It was cold last night.  The thermometer outside my office window registered zero at about 6:30 this morning, and is still only 8 above.

When I first awoke around 5:30, there was a very bright moon shining in our bedroom window.  It was west of our house, and when I first saw it there were four short cloud fingers above it.  By the time I got the camera to get a picture, the clouds were gone, but I took this picture anyway.  Then I went into the living room to watch the sun come up.  The sky was beautiful, but you can see there's a dark cloud lurking just above the horizon.  The sky changes so quickly, it's hard to catch the colors before it's completely different.

If you looked at Rossi's web cams this morning, you know there is still open water in front of their house.  That was a surprise.  Diane told me there was a loon there early this morning.  I hope he takes off pretty soon, otherwise there won't be enough open water for takeoff.  I say "he" because I think the females have better sense than to stay so long and it's probably a young male that's still hanging out, waiting for some buddies to fky to the coast with him. 

Fred has been out to clear the driveways, and I shoveled off the deck to get to my CoCoRaHS apparatus.  There was weak sunshine when we were out, but now a cloud cover has moved in so there's hazy sun.  West Shore Road has been nicely plowed and sanded.  It seems our winter routine may have begun.

I measured 5.5 in. of new snow, and it was especially dry.  We have a total of about 8 in. on the ground at my backyard stake. There is a warming trend in the forecast, but it may not have much affect here.  Burlington area, where that report originated, had some rain yesterday while we had snow flurries and squalls all day.

I thought my wind gauge must be frozen in place as I haven't seen it operating any time I looked out recently, but this morning Fred tested it and it's fine.  It's affixed to the top of our flag pole, which is fine in the summer if we need to lower it for any reason, but now the pole is well frozen into the ground, so we were concerned the gauge might not be operational for a while.  He used several sections of the chimney cleaning rod to reach up there.  I'm glad it's free to turn - it's fun to see how much wind we have in some of these recent storms.

Don't forget the concert at the Cabot church tomorrow night - it's a good way to start off your Christmas season.

By the way.  If you live in Cabot and haven't joined Front Porch Forum, you may want to consider joining so you can follow what locals are saying about the most recent debate of whether to close Cabot High School.  There's a petition circulating in town to close it by July 1, 2013, I believe.  There are lots of thoughtful comments on Front Porch Forum presenting both sides.  

I had lunch this week with a high school friend, and she remembered debating the same question all those years ago.  The question comes up in Cabot every few years - more often recently than it did back then, but with many of the same pros and cons.  I remember debating it in high school because I had to argue for closing the school, and I'm pretty sure it was not a popular stand to take among our student body then, any more that it probably is today.  However, somebody had to be on the opposite side or there'd be no contest, and I think I may have been a bit of a rebel back then anyway, so I was elected.  My friend said she argued against closing the school, and won the debate.  I don't recall the outcome or even if she was on the team we debated.  I believe the whole high school had to engage in debates and winning teams debated other schools in the region.  I suppose students still have that experience - I hope they do.  I remember liking that I had to take the unpopular side of the question.  I often have a problem making decisions because I can usually find as many reasons for as against an issue.  Comes from being a Libra, I guess.

So the question comes up again:  Should voters close the high school and pay tuition so students have choices that may better suit their educational needs?  The elementary school would remain.  There have been many changes in education and at the Cabot campus, but after some 60 years, the core question obviously remains.

This message came from Sue Carpenter:
" I want to let you all know about the Cabot Community Chorus concert coming up on Saturday, December 1st.  It's at 6:30 at the Cabot United Church.  It's not a long concert and the members are your friends and neighbors.  There are pieces done by the full chorus and also small groups.  Our oldest member is 92!  The Cabot Church is a lovely space to be in and to sing in.  There will be refreshments afterwards.  It's a nice concert - hope you can come!"

I went into St. Johnsbury today to have lunch with a friend.  We ate at The Wine Gate on Depot Square.  I hadn't been there for a while, and enjoyed it today.  It wasn't awfully busy, so we felt comfortable sitting at out table and chatting over coffee long after we'd finished eating.  Bill and Bo Keach were there - both looking very well.  Their new house on Narrows Drive will be up soon.

