This reminder came regarding tomorrow's Select Board meeting in Cabot.  Even if you intend to go to the meeting, you may also want to sign the on-line petition below if you believe the board should delay the ordinance to allow ATVs on most of Cabot's roads, and present the question at town meeting.  Here's what Lars Hasselbalad Torres reports:
 
Hey everybody!
Thanks again for helping to create a more deliberative, participatory process on the matter of ATV access to Cabot roads. I'm sure by now you've had the chance to have some engaging conversations about the issue - I certainly did on Saturday, gathering extra 30 in-person signatures and having some really interesting conversations that ranged from, "So, what do you have against ATVs?" to "This ordinance is a disaster."
So here's my point: the Select Board meets tomorrow and we have 30-odd signatures. We need at least 56 for the Select Board to consider the input. I think we can make a stronger case for an improved public process.
Please take five minutes to pass this petition on to a fellow friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. Remember: this isn't about being for or against ATVs; its about ensuring that the Select Board knows what an informed public thinks about a draft ordinance, and has a clear signal to follows.
Remember, the Select Board meets Wednesday, August 1 at 7:00pm in the Willey Building; we have just under 36 hours to get a convincing number of signatures on this petition.
Many thanks,
Lars
--- View the petition  |  View and reply to this message online
Lars Hasselblad Torres
local64.com | create + play + share
@local64vt | 802-595-0605

I also received a draft copy of the agenda for Wednesday's Select Board Meeting:

    I.            Call Meeting to Order

      II.            Opening Remarks by Chair regarding meeting expectations

    III.            Review, Amendment (if needed), Adoption of this Agenda

    IV.            Review, Amendment (if needed), Adoption of Minutes for July 19, 2012

      V.            Public Comment General (20 min max)

    VI.            Public Comment related to the ATV Ordinance (60 min max)

  VII.            45 mins)

a.       ATV Ordinance

b.      2011 Audit

c.       Cabot Creamery Water Connection ( informational)

d.      VT 11-1 FHWA ER Program (reimbursement)

e.      Salvage Yard application

f.        UDAG – Ackermann release

g.       ICS Training (informational)

h.      Tax Prepayments (process)

i.        Road Crew Position (resumes)

j.        Well closure request (informational)

k.       Appointments to the ZBA

l.        VTrans Structures Grant(s) contact designee(s)

VIII.            Administrative Duties (ongoing)

a.       Public Works Ordinance

b.      Zoning Board of Adjustment  / Development Review Board discussion

c.       VLCT Request to discuss “Wellness” with Town Employees and the Board

d.      Marijuana  Dispensaries possible ordinance discussion

    IX.            Officers Reports

      X.            Correspondence

    XI.            Legal

  XII.            Other Business

a.       Change of Venue for the August 15^th Selectboard Meeting to CSPAC.

XIII.            Adjourn Meeting

---

Jaquith Public Library Presents:

Summer Programs for Folks of all Ages

This is the last Monday Story and Activity Time this Summer!

July 30 at 10 a.m. Hunt for Nighttime Treasures!  Bring your favorite bedtime snack for a picnic.  We will provide the dessert.  Then hunt for treasures in all kinds of nooks and crannies, you never know what you will find!

 Special Morning Program:

Friday July 27, at 10:30 a.m. Dream Big with Bats!

Learn about bats in our attics, building bat houses, vampire bats, bat migration, and hibernation with Jerry Schnieder via slides and taped bat calls. Bring your own solid colored t-shirt and make a bat t-shirt! Jerry will have t-shirts available for purchase. All ages welcome. (Co-sponsored with Cabot Library.)

Evening Program:

Dream Big with Owls and their Calls! August 1, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

This program by Vermont Institute of Natural Science features two live Owls of Vermont and touchable artifacts. Discover the incredible adaptations owls have that enable them to be fierce predators in our nighttime sky. Thank you to the Donnley Foundation for supporting this program. (Co-sponsored with Cabot Library and held at the Jaquith Library).  For nature lovers of all ages.

Free Summer Concert Series Thursdays at 6:30 pm

Join us at the Old Schoolhouse Common gazebo in Marshfield. Bring your chair or blanket, a picnic, and settle down for an evening of great music.  You might even be inspired to get up and dance!  Made to order BBQ supper and bake sale items available for purchase. In case of rain the concerts will be held in the gym.

July 26: Dana and Susan Robinson. These two guitar-playing, banjo-frailing, fiddle-sawing, and harmony-singing troubadours, interpret the American experience. Their unique blend of contemporary songwriting and traditional Appalachian music bring a deep understanding of America’s musical heritage.

