We have a good news/bad news report tonight.  The good news is that one of the loon eggs has hatched at the nest on Pearl Island; the bad news is that the bald eagle that's been hanging out here at the pond may be waiting for lunch.  Here's what Evelyn Richer sent to me today:  I know that these scenarios are common with wild life - seemingly awful things happen all the time as one species preys on another in order to survive - but it would be sad if the eagle got any of the baby loons.

Hi Jane,

Yesterday, presumably, in the wee hours of the morning the first chick on
Pearl Island hatched... we were able to tell when by the calls the adults
were making, and by the siting itself by about 7 am... The second chick
has hatched this morning... so we have two chicks and we ask the usual
caution be taken by all to watch for the family and give them space...

Update on the other nest site between the first and second pond in the
narrows:  two eggs... still not hatched (but soon)

We hope the eagle moves on.. as the chicks are very vulnerable at this
point... he's come this time of year for the past 5 years just as the
loon chicks hatch it seems... he usually 'hangs' up here in the marsh,
but of course there may be much more for him to monitor with two active
nests here on Joe's...

Enjoy this sunshine!!  Blessings, Evelyn

I know that these scenarios are common with wild life - seemingly awful things happen all the time as one species preys on another in order to survive - but it would be sad if the eagle got any of the baby loons.  Of course, it happens all the time, and the eagle probably finds all kinds of small animals like squirrels, rabbits and mice, but I expect they generally have a better chance since they can hide in the underbrush.  The loon chicks are really "out there" and much easier for him to grab.


I worked in my flower gardens a while this morning.  I am losing some of my perennials as lilies-of-the-valley take over.  It's strange that I didn't notice that last year, although they must have been taking over then, too.  I can't believe so many could appear in just one spring.  I love them, but really don't want them everywhere.  I tried very hard to rid my lower flower bed of Japanese lanterns - those pretty orange lantern-shaped things you dry and use in fall arrangements - but today I found they are still there, with roots running in all directions and their leaves popping out of crevasses in the stone walls and under the canopy of big peony bushes.  I tried planting some along the road where the lupines grow each spring.  I thought they'd make a nice splash of color in the fall after everything else has died back, but as far as I know, none of the seeds or transplants took down there.  I suspect they somehow wriggled their way back up the hill where they're joyously going to overtake their original home ground in spite of my efforts. 

Another plant I don't seem to be able to control is euphorbia.  I put two plants in several years ago thinking the early yellow flowers would be a nice accent on either side of the philodendron.  They are, but now I have mounds of this stuff popping up everywhere.  I keep pulling them out - and just now, when I went to the above link, discovered the milky liquid in them can be toxic and cause irritation on skin - however, it hasn't bothered me, and I've pulled a lot of the stuff without my gloves on.  I guess I'll wear gloves from now on, though.


I moved some astilbe last year, and that is flourishing like never before.  My rhododendron, however, took a big hit last winter.  I was going to dig it up today and move it to a more favorable position (although there's really no place that's really good for them here, I'm guessing - too cold most years) and then I noticed there are lots of new shoots coming and it looks as if there will be some nice new leaves before the end of the summer.  I guess I'll leave it in place and just try to cover it better next year.  We didn't have enough snow cover this year to protect it from the cold weather, but I'll try to heap snow over it next year.  I've always wrapped it in burlap and then plastic around a wood frame to protect it against the wind and cold, but usually there's also a couple feet of snow over it, too.  Not so this past winter.


I think my southernwood bush bit the dust, too.  I transplanted it last year, but it doesn't seem to be alive.  I'll wait a bit to see if anything develops, but it isn't looking good.  It's a bush my mother had and always liked for it's fragrance.  I'm not partial to the fragrance, but I always liked it's delicate green foliage.


