November 2018 Gazette

THE BOLTON Gazette The Town of Bolton, Vermont “The Land of bouLders and bears” 3045 Theodore Roosevelt Highway, Bolton VT 05676

November 2018 Email: [email protected] Volume #6 Issue #11

Harvest Dinner From the Bolton Community Network (BCN) Thank you to everyone who helped make the first Bolton Harvest dinner a success! Everyone enjoyed the meal, the conversation, a chance to catch up with neighbors and make new friends, and playing outside (well, the kids did!). Who knows what the BCN will come up with next fall, other than more mashed potatoes of course!

Town Meeting March 5, 2019! Town Meeting will be here before we know it – have you considered becoming more involved in your community and running for an elected office? While we hope that the folks currently holding an elected office will choose to run again, that is never a given. The following elected positions will be open for election: Select Board – 3 year term Select Board – 2 year term Select Board – 1 year remaining on a 3 year term Town Constable – 1 year term Town Moderator – 1 year term Town Agent – 1 year term Grand Juror – 1 year term

DEADLINE: if you would like to run for an elected position, you must file a petition with the Town Clerk signed by at least 1% of the voters (12) by January 28, 2019. The Town Office can assist with petitions, just contact us! January 17, 2019 is the last day to file a petition with the Town Clerk signed by at least 5% of the voters (55) for articles to be included in the Town Meeting warning. There are VERY specific requirements for this petition – please contact the Town Office for information.

CLerK’s Corner Amy Grover * Town Clerk & Treasurer [email protected]

Thank you Conservation Commission: Ali Kosiba recently stepped down as a member of the Conservation Commission and we thank her, not only for her service to our community on that Board, but also as a former steward of the Preston Pond

Conservation Area. Thank you Ali! Phoebe explores! Health Officer: Chris LaBerge recently resigned as the town Health Officer and we thank him for Phoebe’s Kids’ quesTion serving our town. Thank you Chris! of the month! Aren’t you happy that hot weather is finally gone? Firewood lottery. The town will again be holding a firewood I sure am, and I have loved walking and running in lottery in conjunction with the timber harvest in the woods with my humans! This day we went to a the Preston Pond Conservation Area (PPCA) that will be continuing this winter. The harvest is place called “Olga’s Falls!” Hmmm…where do guided by the PPCA’s Forest Management Plan, you think those falls are, and who is OLGA? Find of which the main goals are to improve wildlife out in next month’s issue! WOOF! Woof!! habitat and forest health, encourage the growth of high quality trees, and to capture value in Please remember that November is hunting declining and low-quality trees. season for deer and bear. Make sure that both

A portion of capturing this value is providing you and your humans can be seen in the Bolton residents with firewood. The harvest will November woods, I always wear my blaze orange! provide up to 60 cords of firewood, which will Last month’s answer: Mr. Menz reported a be available through the lottery (one entry per household), delivered in a 3 cord log length load fantastic voter turnout by Smilie students to vote for $300. Please call the Town Office to request on the 2019 dog tag shape, and the winner is…the the firewood lottery application form, or access the form on the town website: red fire hydrant with 44% of the popular vote! http://boltonvt.com/documents/ Second was the shield with 31% and third was the rhombus with 25%. I am so excited thinking about getting my new fire hydrant dog tag on January 1st! Thank you to Mr. Menz and to all the Smilie voters! November 2018 Page 2 My humans say to remember that you can vote too, on NOVEMBER 6th!

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smilie school news

Continue newsletter text here. Continue newsletter text Every morning, as I greet our families and Page 3 here. Continue newsletter text here. Continue newsletter children, I get to appreciate this gorgeous view of the mountains whichtext here. were Continue newsletter text here. Continue

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Gleaning Field Trip to ContinueMaple Wind newsletter Farm text here. The “gleaning” field trip to Maple Wind Farm was a great success as students learned how to “glean” a field forContinue great newslettervegetables, text here. Continue newsletter text and they met a very friendly chicken. Thanks to all of the students andhere. adults Continue who new helpedsletter text here. Continue newsletter to make the gleaning possible! We harvested so many squash varieties that we were able text here. Continue newsletter text here. Continue to help local food shelves as well as our own food service program! Michelle, our Food Manager made some delicious “squash smilies” for all of us to enjoy.newsletter Thanks text to allhere. of Continue newsletter text here. you for your good works!! Continue newsletter text here. Continue newsletter text here.

smilie news continued on page 7! CLerK’s corner continued From Page 2 November 2018 Page 4

Bolton Up and Down Town Club Holiday Dinner Please note the CHANGE OF DATE! Date: Thursday, December 6, 2018 Place: Bolton Fire Station Time: 5 p.m. Menu: Potluck dinner with the meat entre provided, please bring your favorite side dishes and/or desserts (and please call Doris to let you know what you will be bringing!). With the holiday season fast approaching, we are combining our November and December dinners into one delightful December dinner, our last for 2018, and we’ll enjoy a traditional Yankee Swap too! Just bring an inexpensive gift to share in the swap! Questions? Contact Doris @ 434-3769

property tax reminder Reminder: The second installment of property taxes is due on Thursday, November 15th. Payments must be received by 4 p.m. on the 15th or have a federal postmark of that date to be considered on time. There is no grace periods, and late payments incur the voter approved 1% penalty.