August 2: Atlantic Crossing. For over 15 years, the Vermont band Atlantic Crossing has been thrilling concert audiences and contra-dancers with traditional songs and acoustic instrumental music from New England -- music which has deep Celtic roots in the British Isles and in French & Maritime Canada -- together with original compositions inspired by these traditions.
August 9: Michele Fay Band. This Vermont based, acoustic quartet that features original and roots music. Michele’s heart-felt lyrics are central to the ensemble, which brings forth a comfortable groove of folk, swing, and bluegrass-influenced songs that are woven seamlessly together.

NOTICE

The regular meeting of the 

Cabot Select Board

has been changed to 

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

7:00 p.m.

at Willey Memorial Hall, Main St.

The Select Board meets on every 1st and 3rd. Wednesday of each month,

unless otherwise posted.

In the past, the Select Board has met on Thursdays. 

* * * * *

We had another visitor at our apple tree yesterday.  A nice young buck in velvet came into the back yard in the afternoon.  Before we could get the camera out, he had devoured all the day lily blossoms.  We watched and took pictures as he went to the apple tree and carefully picked the little green apples from the branches.  The process knocked several onto the ground, and he seemed to prefer eating them there.  He also ate a lot of the grass under the tree. 

As we watched, something caught his attention in the direction of the road.  I went to see what it was, and was surprised to find Woody sitting by the walkway staring intently at the deer.  The two seemed to be very aware of each other, but neither seemed afraid of the other, and that was a surprise to me after Woody's close call with the doe a few years ago when he decided to make friends with her fawn.  She chased him into the woodpile on the back lawn, and after that, he has been very cautious about deer.  This young buck just seemed interesting to Woody - not a bit frightening.  

 

Fred got tired of watching, but Woody and I were entertained for about a quarter of an hour watching as the young buck nibbled grass and chomped on apples.  Suddenly, Woody decided to get closer, and as soon as he started towards the deer, the young buck sprang forward towards the cat, and Woody did a u-turn in mid air and scooted back to the safety of the walkway.  The deer didn't pursue him; he went back to eating, but kept an eye on Woody.

Then I think he realized there were more of the tasty yellow day lilies right where Woody was sitting.  He started down the hill towards them, but stopped at the lilac bush.  The flies were bothering him a lot, and whether it was the flies or just a young buck being rambunctious, he suddenly did a high kick with his hind feet, and took off down over the bank towards the road.  

I have never seen a buck in velvet before, nor have I seen a deer kick like that.  He looked like one of Santa's reindeer getting ready to take off.  I got some pictures and have made a slide show.

I sure wish I'd been fast enough to catch that high kick, though.

 

 

We had a visitor at our apple tree today.  It was raining and there had just been a loud thunder clap.  I could feel the temperature dropping and saw that the wind was picking up, so went to close the windows throughout the house.  I was finishing up in the bedroom and glanced out at our apple tree, and there was a beautiful little doe absorbed in yanking little green apples off the tree.  I had already cranked the window closed, which usually spooks deer because they see it move, even if they don't hear it.  I called to Fred to get the camera, but by the time he could get there, her attention was caught by something in the woods nearby - perhaps she'd left her fawn in the protection of the underbrush - but Fred got her picture just before she stepped into the bushes out of sight.  This is the first sighting we've had for many months.  Usually we have a doe and a fawn or two visit in the early spring, but hadn't happened to see any at all this year.  This one will be back, and perhaps she'll bring her fawn next time.

There has been some discussion of the validity of the on-line petition I posted a couple days ago.  My understanding is that a petition of any kind, on-line or paper, is premature in this instance.  I believe only after an ordinance is passed can there be a valid petition to recommend there be a vote to decide if the ordinance will be continued or not. 

The procedure for adopting a town ordinance is outlined by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns handbook, Chapter 9.  Section B on page 81, describes the steps for approval or disapproval.  The petitions circulating in Cabot at present will serve only to let the select board know public opinion.

I haven't shared a picture of Woody lately, so I thought I'd show you this one.  This is how he spends most of his day, especially when the weather is either too hot or to rainy and wet for him to be outside comfortably.