On the other hand, last fall when I cleaned out the big urns I'd had geraniums and other flowers in during the summer, I stuck a couple of dusty miller plants in the ground next to where I was working on a stone wall, just to fill a space.  It was a nice surprise today when I realized they are doing fine, so I guess I'll leave them there - a good contrast with the dark stones in the wall.  

We've had two reports of sightings of a large bald eagle this morning.  It was seen on the big pond, Route 2 side, near the narrows.  It was first spotted by Jim Gabert when he was out fishing early this morning.  Later, Andy Rudin saw the bird, too.  

Here's what Andy wrote:

I don't know how rare this is for Joe's Pond.

A fairly large bald eagle is in the top of a tree above the third white camp to the right of the red camp along Route 2 in the third pond, near the narrows.  It has been there over an hour.

Jim Gabert came over to call my attention to it.  He spotted it while fishing.

What an impressive bird!

 
Fred went to try to get a picture, but the eagle had gone by the time he got there - unfortunately, Jim had to leave us a message, and by the time we got it and Fred headed out, he missed him by about five minutes.  We'll keep trying, though, but keep watch and get a picture for us if you can.

We have seen them around the pond a few times in the past five years or so, but as far as we can tell, they aren't nesting nearby.  There is a restoration program going on in the state, so that may account for our seeing them recently.  The ones we've seen have been young, not full grown. 

I found another site that lists sightings.  Take a look - several in our general area.

Cabot Community Service Award

In an effort to celebrate the valuable contributions made by many people to our community, the Cabot Select Board and the Cabot School Board are soliciting nominations for the 2012 Cabot Community Service Award. This award will recognize a Cabot resident whose contributions of time, talent, and energy over a number of years have had a significant positive impact on Cabot School and/or the larger Cabot community. Previous recipients of this award have contributed to the strength and vitality of our community in a variety of ways: through coaching, mentoring, organizing and helping with community-wide activities, and serving on various boards and committees.

If you know of an individual well-deserving of this award, please send a letter of nomination prior to June 11^th that describes his/her contributions, to either the Cabot School Board or the Cabot Select Board at the addresses listed:

Cabot Select Board                                                 Cabot School Board

Caleb Pitkin, chair                                                      Chris Tormey, chair

c/o Town Clerk’s Office                                           c/o Cabot School

Willey Building                                                            25 Common Rd.                                        

Cabot, VT 05647                                                           Cabot, VT 05647

Thanks very much!

Chris Tormey

Chair, Cabot School Board

 I love it when something really interesting and unusual comes to me.  I just received a couple of photos taken by Joyce Rogers on West Shore Road.   

Joyce is expert at a lot of things, including growing flowers, but who knew she'd be a magnet for these lovely critters?  She found them in her garden across the road from their house, and she identified them as Swallowtail butterflies. 


It seems to me there are more butterflies around than usual this year, but I have never seen this many of any species all in one place.  Looks like some exotic flowering ground cover . . . !

We are expecting another round of electrical storms - I can hear thunder in the distance.  This morning our power was off and on half a dozen times, and we had a few minutes of pea-sized hail; and overnight we got 1.31 in. of rain.  At noon there were tornado watch alerts saying conditions will be right for tornado formation during the late afternoon into the evening, with dangerous electrical storms.


I've had the scanner on, and a house on Liberty Street in Barre was reported hit by lightning.  I haven't heard anything further, but I finally turned off the scanner because the power was so erratic I gave up working on the computer and left my office to do other things.  I'm about to leave again - I don't like thunder storms, and don't want to be on my computer, near a window, or on the phone during a storm.  Here are a few tips about staying safe in electrical storms.

I received this request this morning:

My name is Bill Hanson, son of Ruth and Ed Hanson (both deceased) of St. Johnsbury. My wife and I are in the market for a summer cabin with waterfront. My wife is disabled, so the cabin should have master bed and bath on the ground floor.

We will be renting on the pond June 30-July 14 and are available to look at any available cabins.