Wintery weather is already arriving Just a reminder that with Old Man Winter already giving us a bit of a preview, now is a great time to help out our hard working highway crew by making sure that the town right of way on your property is clear of debris, or those summer flower planters and decorative rocks, and to make sure your driveway culvert is open and clear. This is also a reminder that Bolton does not have the resources to maintain a “bare roads” plowing policy on our 20.5 miles of roads – you can review the Winter Operations Plan on the town website at: http://boltonvt.com/documents/

Bolton gazette information Reminder: The deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month for the following month’s edition. To OPT IN to receive the Bolton Gazette electronically and in color (help the town save on paper and postage costs!) email [email protected]

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HOLIDAY BASKETS Help support and fill the 2018 Holiday Baskets! With your help, the Holiday Baskets will be full of food and goodies, and will be delivered to senior residents and others in our community a week or so before Christmas to express the town’s appreciation and support.

You can support this community endeavor by:

 Making a financial donation! Checks should be made out to the Town of Bolton with “holiday baskets” in the memo, and can be dropped off at the town office or mailed to 3045 Theodore Roosevelt Hwy, Bolton, VT 05676. Cash donations may be dropped off at the town office in person, or left in the drop box in an envelope marked “holiday baskets.”  Donating non-perishable items! Donations “CAN” be dropped off at Smilie School, and we are working to arrange for a drop off spot in the Bolton Valley area too. If you are wondering about what type of items to donate, foods that are high in protein, healthy fats and whole grains are always welcome, like; peanut butter, canned vegetables, soups, canned tuna or chicken, applesauce, pastas, and whole grain cereals. You can also bring your non-perishable items to Smilie School when you come out to VOTE on November 6th!  Bake Sale November 6th at Smilie School during voting! We are seeking donations of baked goods (homemade or store bought are equally welcome and delicious). Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4ca5aa22a13-election or support the bake sale with your purchase!  Volunteer! Volunteers are needed to organize, publicize, shop, sort, pack and deliver baskets. If you are interested in donating your time, contact Anne Clegg [email protected] or 434-5673, or Leslie Pelch [email protected] or 802- 598-0048.

Do you have a family member, or know a neighbor or friend facing challenging circumstances who might benefit from the boost and support of a Holiday Basket? Do you know a senior you’d like to honor with one? Let us know at the Town Office (434-5075) and we’ll add them to the list. While we will continue to recognize and thank our senior residents with baskets, we want to support other members of our community as well. Thank you in advance for your support!

How high “CAN” we make the Smilie School Holiday Basket Donation Tower this year? “CAN” we beat 2017’s Tower? With your help, we “CAN!”

NOVEMber 2018 page 6 INTO the woods By ethan tapper A Regeneration Story Believe it or not, every big tree was once a little tree, and before that a seed. Yes, those massive trunks and branches that took decades or centuries to grow were once acorns laying on the ground, or aspen seeds blowing in the wind. While we value our big trees, we often forget the small trees and seeds we see today are what will become the massive maples and oaks that our great-grandchildren will admire. When foresters or loggers make the sometimes- unpopular decision to harvest large trees in order to release existing small trees or to create space for new trees to grow, it is important to remember this. Encouraging the growth of new trees is usually the most difficult and finicky part of growing healthy forests, and one that requires a robust understanding of how our native tree species reproduce, establish and grow.

How trees of different species reproduce, and how the resulting seeds and young trees (“seedlings”) capitalize on disturbances (the death of trees) to establish and compete for growing space is the process of “regeneration.” Vermont’s tree species have several prominent strategies for regenerating, which I will divide into several categories here. It is important to also acknowledge that within these categories are many nuances based on species, site and situation.

The easiest way for trees to reproduce is to use an existing root system. Once a tree dies or is cut, several tree species are skilled at sprouting aggressively from their roots and/or stem, reproducing “asexually” by producing clones of the parent tree. Prominent root- sprouters include aspens (poplars, cottonwood) and beech, and stump-sprouters include red maple and red oak. In both cases, this means that small trees of these species may be much older that they appear. Utilizing an established root system allows these young trees to grow quickly and outcompete other young trees who have to start from scratch --- growing from seed.