Woody has trained us to his routine:  he goes out first thing in the morning, but comes back in 10 - 15 minutes.  He gets brushed, has a snack, and heads for his bed on this stool in front of the picture windows in the living room.  He usually doesn't stir until around 2 o'clock except to change position every hour or so.  Once he's had lunch, weather permitting, he begins a routine of being outside for fairly long periods, but comes in for snacks.  We laugh that we get lots of "breaks" answering his knocks when we're trying to work on our computers or do household chores.  As darkness falls, the periods between snacks lengthens, and if we're lucky (and he's unlucky), he comes in around 10:30 or 11 and he's in for the night, regardless of his protests.  At least he doesn't make such a big fuss about wanting to go out late at night as he used to.  He has better manners now he's older . . . or maybe after all these years he's finally figured out he has a curfew.   We never said he's a fast learner.

From: Bothfeld, Diane [mailto:Diane.Bothfeld@state.vt.us]
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 9:50 AM
Subject: Position announcement at Agency of Agriculture

Hello all,

Below is a job announcement for the VT Agency of Agriculture for a renewable energy person with work with farmers.  Please pass this along to interested parties.

Thanks, Diane

Job Description
	Posting Date:	07/24/2012		Position Number:		280120
	Position:  Senior Agriculture Devel Coord
	Agency Agriculture Location: Montpelier Reference: Job Code: 30620 470100 Job Type: Classified Full/Part Time: Full-Time Shift: N/A Hourly Rate Pay Grade $23.17 25
	Application Deadline:
		08/07/2012
	Who May Apply This position, Senior Agriculture Development Specialist (Ref #30620), is open to all State employee and external applicants. If you would like more information about this position, please contact Diane Bothfeld at 802-828-1619 or Diane.bothfeld@state.vt.us. Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail.  You must apply online to be considered at the following website:    http://humanresources.vermont.gov/career_center General Job Description Promotional, marketing and development work for the Agricultural Development Division involving the expansion of markets for Vermont agricultural products. Duties include the provision of assistance to the agricultural community in marketing, production and infrastructure development. Work is performed under the supervision of the director of Agricultural Development and in conjunction with senior staff in the Ag Development Division.  Extensive interaction with various agricultural producers, marketing groups, and media representatives is involved. Examples of Work Job duties will include promoting renewable energy on Vermont farms by working with farmers, organizations and companies promoting renewable energy technologies, communities, schools, institutions, and federal, state, and local governments. Participates in the design and implementation of comprehensive programs to promote renewable energy, with a particular focus on agriculture. Conducts market analysis to determine cost effectiveness of renewable energy technology for Vermont farmers.  Provides technical assistance to agricultural producers in developing renewable energy projects.  May interact with others to arrange funding from government, industry, and interest groups for renewable energy projects on farms. Prepares a variety of program reports and promotional materials, including articles for the Agency’s newspaper, Agriview. Speaks before a variety of consumer, producer, processor, shipper, and sales publics. Assists in Agency participation in both in-state and out-of-state trade shows. Performs related duties as required. Interacts with Public Service Department (PSD) to help determine Clean Energy Development fund granting opportunities, run the States 25x25 initiative, and work cooperatively on developing initiatives and strategies to advance renewable energy deployment in Vermont with relevant PSD staff, including the Clean Energy Development Fund Manager and the Renewable Energy Development Manager Minimum Qualifications Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Considerable knowledge of renewable energy technologies. Considerable knowledge of economic factors involved in renewable energy projects. Working knowledge of the basic laws of economics. Working knowledge of the methodology of statistical data gathering, compilation and evaluation. Considerable ability to organize activities to accomplish objectives in a timely and cost effective manner. Considerable ability to address a variety of publics in a positive and persuasive manner. Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing. Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships. Education and Experience: Education: Bachelor's degree in the field of agriculture, economics, sustainability/environmental studies, marketing, public relations, communications or advertising. Experience: Three years at or above a technical level in agriculture, renewable energy, marketing, public relations, communications or advertising. Note: Additional experience as defined above may be substituted for the Bachelors degree on a six months for semester basis. Note: Graduate work in agriculture, marketing, public relations, sustainability/environmental studies/renewable energy, communications or advertising may be substituted for the required experience on a semester for six months basis Working Conditions Duties are generally performed in a standard office setting.  Some travel may be required. Equal Employment Opportunity The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

David SnedekerPlanning DirectorNortheastern VT Development Association(802) 748-5181 ext. 15

(802) 748-1223 faxdsnedeker@nvda.net

This article was just sent to us.  It was on WCAX-TV and also appeared in the Caledonian Record:

Article published Jul 27, 2012
ATV rollover kills Barre man

WELLS RIVER — Vermont State Police say a Barre man died when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving crushed him Thursday.

