 

The Hook & Hastings Opus 1699 pipe organ in the Cabot church is small (two manuals, one pedal, seven pipes) but in that auditorium, the sound produced by skilled musicians will surely impress you. I hope you will attend - and make a generous donation to the church!

Then, don't forget the special Old Home Day celebration at Danville's Old North Church featuring a band concert at 5:30 and an evening lamp-light service with Howard Coffin doing his presentation, "Vermont Women in the Civil War." Be sure to take a flashlight to aid in getting around as the church has no electricity - inside or out!

Also - the Joe's Pond Association Pig Roast is coming up on Saturday, August 1st. You can reserve your ticket by contacting Michelle Parker at 802-229-8565. Tickets are $25. This is traditionally a really fine feast of a supper and always well attended. Tickets are limited to these events, so better get your request in before it's too late! See you there!

Just a note on our weather - we seem to be in "late August" mode rather than late July. The nighttime temperatures lately have been in the low 50s and even daytimes struggle to get out of the 70s. I'm showing only 66.7 right now and it's 10:30 a.m., when the sun should be beginning to bake us. There's a brisk west wind that makes it really chilly unless you are in the direct sun. I wouldn't be surprised to see maple leaves turning any day now! I opened up the house for a little while first thing this morning, not realizing how chilly it was - but now I've closed up but I'm resisting turning on any heat. Hopefully it will be warmed up by noon. In the meantime, I have some housework to do that will keep me moving and get my circulation going. That's not my idea of an ideal way to keep warm, but it works! Enjoy the fresh, cool air - there's plenty of it here at Joe's Pond!

 

Sunfish Race Results

I'm a bit tardy getting these results to you, and I apologize - it's been a busy day! Sunday was a really crazy-wind day and Susan said it made for a very interesting race! Here's her report:

Joe's Pond reminded us once again that sailing is all about adapting to the weather. Last Sunday's race was cancelled because there wasn't enough wind. This Sunday, the problem was just the opposite—strong winds made for some very challenging sailing. As one sailor summed it up, "It was not a fun day!"

Six sailors planned to race, but only three crossed the starting line. The heavy winds proved difficult, with every sailor except Jack LaGue capsizing at least once during the race.

David Porter and his son, Sidney, capsized twice but persevered to cross the  finish line first and claim the victory for the Second Division. Picture on left.

In the Single Division, Jack LaGue (shown in the photo top right) earned first place, followed by Rob Stewart (photo at bottom right).

The next race is scheduled for Sunday, August 2. Here's hoping for winds that are just right—not too little and not too much! --Susan Bouchard

Good luck with that, Susan! Weekends this summer have been decidedly different - either steaming hot, really soggy wet, or cool and blustery. It does seem like we've had more than the usual amount of wind and violent storms here and there. 

Today has been an almost perfect summer day with temperatures reaching the high 70s and sporting a nice breeze. Actually, with doors and windows open, it was a bit chilly in my house, but I was busy and didn't mind - the fresh air was nice. Last night was really chilly - I forgot to check this morning to see what the low was, but I'm pretty sure it was 50 degrees -  or it might have even been in the high 40s. It felt like fall when I took the hummingbird feeder in about dark. It's time to begin closing up the house already - the outside temperature is 70 and the sun is slipping behind the  hill in back of my house, so it's going to get cool fast.

Before I sign off, a friend who is vacationing in Montana posted an interesting link on her Facebook page - (perhaps she is just a tad homesick?)  It is a Backroads and Brushstrokes site. I think you might have fun looking at these - some very familiar -  photos. Enjoy. 

 

Details and Photos

 As so often happens, after I've written a post, something more relevant comes to my mailbox. Here is a detailed report about the milfoil harvesting that has been going on this week here at Joe's Pond. Thanks to Barry Cahoon and everyone associated - good job, everyone, and rewarding results! Here's Barry's report:

To the Joe's Pond Association Membership:

 The JPA contracted with VTHozerz of Sudbury, VT to conduct Diver-Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) operations in July, 2026 to reduce the population of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM).  VTHozerz completed their contractual obligations this past week 07/13-07/17.

The JPA Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Committee (EWMMC) originally anticipated DASH operations would be conducted in both the First and Second Ponds.  However, extensive investigations by the JPA Dive Team did not find any concentrations of EWM in the Second Pond meriting the attention of the DASH crew.  Thus all DASH work was focused on the widespread and dense populations of EWM in the First Pond.

 The DASH team collected the harvested EWM in 55 gallon drums cut in half for a filled capacity of 22.5 gallons (see photo below).  A total of 21 of these barrels were filled over the past week.