Several of our tree species take the tactic of producing an abundance of small, “cheap,” very mobile seeds. While these seeds are not very rugged, they blanket the landscape, some of them invariably finding somewhere suitable to grow. Species that employ this strategy include birches and aspens, which are often the first trees to regenerate in highly disturbed environments. Yellow and black birch produce seeds like this in the winter, which are blown across the surface of snow.

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Grant Awarded to Smilie by the Dairy Council of Vermont Michelle Beane, Food Manager at Smilie, and I wrote a grant earlier this year to the Dairy Council of Vermont to fund the purchases of a salad and breakfast bar and a commercial blender. We were happily awarded part of the funds that we requested, received the actual check about 2 weeks ago, and have ordered our salad/ breakfast bar and blender. In the meantime, we had a “promotional check” presented to us by Jill Hussels, from the Dairy Council, and Alison Conant, a local dairy farmer from the Conant Farm in Richmond. Alison brought her 2 young children and was quite impressed when she saw all the “gleaned” squash on the stage, and would love to have students from Smilie visit her dairy farm sometime in the future. Here are some important upcoming events at Smilie School:

Vote! Please remember to vote on Tuesday, November 6, @ the Smilie School Gym, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Flu Clinic We will be having a flu clinic at Smilie Memorial School, from 2:00-3:30 p.m., on Wednesday, November 7. If you would like a flu shot, please bring a copy of your insurance card.

Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Smilie's annual Thanksgiving dinner will be on Thursday, November 15. Sign-up sheets will go home on Monday, Oct 29. Please return these forms by Wednesday, November 7th. We need to have the forms returned so that we know how much food to buy and cook. Thanks for your help with this matter. Hope to see you at dinner!

November Delayed Opening Please remember that on Wednesday, November 14, we will have a Delayed Opening. School will start 2 hours later than usual, at 9:30 a.m. If you have signed your child up for early supervision, they will arrive at the usual time.

Please stop in and say “hello!”

Barbara

November 2018 page 8 Learning the CHMS Way By Mark Carbone, Principal, Camels Hump Middle School

The school year is well under way! Students also got to board the Walking through the halls of CHMS, one Philadelphia II, a gunship replica, to hear feels the energy and camaraderie her Revolutionary War story. among students and teachers—perhaps due to the brave leaders of teams Sequoia, Spark, Grit and Summit who brought their learners on overnight field trips throughout Vermont over the past month.

The Grit Team completed a two-day field trip camping overnight at Grand Isle State Park. Students toured the Burlington wastewater treatment plant where they had a close up look (and smell) of how Burlington's sewage and Team Summit recently spent the night stormwater is treated prior to being at Button Bay State Park in Vergennes. released into Lake Champlain. Students Students toured Fort Ticonderoga and were amazed at the treatment process saw a musket demonstration. Following which involves chemistry, biology, and that, students stopped at Crown Point engineering. The next stop on their tour for lunch. Students were challenged to was the Burlington water treatment think about the overarching questions plant where about 4 million gallons of of we study history and why we water is drawn from the lake each day. preserve history. At their lively campfire They learned about the treatment night, students prepared skits, sang process that insures clean drinking songs, performed dances, and read water for the city of Burlington. The dystopian short stories. Friday morning, afternoon was spent at Grand Isle State the group packed up and made their Park conducting a site assessment of the way to the Lake Champlain Maritime shores and water in Lake Champlain. Museum where students learned about The highlight of the trip was collecting Lake Champlain’s important role. macroinvertebrates from the lake and

November 2018 page 9 analyzing the populations to determine How to Build a Fire. water quality. Students categorized the "bugs" and analyzed them further under We continue our partnership with UVM microscopes. A large number of and UVM Extension to provide the pollution-intolerant bugs were found PROSPER Program, which is now in its which indicate good water quality. Grit’s sixth year. Participants in this hands-on field trip was supported by EPSCoR who learning opportunity meet weekly for provided the equipment and staff to seven-sessions which includes family conduct the site study on Lake dinner, games and activities, and Champlain. childcare for younger siblings. For a portion of the time, parents attend workshops on topics such as setting limits and computer/Internet safety, while the student group discusses topics such as saying “no” and problem solving. The PROSPER program affords participating families quality time together; honing communication, advocacy and decision-making skills necessary for surviving and thriving in middle school. Team Sequoia also had an adventure- filled camping trip at Ricker Pond. The We are always looking for volunteers. If trip began at the Fairbanks Museum and you are interested, I can be reached by Planetarium, where students learned phone 434-2188 or email about the sun, moon, and star [email protected]. interaction in the planetarium, the reasons for seasons, and also discovered The next MMMUSD school board the long-term effects of living in a meeting will be held on November 5, greenhouse. At the campground, 6:30pm, at Mount Mansfield Union High camping families cooked dinner School. The public is welcome, and together and afterward, attended a encouraged, to attend. "Star Party" on the lake shore of Ricker Pond. Before leaving, students engaged Thank you, in one of three programs: Loonwatch Mark Carbone, Principal Canoe Paddle, Hike to Peacham Bog, or