I know you'll all be interested to know that the first two ponds are completely frozen over - as of today, at least - and the big pond has lots of ice showing around the edges.  Like Diane Rossi said yesterday, it's frozen part way down from the north end.  There is also a good deal of ice at the narrows, in the coves, and where the water is shallower.  Another night or two with temperatures in the teens or low 20's will no doubt finish the job.  That isn't to say the pond will stay frozen over.  We could still get a warm spell that will open things up again, but things are looking a lot more like winter than they were a week ago.

I was going through some photos this morning, looking for a particular picture, and noticed some we'd taken of the Route 2 Project in Danville over the past couple of summers.  At one point it was a huge mess, like a bomb had gone off in the middle of town, but today as I drove through, I was impressed at how nice it's looking.  Even though it isn't finished, it's taking shape.  I'm even getting used to the islands either side of town.  I'm still skeptical of how handy it will be for the plows to work around them, but I guess they'll figure it out.  And it's very nice to have a sidewalk from town down to Marty's.  There were a couple of people walking there today when I came back through.  It should be a whole lot safer, and having a turn lane for Marty's is much better, too.   Everything considered, I like the way things are looking there, and I bet when it's finished the Green will be very nice, too.  Hopefully it will be worth the three or four years of chaos.

 I didn't take the camera with me - probably should have, but I didn't think of it until I was part way down West Shore Road.  Our road is pretty much snow covered now, and the Town of Cabot has been out with the sand/salt trucks.  Route 2 was bare.  I think we're going to get a little snow tonight, but nothing to get the snow blower out for yet.  It's hard to believe there are only two more days in November, and yet, here we are with snow on the ground and the pond nearly frozen over.

Today's weather has been very Novemberish.  We had a low of 14.4 degrees last night, and Diane Rossi told me this afternoon "the ice extends maybe halfway across the pond at Walter's [Ruf's on Meadow Lane], and extends down just past Gardner's [West Shore Road].  It isn't going to be quite as cold tonight, I believe, but still well below freezing.   Thanks to Diane for letting us know how the ice is progressing.

Fred's brother and wife, Tom and Ellie, are on their way to Colorado where Tom is a ski instructor.  Tom wrote today that they'd hit some snow in Western Pennsylvania on their way earlier this week, but after 50 miles or so, the going was good again.  They are in Ames, Iowa, visiting family and will arrive in Colorado on Thursday.

I just checked the snow report at Beaver Creek, where Tom works, and they are reporting only 18 inches of man-made snow, and according to the forecast, nothing in the near future for snow coming at them.  I expect they'll get some snow soon, but the weather pattern has changed considerably over the last couple of years, and it's been a very dry year for Colorado.

There was a nice moon last night, and it's up there again tonight, but there are dark clouds covering it with only a few breaks.  It's pretty, though - with the snow covering the ground, when it does break through, it lights up the night beautifully.  I expect there are still snowflakes in the air, though.  It hasn't snowed enough to count up much at all today, but every time I looked out there were a few flakes drifting down.  Like I said, Novemberish.

 

This has been a snowy day.  We got another bit of snow - about half an inch overnight, and we've had a few flurries during the day, but no big accumulation.  What we got last night was enough to be troublesome during this morning's commute for lots of people.  The temperature was in the 20s and that made it just right to form black ice in spots.

Fred went to recycle, but didn't leave until about mid-morning.  Even then, there were some trouble spots.  He got pictures and I've put them into a short slide show.  During the day the temperature continued to go down gradually, and tonight my thermometer is registering 11 degrees.  That's the coldest we've had so far, I think.  There is a bright moon tonight, and the sky appears to be cloudless, so it will probably be colder before morning.  I wouldn't be surprised if the pond closes in completely during the night.  The ice seems solid in back of the islands, and according to Diane Rossi, there seemed to be ice extending past the islands this morning.  She is close to water level at their house, so couldn't see very well from that angle and we didn't go that direction today, so we aren't certain.  We'll know more tomorrow.