It is tempting to conclude that this EWM management operation has reduced the population sufficiently to make further EWM containment activities in the First Pond unnecessary in 2026.  However, members of the JPA dive team and Nick Knapp, the VTHozerz crew leader both reported numerous small EWM plants just sprouting from the lake bed. Above:  This is one day's harvest by the VTHozerz crew.  JPA volunteers from left:  Jamie Dimick, Scott Burns, Jim Bernotas

 JPA members may recall in 2025 that VTHozerz also was contracted by the JPA to conduct suction harvesting which was performed along the Sandy Beach and Channel Drive shorelines; and that, despite that operation, we experienced an explosion of EWM growth in these two areas, which we subsequently treated with the herbicide PorcellaCOR.

 In response to that experience, the EWMMC moved the DASH project back a month from the middle of June to the middle of July.  Our hopes are that by harvesting later in the season, we will avoid the explosive growth that occurred last year.

 Even the success of this operation does not rule out a possible ProcellaCOR treatment later in the summer.  For as long as the potential for complete eradication of EWM from Joe's Pond appears and remains possible, the EWMMC feels we should judiciously and thoughtfully apply all the most effective tools available to us.  To enable this option, the JPA will be pursuing approval of a ProcellaCOR Treatment Plan from DEC for 2026; should the EWMMC decide such management action is necessary and in the best interests of the JPA and for Joe's Pond.

 We were pleased to see that VTHozerz made a significant improvement in containing EWM fragments from being released back in the lake.  The photo below shows the sieving of harvested plant material from the water that is being discharged back into the lake.  This set-up proved highly effective.  Unseen in the photo is a turbidity curtain that hangs below the boat forcing the sediment-laden water to drop back directly onto the lake bed thereby avoiding excessive turbidity.

Pictured at left,  Screening suctioned plant material.  Nick Knapp, VTHozerz Suction Harvesting Team Leader 

The effectiveness and productivity of this EWM management operation was not possible without a tremendous effort and commitment by many JPA member volunteers.  This report would be deeply remiss if these dedicated members are not recognized.

 First, the tireless leadership of the dive team by Jim Bernotas was absolutely essential.  By locating every EWM concentration and marking with buoys, the dive team greatly increased the efficiency of the suction harvesting operation.  The DASH crew never had to spend time hunting around for the next place to go.  Bob Dimick and Scott Burns also made major in-water contributions locating EWM and also hand pulling.

 Jamie Stewart, Joe Hebert, Jamie Dimick, Peter Crosby and Barry Cahoon all spent time providing surface support for the dive team, the kayakers, providing communications and direction to the DASH crew, and myriad other logistical support duties.

 At least 22 individual JPA members spent hours on the water in kayaks, frequently in challenging conditions, to patrol for and collect EWM fragments.  Joanne Stewart deserves recognition and thanks for coordinating and scheduling full coverage at all times the DASH crew was in operation.

 To reduce the contract cost of the DASH work, the JPA agreed to provide meals and lodging.  A special thanks to Chris Hebert for providing the lodging at his camp, to Susan Bouchard for coordinating all the meals, and to all the JPA members, too numerous to list here, that provided the abundant and delicious food.

 Ron Gauthier provided space at his dock to tie up the DASH boat and access for unloading harvested plant material.  Jim Bernotas provided his dock to tie up the JPA boat and his camp for communal lunches and toilet facilities.

 A special thanks to Louis and Amber Montague who purchased $50.00 gift cards at Red Barn Brewing for the VTHozerz DASH crew.  Several JPA team members joined for an enjoyable and relaxing evening on open mic night.

 Many other member contributions, large and small were made.  Thanks to all who have not been specifically mentioned here.

 Thank you to State Senator Scott Beck from Caledonia County who accepted an invitation to meet with the JPA, view the area at the Department of Fish & Wildlife fishing access where the JPA last fall proposed a boat wash facility; a proposal that has been rejected by DF&W, and participated in a boat tour of the DASH and JPA teams in operation.  Senator Anne Watson from Washington County was also invited but did respond as unable to attend due to prior commitments.  In the previous biennium, Senators Watson (Chair) and Beck (Clerk) of the Senate Natural Resources Committee were both supportive of language, introduced in part by the JPA, in proposed legislation that would have mandated greater collaboration by the DF&W with lake associations seeking to site boat wash facilities at state-owned fishing access areas.  If they continue in these legislative positions in the next biennium the JPA will be working with them again to enact statutory provisions that will enable siting this vital infrastructure for prevention of the introduction and spread of invasive aquatic species.

 As we go forward, members are urged to always keep on the forefront of your minds, that achievement of EWM eradication, or even just containment at an equilibrium level, requires the constant attention, efforts and commitment of all of us.  EWM is a formidable foe.  See the photo on the left of just one plant found and hand pulled this past week on the Second Pond.

This is Barry Cahoon holding One single invasive milfoil plant found and hand pulled by JPA Dive Team on Second Pond 07/15/26

For the Joe's Pond Association

Barry Cahoon, JPA Water Quality Director, Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Coordinator