Thank you

Bill Hanson

210-820-2111
bhanson@sanantoniosports.org

Summer position available in Farm to School Vermont program:

 

Contact:

Melissa Bridges
Education and Outreach Director

Farm to School Coordinator
St. J. Food Co-op
Farm to Community Mentor, NOFA
802-748-9498

For those of you who missed the Spring Meeting of the Joe's Pond Association yesterday, I've put together a slide show for you.  You'll have to wait a few days for the minutes of the meeting, but they will be posted on the web site - I'll let you know when they are available.  In the meantime, we had a very good, productive meeting, and I'm sure you'll recognize a lot of the people in the pictures.

Late last night I sent off an e-mail to our members - at least, the ones I have addresses for - to let them know Ice Out tickets for the 2013 contest are available at Hastings Store.  Each year we put 10 tickets in an envelope for each JPA member to buy or sell, and those are at the store with a big sign to remind people to pick them up.  For those of you who are not members but who want tickets either for yourself or to sell, they are on sale at Hastings, and will be at the Joe's Pond Country Store later this week.  For those of you who have been so great about selling lots of tickets for us, we ask that you order them from either Diane Rossi (Dmbrossi@aol.com) or me (janebrown@joespondvermont.com).  Each year we have approximately 12,000 tickets distributed, and while we don't often run short these days because we also have tickets on-line on the website, it can happen if people take tickets and then don't use them.  So, members -  please let us know if you will not use the 10 tickets allotted to you, and if you need extras (bless you!!) get in touch with Diane or me.

 I mentioned in an earlier entry that there is a loon nest on the small island, Pearl Island.  Warning signs have been put in the channel between the island and the mainland to let boaters know to keep away from the nest and, if they must travel through there, go very quietly and slow so the loons will not be disturbed.  We have another nest on the middle pond - I'm not quite sure where that is, but I expect there will be signs there soon, if they aren't out already.  This picture is behind the island - you can see the markers in the channel.

As we were leaving the recreation area after the meeting, we noticed the play area was being utilized by several children.  There are new seats on the swings, and the tennis courts are all spiffed up, so it's a great place for children to play.  We do have a concern about dogs being allowed to run loose during the summer.  We ask that everyone not only keep their dogs leashed when outside, but also please clean up after your pet.  We need to keep the play area and walkways clean and safe for people of all ages who use them.

We hope everyone has a safe and pleasant Memorial Day weekend.  The weather promises to be nicer than many years, so there will no doubt be many more people out and about on the roads and playing in/on the water and other sports, so please be careful.  Raise your flag to honor our service men and women, past and present, and perhaps join a parade or memorial service to honor them.

 How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!  ~Maya Angelou

 

Work Update

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

WEEK OF 5/28/12

In observation of Memorial Day, no work will be performed on the project through the holiday weekend, including Monday.  Work on the project will resume Tuesday morning.

Utility Work:

Utility crews will continue relocating the utility lines around the Village Green.

Route 2 Roadwork:

Crews will continue grading and preparing the box cut on the west end of the project for paving.  Grading operations will require alternating one-way travel around the construction package.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

We've had a busy day doing errands in St. Johnsbury, Littleton and West Danville.  The day has been pretty, nice and warm with lots of sunny times, but there have been cloudy periods, too.  No rain, just big, beautiful clouds.  Fred got some pictures.

When we went down Route 2, we noticed a smudge over on the back side of the pond - perhaps on Otis Drive or Laperle.  Or it might have been along the rail-trail.  It was hard to tell, but in the top picture you can see a little of the smoke through the trees.

After we got home, Fred had to go to help out a neighbor, and took the other two pictures on the way.  It was one of those days when you think the clouds are so close and heavy, it could rain any minute - but it doesn't.  The air is moist and fragrant with apple blossoms and fresh green grass.  We remarked as we were on our way home from St. Johnsbury it could be the middle of June, with the grass and leaves as far along as this.  Global warming, I suppose.  That led to a conversation about how our maple trees would cope if this warming trend continues.  We've heard dire predictions that they would not thrive in the warmer climate.  Maple producers would need to move ever further north, I suppose, to still be able to manufacture the sweet stuff. 