Adam Davis, 27, was trying to drive his four-wheel ATV up a steep embankment in a wooded area of Wells River when it rolled on top of him, according to state police. His body was sent to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.

According to a government website on ATV safety, part of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 16 deaths in Vermont from all-terrain vehicle crashes from 2007 to 2010, the last numbers available.

* * * * *

The following is from Mert Leonard, Health Officer in Danville, who tests the water at the public beach: 

Greetings all.
Good news at the Joe's Pond beach water test was safe for swimming at  1st spot at 45MPN/100mL and second spot of 55 MPN/100mL. Second pond was not safe for swimming at > 2420 MPN/100mL. Third pond was safe for swimming at 34 MPN/100mL. 

Yesterday, July 26th, I was summoned to the beach to observe the 50 wild geese, actually rather tame ones, messing up much of the beach area. I have heard about this mess but couldn't imagine it until I saw it. The lawn and beach area is being cleaned up, and as soon as that is done the beach will reopen.

This must be the "problem" with the Joe's Pond all over. We need to take some action to convince the birds to move on. Any where they congregate they should be disturbed by load noises, flashing lights, reflective streamers, boats etc. Keep them on the move and perhaps they will leave. Above all, encourage people not to feed them. 

Thanks to Mert for reporting back to us.  

 The geese are able to fly now, but probably won't take off voluntarily until cold weather unless people make it too uncomfortable for them here.  As Mert says, you can chase them with boats, pitch firecrackers at them, or play loud music to discourage them, but please remember you have neighbors who may not appreciate the racket. The reflective tape, or even old CD discs fluttering on strings along the shore may do it.  Chico Carcoba sent pictures of string strung "goose high" along the waterfront with what looks like reflective party decorations, which he said is effective.  They apparently don't want to navigate under or over anything, and any movement disturbs them as they think it might be a predator.

The top picture has more  "decorations" on the string, and that may be because there's an easy walk-on beach area leading to the grass.  In the second picture, there appears to be a small sea wall, and according to wildlife experts, the geese will not try to come ashore there.  They also avoid tall grass and/or bushes, as there may be predators hiding there.


Geese spend the night on the water, and only come ashore to feed during daylight hours so they can see any predators that may be around.

If you are a Cabot resident and agree that all the town's voters should be able to vote on the proposed ATV ordinance, you can sign an on-line petition to have the question decided by ballot on or before Town Meeting, 2013. The following was received by us this morning and will explain:  (I just clicked on the link provided and completed the petition.  It is very easy to use.)

 Hello,

I'm helping to circulate a petition to put before the Cabot Selectboard by August 1. The request is that the Selectboard put any final decision on an ATV ordinance to a vote on or before Town Meeting Day 2013. Its important that you know I'm not advancing a position for or against the matter; simply that 1) the process has been so fast, and 2) the proposed ordinance will have such broad impact, that more townspeople should have an opportunity to weigh in.

If you are unfamiliar with the draft ordinance, I urge you to read it before signing this petition. I've reproduced the text of the ordinance as at it appeared for discussion at the July 19 Selectboard meeting:

http://mixedmedia.us/lhtorres/uncategorized/cabot-atv/

I'm trying to collect a minimum of 200 signatures, and I could really use your help.

If you support a town vote on the matter, please sign the petition and share it with other Cabot residents that you know. 
http://www.change.org/petitions/selectboard-town-of-cabot-vt-put-final-atv-ordinance-decision-to-a-vote-on-town-meeting-day-2013?share_id=EnLJwUoatk 

Thanks in advance for your consideration,

lars

---

Lars Hasselblad Torres

local64.com | create + play + share

@local64vt  |  802-595-0605

 

Work Update

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

WEEK OF 7/30/12

Village Green:

Crews will continue reconstructing the Park.  Work will include installing the following;  street light bases, and electrical wire.

Work will continue within the Green.

Route 2:

Sidewalks will be installed along the north side of Route 2 from Marty’s to Walden Hill Road.  This work will require alternating one-way traffic throughout the work zone.  Motorists should expect traffic delays.  Traffic control personnel will be present to maintain traffic flow. 

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.

I received this from Helen Morrison today:

 I see that several people have been leaving bottles at my garage for the Cabot kids' trips.  It is so wonderful of people to remember to do that.  I wonder if you would put a "thank you" on the JP blog? Thankyou.

There you have it - a big thank you for helping the Cabot kids out.  I've asked Helen to let me know if the students are planning a scheduled pickup any time soon.  I'll keep you posted.