I took a picture of the area we can see from our living room window.  This top one shows clearly that the pond is frozen behind the islands.  The picture below is of the channel area that feeds into the pond.  It's hard to tell for sure, but it looks as if a good bit of that is frozen over, too.  There may be open water in some areas where the flow is faster, but it looks pretty solid from this picture.  It is not unusual for the pond to be frozen over by Thanksgiving, although it hasn't happened for a few years lately.  We know it is likely we'll have another warm spell that will open things up again, too.  The forecast is for cold weather for the remainder of this week, so it looks as if nothing will be melting right away.

Lots of people are ordering Ice Out Tickets now so they can include them with their holiday greeting cards.  It's a fun perk to receive a paid ticket in a card, and not just our members have taken up the practice.  Fred left off a bunch of tickets for Diane Cochran at the store in Walden this morning.  Diane said someone asked for 50 tickets already.  I've sent out a good number, too, so it's looking like a good start to our 2013 contest.

We have made some changes this year in the Ice-Out Contest.  You can now purchase tickets on line with PayPal; they are also available to fill out and print if you prefer having a ticket in your hand and paying by cash or check.  Not all of our usual outlets have tickets available now, but you'll find them at Hastings Store and Joe's Pond Country Store in West Danville and the Walden Store on Route 15 in Walden.  You can always give Diane Rossi or me a call or send an e-mail and we will send however many you want.  I've heard from several "regulars" who buy quantities of tickets each year, and have sent the tickets promptly so they'll have them for their greeting cards or for stocking stuffers or whatever.

Some of you know that the Allens, Steve and Bev (Meadow Lane), have moved from South Ryegate to Warner, New Hampshire.  We've updated the on-line directory, and wish them well in their new home.  

Drive carefully, wherever you are.  Now that snow is here drivers need to slow down and expect the unexpected.  There always seems to be a re-learning curve for drivers this time of year, and reports of fender-benders go up as the first snow comes down.  Sadly, sometimes it takes a skid off the road to remind folks it takes common sense to keep upright and safe on winter highways, no matter what kind of vehicle you're driving or whether you have a four-wheel drive or studded tires, or all of the above.  None of that matters if you're traveling too fast for conditions. It's better to be a little late getting where you're going than not getting there at all.

I'm not sure how much snow we have, but I can tell it's all white outside.  The temperature started slipping downward about mid-morning, and snow squalls began moving in soon after lunch.  As soon as it got dark tonight, I noticed there are Christmas lights up at one of our neighbors across the pond on Davidson Road - I think it's at the Prevost's, but I couldn't be certain in the dark.  I still have Thanksgiving decorations up inside, and haven't even thought about Christmas lights outside yet.  I guess it's time, though.  The weather turning like this makes us all begin thinking about Christmas.

Some of you have no doubt followed the progress of the renovations on Main Street in Barre this past year.  They've finished that big dig project, and although we haven't seen it yet, I've heard it's very nice.  Just in time for the holidays, and I'm sure everyone concerned is relieved to have things getting back to normal. This message came tonight (Saturday) from Homer and Margaret Fitts in Barre:

 WE JUST CAME HOME FROM BARRE'S CHRISTMAS PARADE AND FIREWORKS  TO CELEBRATE BARRE'S DOWNTOWN  END OF CONSTRUCTION ETC.

    LOTS OF PEOPLE AND A GREAT , BETTER THAN EXPECTED PARADE.    WE WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE PLUS THE GREAT FIREWORKS SHOW.      REALLY A GREAT CELEBRATION FOR REOPENING BARRE'S DOWNTOWN.

* * * * *

Don't forget to order fresh citrus for the Christmas holidays.  There are only a few days left to get your order in.  This is to benefit the 8th grade students at Cabot School who are planning a trip to Washington, D.C. in the spring.  All the information is below:

We are selling citrus fruit fresh from Florida! Only 4 or 5 days off the tree! It will fund the 8th grade trip.

 Below are the items available. 

This sale ends December 1st. Your citrus order will be ready the week of December 11^th. 