For now, though, our maples are still thriving as far as we can tell, and everything looks fresh, healthy, and beautiful.

Speaking of beautiful, I had an interesting link sent to me by Andy Rudin.  I liked it very much - and I bet you will, too.  Take a few minutes to watch the whole thing - it's quite lovely. 

I want to remind everyone of the Joe's Pond Association meeting this coming Saturday.  It's at the pavilion at 10 a.m.  It should be a very nice day, weatherwise, and we hope those of our members that are back will come have a cup of coffee with us to get the season started off in great fashion.

I had a note from Mert Leonard, town administrator in Danville, reporting that the water at the public beach in West Danville was tested this past Tuesday, and is safe for swimming.  Mert is doing the testing now, so if anyone has concerns, get in touch with him, 684-3426.

This just came from Helen Morrison: 

Hi Jane,

I just spent a very nice twenty minutes watching a mother bear and her two yearling cubs munch their way through my dandelions.  I had just read on www.bear.org that, while they are waiting for their natural foods to ripen up, they will eat dandelion flowers.  It was pretty funny watching how delicately they nipped off the flowers.  They were somewhat interested in my house and especially garage where I keep sunflower bird seed.  But they seemed to know they couldn't get in, had their fill of those yellow blossoms, and meandered off.  It was great.

A few minutes later I had another message from Helen about Tux, a sweet black and white male kitty (pictured here on our walkway in 2007) she took in when he needed a home.

 

Was it you who told me that Tux had gone into a house down by the water and sauntered around until he looked up and saw a bear head mounted on the wall and he bolted out the door?  Well, he saw the bears today in my yard, out the window, and he disappeared.  I haven't found him yet.  He must have had a bad encounter once in his more wild days.

 

Tux roamed the neighborhood, visiting us but was not well received by our cat, Woody.  He spent a summer getting handouts when and where he could, and had a regular stop with a couple on Sandy Beach Road.  He got pretty comfortable there until one day he decided to explore the house, perhaps to determine if it would be an acceptable permanent home.  But then he saw the bear.  He took off and never went back.

 

I hope it doesn't take Tux too long to recover from the fright of seeing his old supposed enemies.

We've lost our sunshine today, but it's still 70 degrees outside, with a nice breeze, so very pleasant since it isn't raining - yet.  We are expecting showers later in the day and some tomorrow.  Fred and I walked early this morning and it was pretty nearly perfect "walking weather" for me.  When it gets too hot, I lose energy quickly, but today we went about to Bertrand's before I got so hungry for breakfast I needed to head back home.  

The Bertrands are back, and we also saw Walter Ruf.  He and his sister, Mimi, arrived on Sunday.  There are others returning daily, so I expect we'll have a pretty good turnout for our spring meeting on Saturday.  Some years it's been cold enough that I went to the meeting with my winter parka on and we were grateful for the side curtains at the pavilion.  This year probably will be much warmer, around 79 degrees, but it could be overcast according to the prediction.

We have nearly full foliage now, plus our lilacs are out and my peonies are well budded.  I am going out in a little while to pick some lillies of the valley.  Everything is earlier than usual.  Woody enjoys sitting on the garden steps, quietly waiting for some unsuspecting little animal to show itself - and meet it's doom.

 I have most of my garden planted, but last week when I opened the package of lettuce seeds I'd picked up one day in a hurry at one of the box stores in Littleton, it was empty.  Not a seed in it.  I have never had that happen before - but I understand that some machine somewhere just didn't spit out the prescribed number of little seeds before the envelope went on to be sealed and sent off to the store.  Nobody's fault, but lettuce is one of the things I like to plant early - like peas - but not this year. 