We've had some questions about the beach, which unfortunately is still closed.  To date we have no further information for you on the cause.  The results of the tests taken Tuesday in all three ponds should be back either tomorrow or Friday, so we'll post it here for you as soon as we get it.  Hopefully, the cause will be found and steps taken to correct the situation.


I couldn't resist taking a night picture of my "blooming maple" tree.  I have runaway perennial sweet peas that have found the perfect trellis - a small maple.  I had no idea when I planted the sweet peas many years ago they would scatter so far afield; and once established, they are nearly impossible to remove.  I've dug them up several times and transplanted them to a better location, but they nearly always send up at least one lone shoot where I dug them out.  These in the maple are white, but I have some lovely lavender ones that nod at me outside my office window.  They were transplants, and seem to be happy in their new spot, but they have cousins crashing the party in various other spots.  They are nearly as unruly as the Japanese lanterns . . . 


I was surprised when I looked at the picture of my daisies.  Nearly every one has an earwig perched on it.  They apparently come out in the night - and maybe they get dew or honey from the flowers.  


While I was outside, I could hear the loons calling down on the pond.  At first it startled me - I was in nearly total darkness, at the end of the house, and it sounded like a woman screaming; but then I heard it again, more clearly, and I knew it was only the loons keeping in touch with one another in the darkness.  It's interesting to listen to the night sounds in total darkness.  I'm not outside in the night often these days, but when I was a kid, my cousins and I used to love sitting on a dark porch or in a hammock on a summer evening, listening to noises - distant hoots and howls, an occasional bellow from one of the cows, or the squawk of a hen crowded off her perch.  When I was older, it was sometimes my job to sit quietly by an open window or door in the cow stable on a moonlit night and wait for a troublesome skunk or porcupine to show up.  My grandfather would never send two of us on that detail; he knew we'd be talking and laughing and scare away any marauding critter, and also it was safer to have just one of us "on duty."  I would sometimes hear a shuffling, but usually I'd just be aware of something moving below me in the barnyard. The cattle were all in the pasture for the night, so when my .12 gauge shotgun went off, only the grackles roosting in the barns and silo were disturbed. 


 

We are sorry to report the death last Friday of Francese Cochran, who was 90.  Mrs. Cochran was a long-time resident of Walden, where she and her daughter, Diane, operated the little convenience store at the four corners.  She celebrated her 90th birthday in grand style in April, with neighbors and family -enjoying parties and cake.  She will be sadly missed by not only her family, but the whole community.  Her obituary is in the Caledonian Record:  Francese Grace Cochran.

We are also saddened to learn of the passing of Lucille B. Lavely, 81, of St. Johnsbury Center.  I didn't know Mrs. Lavely, but I know her son, David, and his wife Judy, who won this year's Ice-Out Contest, and their sons, Justin and Jacob. Losing a mother or grandparent is always hard, and my thoughts are with both the Lavely and Cochran families.




 

We've had some very different weather today.  There was some sunshine, but also some sudden rain showers popping up throughout most of the day.  I recorded 1.22 in. of rain in my gauge this morning, and I expect we had another half inch or so during the daylight hours today.  We need the rain, so mostly it was welcomed except by those people who are trying to enjoy their vacation time here at Joe's Pond.

We had a busy day today - Dan Brownlow here this morning to install a new grounded outlet in our garage.  The July 4th electrical storm took out our garage door opener - again.  This is the second time since we've been here this has happened, and turns out the outlet wasn't grounded, so lightning had a straight shot into the door opener.  We don't mind opening the door manually, but it will be a different story in a few months when the wind is howling and snow is blowing.  It's pretty nice to be able to have the door open as we're coming up our steep driveway.  If we had to stop at the top and get out to open the garage door, I'm afraid some days we'd be chasing after the car as it slid back down the driveway.  When my parents lived here, they were getting an oil delivery one slippery day and the truck was at the top of the drive and as the guy was getting the hose ready to begin filling the oil tank, the truck began sliding down the driveway - ended up in the snowbank.  Nobody was hurt, but a wrecker had to come to pull it out.  It's pretty steep at the top, and we really like to have the door open so we don't lose momentum and have to start all over again.

This evening we met Fred's cousin, Ora and her friend, Kate, at Juniper's restaurant in East Burke.  We had a very pleasant meal and enjoyed seeing them.  Although the weather was a bit dreary when we arrived there, by the time we left, around 8 o'clock, it was very nice, and we got some nice pictures.  The view from there is lovely - and we had a chance to see the Sheffield Wind Farm.  I put together a short slideshow of the turbines and also the beautiful scenery from Juniper's.