Cash, Credit Cards, and Checks are uses of payment.  You pay for your order when the fruit arrives.  

Checks should be made payable to Cabot School.

Contact the school at 563-2289 for information on ordering.

Product	Prices	Price/Ib	Description  Full box is approx. 40Ibs Half Box is approx. 20Ibs
Ruby Red Grapefruit	Full Box..........$32 Half Box..........$17	$.80/Ib.	Direct from Florida!  Red grapefruit is sweet, thin-skinned, and wholesome!
Navel Oranges	Full Box..........$34 Half Box..........$18	$.85/Ib.	Bursting with flavor, these large Florida seedless oranges are easy to peel and section! Perfect for snacking!
Tangerines	Only Half Box...$25	$1.25/Ib.	Smooth, honey-sweet and easy to peel, this fruit is incredibly juicy and packed with flavor!
Variety Pack	Only Half Box...$27	$1.35/Ib.	Can’t decide? Go variety! You get 16-20 oranges, 6 grapefruit, and 10 tangerines. A variety pack will satisfy all your citrus snacking needs.

We had a very nice Thanksgiving with family and friends.  It had been several weeks since we'd seen granddaughter Tangeni, and in that time she has developed quite a vocabulary and is getting to be very quick on her feet.  She keeps her mommy, sister Jo-Ann and Grandma Floriana very busy trying to keep up with her.

The first thing she noticed when she arrived on Thursday was a stuffed E.T. doll.  She didn't wait for introductions, and had no idea what it was, but right away she announced loudly, "Baby!" and  gave it a big hug and kiss.  Then she spotted a big Teddy Bear that her great grandmother Bolton made, and it got the same treatment.

About that time, our cat, Woody, strolled into the living room to see who was visiting.  Woody is very social in most cases, and unlike lots of adult cats, he tolerates children very well.  

Tangeni recognized him right away, gleefully announcing, "Meow!!" which actually sounded more like "M'ow," but everyone understood.  When she began to run towards him, Woody wisely trotted away just out of her reach, ending up in the back hallway where there are lots of hiding places if needed.  Tangeni found him easily, and kept cooing at him, "You okay?  You okay?"  He was.  He let her pat him and when he'd had enough, he simply disappeared and Tangeni turned to investigating anything and everything at her eye level - and beyond - under the watchful eyes of her mom and dad.

Our next family gathering will probably not be until Christmas Eve, and we're looking forward to that.  Last Christmas Tangeni was only five months old, so this year will be pretty exciting - at least for the adults in her world.  If she's anything like her daddy and uncles were at her age, she'll be more interested in the boxes and wrappings than what's in them.  I'm betting Woody will love playing in them with her, too.  I must remember to clip his nails so he won't do serious damage; he's inclined to play rough.

Our weather is about to change and become more "normal" for November, and because lots of us are beginning to think ahead to winter, we have a new business card under "services" on the web site.  Bill Jones, over on Route 15 just updated his card to include shoveling camp roofs as well as carpentering and other services.  Bill says he thinks there's going to be plenty of snow this year.  Keep him in mind.  You'll find other cards there for local people who can give you a hand when you need something done, too.  If you don't find what you're looking for listed, let us know because very often we either know or can find someone to fit your needs, and not all helpful folks around here have business cards. 

We hope you all had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving Day, and if you took advantage of "Black Friday," you found at least some of the bargains you were looking for.  It hardly seems possible Christmas is almost here and a new year is just around the corner.  

REMINDER FROM VERMONT COUNCIL ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT:

Dear Cabot Community Members,

Through the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s (VCRD) Community Visit to Cabot, residents have selected three priorities for action and are forming task force groups to move them forward:

·        Build a Cabot Agricultural Network

·        Improve Community Communications

·        Develop a Community Arts Center

The next step in the process is the “Resource Meeting” set for Tuesday, November 27, from 6:00 to 9:00pm at the Willey Building. The meeting will start with a light dinner for participants prepared by Butters Restaurant; childcare will be available. The Vermont Council of Rural Development will bring a new team of facilitators to help each Task Force build a concrete list of action steps and identify the resources – both human and financial – available to support their efforts. Come and join one of these task forces, share your ideas, and help shape a vibrant future for Cabot. You don’t need to have attended any of the prior meetings to join. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the formation of the task forces at the meeting on November 27th.

