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. 

 

Spring is Here!

We are finally enjoying some nice days in between gloomy, showery days. The cool rainy weather has been great for lawns and early spring flowers, and even the trees seem to be thriving - getting that soft, feathery look as their buds begin to swell. Of course that means pollen - and even people normally not bothered by allergies find they are coughing or sneezing more than usual.

Advancing through spring means dealing with rough and sometimes muddy roads around the pond. Most will eventually get some attention, and West Shore Road, being a Class 3 road on the Cabot side of the pond, has had some gravel added and it's been raked or honed a few times. In early spring it is routinely posted against heavy trucks such as logging trucks, etc., and that helps keep the road from being badly broken up and rutted when the frost is beginning to come out. It is still rough sometimes, with lots of puddles and washboard showing up after a rain, but definitely we didn't have an awful mud season this year.

Joe's Pond people are returning, and our first Association meeting will be on May 23rd at 10 a.m. at the pavilion. Dues are also payable now - $75 this year. The amount was increased by vote last year due to the ongoing expense of combating Eurasian water milfoil (EWM). It is always very pleasant to see everyone at the meeting after being out of touch all winter. Just a reminder that the weather is often still pretty cool for our spring meeting and there is only "body heat" in the pavilion, so dress accordingly! We look forward to seeing many of our friends at the meeting. 

Spring Meeting is always fun - we may get to meet the winners of the Ice-Out if they come by to receive their checks, and the 2027 Ice-Out Contest tickets will be available so you can pick some up to distribute to friends and family during the summer. They are great to give as gifts in cards or as favors at parties. Or give a few to friends to sell to their friends - the more the merrier! Where else can you get so much fun out of spending a dollar these days! People really love receiving them and the possibility of winning thousands of dollars! 

I had the outside of my house washed today - what a difference! It is so nice to have the winter dirt and grime, and years of mildew growing on the north side of the house where it gets very little sunshine, gone. Top Cleaning & Restoration out of Lyndonville did a "soft wash." The process has plenty of pressure and it did the job!  I'm impressed and wish I'd done it ages ago! Two very nice young men, Justin and Devin, did the work - they arrived as it was spitting snow and got their equipment set up during a rain shower. Working conditions were not ideal today and I'm sure their hands were freezing with all the wetness, but they didn't complain, stuck to it, and it all went very smoothly. I did a quick visual before they left and I couldn't believe the difference. Really nice job and they left everything far better than they found it! Also, they explained to me that the solution they use works with sunshine to keep surfaces from getting mildew again.

 Bob and I went for our First Thursday lunch date yesterday. We decided on the "Nook" in Barton village. It is a little hole-in-the-wall bar and grill on the main street that we first tried about a year ago. It was great then and surely didn't disappoint us yesterday. We took back roads on the way home - got well twisted up out in the Craftsbury area where there are lots of twists and turns with side roads and branches that are deceptive. We saw some lovely country - I think spring is further along up that way than it is here. And that area still has some working farms which is so nice to see.We had fun.

Bob is looking forward to diving with the Milfoil Control group again this summer.

I had a nice visit with Jamie and Joanne Stuart this week when they delivered the JPA newsletter to me. It was great to see them both and catch up. I know many other Joe's Ponders are here already, and I'm sure more will arrive before the Spring Meeting. I wish you all safe travels - and I look forward to seeing you at the meeting. 

Lake Update

 Beautiful spring weather - finally! We couldn't ask for nicer weather. The sun is shining, the temperature is 69 degrees in the shade, and there's just a gentle breeze - no howling wind with snowflakes flying! The pond is completely open and sparkling blue, ready for summer fun.

There is more news on the wake boat situation. The rule change request that, if passed, will make wake boats illegal on Joe's Pond and several other small lakes in Vermont has passed from the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR). The committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for May 14, and hopefully the new rules will be on the agenda - and be passed. You can read more about it HERE.

We are hearing and seeing more wildlife as things respond to the changing season and warmer weather. The bears are certainly out and about and hungry! There are other prowlers in the night - skunks, foxes, raccoons, and who knows what else. Last week I heard wood frogs in my pond a couple of nights, but I listened Saturday night and last night when the temperature was back in the 40s and all was quiet. When I walked around the pond yesterday, I didn't see a single toad, frog, or polliwog. I know they are there and I'm sure as our weather continues to warm up, the chorus will resume - with a variety of species tuning up. We hear geese and ducks regularly, and the loons and eagle are here. There hasn't been much boating activity on the pond, but that will change soon.

If you are headed north shortly, we'll be happy to see you. It's always exciting to welcome friends back after a long, cold winter. Although later this week we are expecting rain and cooler temperatures, the possibility of snow flurries is almost past. If we get a sifting of snow again, it won't amount to much. We have had snow flurries well into May in past years, so anything is possible, but I don't believe you will need to shovel your way into your summer home! Travel safely - we look forward to seeing you soon.