We took some pictures this morning so you can see how pretty it's getting here.   This morning there were no pesky black flies, even in the woods.  I expect there were around, but as long as we kept moving, they didn't bother.


We're looking forward to seeing lots of you at the spring meeting on Saturday.  Remember it's at 10 a.m. at the pavilion.  See you then!

 

People are beginning to return to their cottages, and this has been an especially nice weekend to enjoy being here at the pond. 

I've had a message from Fred Duplesses on the middle pond.  He has retrieved a raft that was floating free and has beached it near the Begin cottage.  That's on the Rt. 15 shore of the middle pond, across from the Route 2 shore.  He said he thought it might belong to someone on the Route 2 shore.  If you are missing a raft, look for it over there.  

Yesterday I posted a message from Helen Morrison about the loons nesting on Pearl's Island.  I had this message from Evelyn Richer today: 

HI Jane...

Yes, Eric Hanson (he posted the signs as we did not have enough signs to
post in such an exposed area), Peggy Pearl, and Liz Sargent have all been
notified that the loons have a new nesting site...and the new 'residents'
are in good hands with Peggy and Liz...They are graciously limiting the
use of the island until after the first  part of June...  They can still
use the island but they have a new 'approach' now... we believe there
could be a new male (he picks the site)... or there was a pesky muskrat
nesting on the old platform... (seen bothering loons last year)

There is also a nest posted in the narrows between the first and second
ponds... We do ask everyone to continue to give the loons space during
this time of nesting... be careful of the boat wakes as these platforms
are not floating and a wave could wash them out and they may either
abandon the nesting effort for the season or retry and have a very late
hatching... These guys are very tolerant, but will still abandon their
duties if hassled too much...

Looks like the loons are getting happier every year with their accommodations here at Joe's Pond.  We've had reports of nests on the shoreline of the smaller sections of the pond before, but as far as I can tell none of those young survived.  Please be careful to slow down so you won't make a big wake at least until the chicks are out of the nest in June.  I'll try to keep you posted when there are reports of chicks.

Fred was out early this morning and took this picture of our old ornamental crab apple trees.  There is a deep red one in the center, and a pink one on the left.  At the right of the picture is our regular apple tree - blooming well this year, so we will have some apples for applesauce.  This tree produces apples only every-other year, and since we don't spray or pay much attention to it, they usually have rusty spots, but inside they are delicious.  The deer love them, too. 

I was pleased that one of the smaller ornamental apple trees has a few buds this year, finally.  I did a little research and found out the trees have to be a few years old before the begin to bloom.  I thought the ones I have were all pretty old, but apparently not.  I lose track of time all the time.

I will be going to our Historical Society annual meeting later this afternoon.  We have to wait until the frost is pretty well out of the ground to go into our building.  We can get in ok, but if the frost isn't out, we cannot close the door securely.  There's no doubt everything will work properly by now - everything is well ahead of "normal" this year.

Here's an interesting story sent by Andy Rudin.  We've all learned a thing or two about making do and recovery from disaster since the severe flooding last year.  It's great that we reach out to  refugees from countries all over the world; and now we have our own "refugees" who still need help.  Vermonters, even those who were not born here but choose to live here, are generally resourceful and independent.  However, we can all learn from others, and one thing catastrophes teach us is that we're all vulnerable and need to lean on others sometimes.  Thanks for sending that piece, Andy.

We are enjoying a beautiful summer day today.  This is the weather we've been waiting for - and it comes on a weekend!!  It doesn't get any better than this.

I have a couple of things that have come to me this morning.  

First, we are making another plea for people to keep their pets controlled.  We have a report of dogs running free on North Shore Road area - and while it's early in the season, some of our members have returned early to enjoy the early nice weather, plus there are many more year around residents than there used to be, therefore, it is necessary for people to keep their pets controlled whenever they are here.  Please don't let dogs run free.  Not only could they harm other pets or people, they could get into serious trouble with wild animals or otherwise get hurt.
There are ordinances in both Cabot and Danville regarding dogs.  If anyone wishes more information, contact the town offices.