Share this information with anyone you think might be interested in joining one (or more) of these task force groups. Here are some ways to help spread the word:

-      print a handful of flyers (attached) and take them with you to your next club meeting or gathering or tack on bulletin boards

-      post the flyer in your business/house of worship/school newsletter

-      post on a local website

-      post on facebook (here’s a link to share: http://vtrural.org/taxonomy/term/202/all)

-      forward on to your list serve of community volunteers or business people in town

-      post on Front Porch Forum – share your thoughts about the process there

-      word of mouth - let people know about the event and about the process!

Cabot has set an ambitious agenda; it can succeed in these goals if residents line up for action.

Hope to see you on November 27!

Paul Costello

Paul Costello, Executive Director

Vermont Council on Rural Development

PO Box 1384

Montpelier VT  05601-1384

(802) 223-5763

pcostello@vtrural.org

Join the Vermont Working Landscape Partnership at www.vtworkinglands.org!

---

Here's some background and more detail:

On October 25^th over 50 Cabot residents gathered in a community meeting to consider the ideas that were discussed through the Cabot Community Visit process and to set priorities for action. At the meeting, the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) presented a list of all the key directions that residents had put on the table at the public forums on September 25^th and school forums on September 21^st. Community members discussed what was most important and most needed and voted on the priorities that they thought the community should line up to accomplish. Now, local Task Force groups are forming to move these issues forward over the course of the next year. The top 3 priorities that residents chose are listed below.

Cabot Community Visit Priorities

Determined by Cabot community members at the VCRD Community Meeting, October 25^th 2012.

Build a Cabot Agricultural Network

Cabot has deep agricultural traditions and assets, but the farm, food, and value-added producers in town do not get together in any systematic way for mutual benefit. Cabot could build an agricultural and food system network that could eventually help aggregate, market, and distribute products, act as a producers circle, address infrastructure opportunities, connect Cabot farmers and producers to the Center for an Agricultural Economy in Hardwick, encourage or incubate new small farm operations and value-added businesses, and work together in other ways to support a strong agricultural future in the town.

Improve Community Communications

Some residents complain about communications gaps and the lack of knowledge about all the good things going on in the community. A Cabot Communications Task Force could advance community communications by linking all local activities into a common calendar with an on-line portal like Front Porch Forum’s calendar widget inserted into the websites of all municipal and community groups. This team could also put all the gathered information into a Cabot bulletin board in the village and share it in the Chronicle.

Develop a Cabot Community Arts Center

Cabot residents celebrate the diversity of arts, crafts and local products in the community. Many believe that a Task Force of Cabot residents could come together and expand the use of local venues or redevelop new space in town as an arts center. A Cabot Arts Center could include an outlet and showplace for local art and products, studio space, and space for youth to gather, and for local music, movies, or theatrical performances to occur.

 ''   HAPPY     THANKSGIVING  ''

 

    TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.       FOR THOSE TRAVELING WE

 

WISH YOU A SAFE TRIP.           WE WILL BE  WITH PART OF

 

MARGARET'S FAMILY AT HER  DAUGHTER LEE DU BOIS IN

 

NORTHFIELD.

 

                                      LOVE AND BLESSINGS,

 

                                                    MARGARET AND HOMER FITTS

This message came from Don and Diane Sherwood: 

  It's been a rough couple of weeks, but a blessing that the end was peaceful and quite fast for my brother.  We were given 5 1/2 years after a very grim brain cancer diagnosis and we made the most of that time.  Gary had many friends at the Pond that he got to know after many years of summer visits with us.  We thank all those who sent e-mails and cards.  The thoughts, concerns and prayers of so many helped a great deal.  

Diane and Don

 

P.S.  Happy Thanksgiving too!

 

* * * * *

 

 

 

 

We've had another lovely sunny day today.  I expect this November may break some records for sunny days.  It's usually our most sunless month, but it seems to me we've had a bunch more nice days than usual.  I just noticed there's a finger of ice behind the big island.  We've seen ice in the marsh at the north end of the pond a few times this fall, but this looks a little different.  The water must be getting pretty close to freezing - we've had some pretty cold nights.

I've been researching information on a big fire in 1935 that destroyed what was known as the Union Block in Cabot.  At one time that three-story building housed a store, post office and town offices on the ground floor, an apartment and the Masonic dining room on the second floor and the Masonic meeting hall on the top floor.  It all burned to the ground, and nothing was saved.  E. J. Rogers owned the store at the time.  The following year, he rebuilt at the same location, the one-story building that is Cabot General Store now.  The store had several different owners after E. J. Rogers died in 1951.  Bobby Searles now owns the store.

If plans materialize for better traffic flow through Cabot, the town may look quite a bit different in a few years.  However, things are just in preliminary planing stage, and if it develops anything like the Danville road project, it will be 20 years before anything gets done.  It seems very similar, however, with plans for sidewalks from the bridge at the north end of town at least to the creamery and perhaps as far as the ball field, narrowing the road through town (Route 215), installing sidewalks or paths on the common, etc.  Sound familiar?  I haven't been to any of the meetings, but here are water and sewer lines all along Main Street now, and probably other utilities that will no doubt be disturbed.  The water and sewer lines were put in probably less than 20 years ago, so perhaps they won't need to be disturbed.  It sounds like something very nice could come from all the possibilities, but at what price?  I haven't seen cost estimates or anything about how it will be paid for.  

In the meantime, according to the Hardwick Gazette there's a petition circulating to close the high school by July, 2013.  That would mean the town would pay tuition for students to go to other schools.  This has come up from time to time, and it will be interesting to see what happens this time.  Some students have been taking courses no longer offered at Cabot at other schools, so there has been a gradual change taking place. 

I read today a member of the St. Johnsbury School Board is advising there is a growing need for a trade school there.  Many of you will remember that there was once a very good trade school in St. Johnsbury.  Young people who are graduating from colleges are often unable to find work in their fields these days while at the same time there is a shortage of plumbers, electricians, carpenters, mechanics and other qualified service personnel.  The St. Johnsbury Trade School produced some very competent graduates in its day, and was a reasonable choice for lots of young men and women who didn't want to attend college.  

What is the saying?  The more things change the more they stay the same.  The reality is, there will always be a need for people who know how to use their hands as well as their minds. 

Just in time for Christmas . . . !

 Hi, Sam Carpenter here, I wanted to let you know about my 8th grade class field trip.  In our trip we will go to Washington D.C.!!   

We are selling citrus fruit fresh from Florida! Only 4 or 5 days off the tree!

 Below are the items available.  Please let me know if you have any questions and let me know if you’d like to place an order.  My address is cabotfundraiser@yahoo.com

This sale ends December 1st. Your citrus order will be ready the week of December 11^th. I will give you a call and send you an email when your order is ready. Cash, Credit Cards, and Checks are uses of payment.  You pay for your order when the fruit arrives. Checks should be made payable to Cabot School.

  

Product	Prices	Price/Ib	Description  Full box is approx. 40Ibs Half Box is approx. 20Ibs
Ruby Red Grapefruit	Full Box..........$32 Half Box..........$17	$.80/Ib.	Direct from Florida!  Red grapefruit is sweet, thin-skinned, and wholesome!
Navel Oranges	Full Box..........$34 Half Box..........$18	$.85/Ib.	Bursting with flavor, these large Florida seedless oranges are easy to peel and section! Perfect for snacking!
Tangerines	Only Half Box...$25	$1.25/Ib.	Smooth, honey-sweet and easy to peel, this fruit is incredibly juicy and packed with flavor!
Variety Pack	Only Half Box...$27	$1.35/Ib.	Can’t decide? Go variety! You get 16-20 oranges, 6 grapefruit, and 10 tangerines. A variety pack will satisfy all your citrus snacking needs.

  
 Orders can be picked up at the school.