I had this message from Helen Morrison this morning: 
 

Hi, Jane -

Gorgeous weather, eh!  I was on an early morning bird walk this past week along Channel Drive.  It is a great bird-viewing area: warblers, finches, ring-necked ducks.  And at the very end, we could look across to the Pearl's island and there was a loon on his/her nest.  Apparently they have not chosen the floating nest but rather the shore of this small island.  Warning signs are posted all around the nest, maybe ten yards out.  But I wonder if it might not be a good idea to remind camp folk to go slowly up at the north end around both islands....i.e. no wake.  And of course, to let their renters know, as well.

Take care.  Have a great day.

 

 It's very good news that the loons are on their nest, but it will take special care to keep them safe since they've chosen to nest in a more natural spot that will not raise and lower as the floating nest did, but could easily be washed away by the wake of a speeding boat.  There is plenty of space south of the islands for boats, so until the chicks are safely out of the nest, please, please be considerate.

 

I had a message from Terri Persons that they are looking for items for the Fourth of July rummage sale in Cabot.  Terri said perhaps people who are opening camp will have items that still have some use that they want to dispose of, so get in touch with Terri.  Her number is 279-6818.  Be sure you plan to visit Cabot on the Fourth - it's always a good time, the parade is awesome and there is something for everyone so you can spend the whole day with the family.  I'll have more about what's happening later on, but mark your calendars, and get in touch with Terri if you have items for the rummage sale.

 

 

I just read in the Caledonian Record that my friend, Betty Hatch, in Walden died.  Betty was 91.  I've known Betty for a number of years.  I first met her when I was associated with the Fall Foliage group.  We met at her house, and there Betty directed the meeting in that "take charge" manner she had that left no doubt she had been at this foliage business a long time and knew what worked and what didn't.  

I soon learned that Betty Hatch was the local historian.  She wrote about her town, covered events for the local papers, and published the Walden 200 newsletter. There seemed to be very little about Walden she didn't know, past or present, and many's the time I've called her for information or referred people looking for Walden information to her, and she usually knew the answers or knew where to find them.

I'll miss Betty Hatch, not only as a resource person, but also as a friend and down-to-earth character who called a spade a spade.  The community will miss her, too.  She was active in her church and served her town well.  And of course her family will miss her dearly.  Her passing leaves a large hole in our hearts and in the community.

Work Update

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

WEEK OF 5/21/12

Utility Duct Bank Installation UPDATE:

Utility duct bank installation is complete!  This work was not scheduled to be completed until the end of June but with the patience and cooperation of the Danville community along with the hard work of the crews, this work was completed over a month early!  Utility companies can now begin relocating lines underground. 

Utility Work:

Utility crews will begin relocating the utility lines on Route 2 near Melody Hill Farm and Passumpsic Bank.

Tuesday, travel will be reduced to alternating one-way traffic near Melody Hill Farm. 

Route 2 Roadwork:

Crews will continue to focus on the west end of the project with fine grading the roadway in preparation for installation of the base layer of pavement by mid to late week.  Grading and paving operations will require alternating one-way travel around the construction package.

Paving operations are weather dependent.  Unfavorable weather conditions could postpone paving to a later date. 

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

This just came to me:  Here is the agenda for the Cabot Select Board meeting tonight, May 17, at 7:00 P.M.
Grand List – Extension

·         Chatot Road w/ Carlton Domey

·         Fuel Service Responses

·         Transportation Enhancement Grant Agreement

·         June 9^th Flooding Grant

·         Ennis Road w/ Doug Newton & Larry Gochey

·         Dog Ordinance

 * * * * *

A request from the Cabot Recreation Department:

ATTENTION CABOT COMMUNITY MEMBERS!: Volunteers needed for this Saturday the 19th @ 10:00 am at the Larry Gochey Ball Field. We are rebuilding the ball field from the devastation of last year's flood. If you have any of the following items to bring with you, please do so:   rake, shovel or a wheel barrow. Thank you... Any Questions please contact Amber Bothfeld@aol.com or call 563-2147.

Jeanne Johnson

802-595-7710

* * * * *

The Friends and our partners are organizing water quality monitoring programs in three parts of the watershed: the Headwaters (Plainfield, Marshfield and Cabot); the Four Rivers Partnership (North Branch, Stevens Branch, Dog River and the Winooski River) and in the Chittenden County Stream Team area (urbanized streams in the Lower Winooski watershed). In the Headwaters and Four Rivers areas, we will be using data from prior years to refine our testing locations and parameters. The CCST program is new this year but we used input from municipal leaders and others to select sites. In each of the programs, we will have scheduled test dates as well as rain-event sampling and stormwater outfall monitoring. In addition to support from the state laboratory, the Friends have a variety of water quality monitoring equipment and supplies that will improve the flexibility and scope of monitoring programs.  

What does it mean to be a volunteer? Each program will have a set sampling day (e.g. Tuesdays) every two-three weeks from late June to mid-September. Volunteers, usually in pairs, collect samples from a set of 2-5 sites and bring them to a central location. Depending on the number of sites, this generally takes between 1-2 hours. Samples for bacteria are generally collected between 6 and 9 a.m for processing on the same day. Samples for other parameters such as phosphorus, nitrogen and suspended sediments can be collected on a somewhat more flexible schedule. Volunteers do not need to be available for all of the sampling dates. A training session will be held in June for each of the programs. 

If you are potentially interested in volunteering, please email info@winooskiriver.org or call 882-8276. We will be in touch with more details.

Sincerely,

Ann Smith

Executive Director

West Danville Community Club Potluck Dinner & Meeting

Our first meeting for 2012 will be Wednesday, May 23rd at 6:00 at the West Danville Methodist Church. Membership is open to anyone interested in our goal of maintaining and enhancing the Joe’s Pond  Public Beach, the Park & Ride and dock areas. Monthly meetings are held throughout the summer.

Dues are $5.00 for an individual  and $10 for a family membership.  New members are welcome.  Please contact Pam Hebert at 684-3655 for more information.  

Fred and I went to East Side Restaurant in Newport for dinner tonight.  Fred thought after I'd suffered through the weekend handicapped by the stopped-up sink, I deserved a night out.  We enjoy the East Side although most times we've been there it's been very crowded.  Tonight it wasn't too bad, but still pretty busy.  
The top picture is of the lake from the parking lot.  There was no activity on the water, and the town seemed pretty quiet - probably because it was Tuesday night and it was raining.  We were able to be on the porch overlooking the water, (next picture) which is very nice.  It's very pleasant there, and the food is good - we especially enjoy the salad bar.  Fred says it's like having two meals instead of just one.  He had lots of salad and then chicken and biscuits, which is a favorite there. 

It rained hard all the way up.  I was driving - somehow that seems to be the norm when we go there - driving up in the rain.  By the time we left the restaurant, the rain had stopped, but the sky was not clear and there was a lot of patchy fog. We took the pictures below on the way up, in the rain - the farm on the right was on Route 14, north of East Hardwick.  The one below was taken just before we got into Glover, I think.  The tree was beautiful, even in the rain.


They are working on the long bridge in Newport, but we didn't go that way, so didn't get any pictures.  I'm not sure what the detour would be to get into the city with the bridge out, but there were lots of signs as we came down the hill from the interstate.

 Newport seems to have a lot going on.  We took the road that goes out towards Derby Line when we left Newport.  That was so we could get a frozen yogurt and coffee at McDonalds for the drive home.  

We're getting more rain tomorrow, and then a promise of colder weather.  It has stayed in the 60 degree range today and even tonight is still about 56.  If things get dried out a bit this weekend, I hope to get some of my garden planted.  It's early, but I think it will be ok to put in some of the cold season things.  I hope we don't get a hard cold snap.  The fruit trees are just blossoming, and a freeze would be deadly for them.  

I'm waiting to see if my three small ornamentals will bloom.  So far I haven't seen a single bud on them - ever.  They are getting to be good sized trees - 5-6 ft. tall, and I would think they'd blossom.  Perhaps I've done something wrong.  I'll try to find out.  The two old ornamentals - and I mean nearly 50 years old because they were planted here by my parents in the early 60's - are loaded with blossoms each year.  One is light pink and one is a deep pink - they are lovely when in bloom.  The crab apple is already pretty much in full bloom, so may be losing petals by the time the others are fully out.  Sometimes all four apple trees are in bloom at the same time, and the scent is out of this world.  I have high hopes.  This rain and some sunshine later should do the trick.  Then we keep our fingers crossed we don't get a hard frost to spoil everything.

ATTENTION CABOT COMMUNITY MEMBERS!: Volenteers needed for this Saturday the 19th @ 10:00 am at the Larry Gochey Ball Field. We are rebuilding the ball field from the devestation of last years flood. If you have any of the following items to bring with you please do so: Rake, Shovel or a wheel barrow. Thank you... Any Questions please contact Amber Bothfeld @ 563-2147

Amber Bothfeld
amberbothfeld@aol.com

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TRAFFIC ALERT

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16^TH

AND

THURSDAY, MAY 17^TH

Smith Street - Access from Route 2 onto Smith Street will be closed to all traffic during work hours.  Motorists will need to use alternate routes to access Smith Street.

ROUTE 2 WORK:

Utility Duct Bank Installation:  Crews will be working on Route 2 installing utility duct banks near Melody Hill Farm.  This work will require alternating one-way traffic around the work zone.

Crews expect the work in this area to wrap up by the end of the day Wednesday or Thursday morning.

Road Work:  Crews will continue the box cut work from the Passumpsic Bank to the west end of the project.  This work will require a moving construction package as operations progress along Route 2.   Motorists will experience alternating one-way traffic at times throughout the day.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

 

 

 

Cabot Recreation Department

 Help needed for

Larry’s Field Rehab!

We need a rototiller to borrow or rent for 5 days to a week

We need 2-4 wheelbarrows for a week or longer

We could use a couple more pairs of hands and backs

WORK IS SCHEDULED TO START ON WEDNESDAY THE 16^TH

If you can help with any of these items please contact Rebecca Nally at 563-3503 rmnally@yahoo.com

by Tuesday evening

Jeanne Johnson

802-595-7710

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Greetings!

 Provender Farm is looking for food to supplement our 3 pigs that we just got at the Farm.  If anyone has waste milk from a farm (cow, goat or sheep) or scraps from a food project that you are looking to get rid of in a sustainable way we would love to take it off your hands!

We are an organic veggie farm that also raises a small amount of meat each year to feed ourselves and those around us.  We could do a meat and veggie trade for your waste scraps...we need a consistent supply if possible.

We also still have CSA shares available.  You can receive fresh produce weekly from our farm and Riverside Farm in East Hardwick (Certified Organic) for below Retail costs.  Please email me if interested.  Pick ups are weekly at our farm in Cabot on Thursdays.  A full share feeds a family of four and costs $375 or you can get a half share which feeds two for $200.  The CSA runs for 18 weeks staring June 21st.

Thanks so much for your time and we hope to see you out and about in the community! 

Lindsey Scott

Provender Farm, Cabot, VT

802-274-1067

WoodBelly Pizza

www.woodbellypizza.com

We didn't know about Provender Farm in Cabot, but found it is on Langone Rd - which is off Menard Road on Danville Hill.  Check out their website - they have some interesting offerings.