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Another strategy is to lie in wait. Anyone who has tried to walk through a forest 3-5 years after a natural or human-caused disturbance has probably noticed an abundance of blackberries and raspberries. The seeds of these species are not introduced to the site after the disturbance --- rather they had been collecting in the soil for years, courtesy of the birds and bears that eat and pass their fruits. These seeds are resistant to germination --- sometimes remaining viable in the soil for 60-100 years before germinating --- but when they sense a disturbance they grow aggressively. Once thought to interfere with our native plants, it is now understood that blackberries and raspberries enrich disturbed environments through nutrient-cycling and shelter young seedlings.

A fourth strategy is to produce large, “expensive” seeds which sprout and persist in the understory of the forest, waiting for a disturbance. Red oak, red spruce and sugar maple are among the species that invest a lot of energy in their seeds, producing a glut of them at irregular intervals (called “mast years”). The resulting seedlings spend years establishing a deep root system, feeding off the energy in their seeds. These seedlings are very “shade-tolerant,” and are sometimes able to remain in this condition, as “advance regeneration,” (regeneration that exists in advance of a disturbance) for decades, waiting for the trees above them to fall. Once they do, these seedlings quickly shoot skyward with the benefit of an established root system. Unfortunately, when these seedlings are “waiting around” in the understory they are extremely vulnerable to browsing and competition from invasive plants. Their energy-packed seeds are also often preferred wildlife food, and so just being able to sprout can be challenging.

While we all admire the large trees that punctuate our forest, take a moment to appreciate the regeneration down at our feet. The towering trees that will shade our grandchildren’s- grandchildren are down there, just trying to catch a break. Ethan Tapper is the Chittenden County Forester. He can be reached at [email protected], by phone at (802)-585-9099, or at his office at 111 West Street, Essex Junction.

Mark your calendars! Join Ethan for a walk at the town’s Preston Pond Conservation Area in December – currently scheduled for Saturday, December 15th, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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SEEKING A NEW TOWN HEALTH OFFICER The Town of Bolton is seeking to appoint a new Town Health Officer to perform all duties as defined by, and in accordance with VT Statute. Town Health Officers are responsible for:

 Investigating possible public health hazards and risks within the town  Taking action to prevent, remove, or destroy any public health hazards  Taking action to lessen significant public health risks  Enforcing health laws, rules and permit conditions, and taking the steps necessary to enforce orders

By law, every town and city in Vermont has a Local Board of Health. The Local Board of Health consists of the Town Health Officer and Town Select Board. The duties and responsibilities of Vermont Boards of Health are established by state statute. Compensation for the Town Health Officer is an annual stipend of $250 (in FY 18-19). For more information please contact the Town Office.

SEVERAL OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE AS A VOLUNTEER! Please contact the Town Office for more information: DRB Alternate: to serve when/as needed. Meetings are held the 4th Thursday of the month. The DRB is the municipal body that, when required, is authorized and delegated to uphold and interpret the Bolton Land Use and Development Regulations (BLUDRs). It is also the board authorized to hear appeals from decisions of the Bolton Zoning Administrator. Access more information about the role of the DRB here. Members receive a stipend of $10 per meeting.

CSWD Alternate: to serve when/as needed. Meetings are held the 4th Wednesday of the month. The Board of Commissioners is the governing body of the CSWD, and sets policy on solid waste management for the member communities. For more information about representing Bolton on the CSWD Board, please contact the CSWD at 872-8100.

Planning Commission Member: one of five Select Board appointed members of the Planning Commission (PC). The PC is principally responsible for drafting and amending the Bolton Town Plan and our town’s land use bylaws; The Bolton Land Use and Development Regulations (BLUDRs). The PC also participates in the regional planning process, undertakes comprehensive planning, and functions solely as a planning body with no authority over development review projects. The PC does not review development proposals or issue permits; these fall under the jurisdiction of the Development Review Board and the Zoning Administrator. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month, 6 p.m. at the Bolton Town Office, and members receive a stipend of $10 per meeting.

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Two Conservation Commission Members: Love the great outdoors? Interested in conservation? Have a bit of time to volunteer? Some of our recent projects have been stewardship of our Town Forest at the Preston Pond Conservation Area (PPCA) and at the Sarah Holbrook (SH) property along the Winooski river floodplain, stewardship of our Smilie School grounds, grant funding for conservation projects, trail maintenance, erosion control, brush removal, conservation education, inventory and research, connecting with partner organizations, and updates to a land management plan at PPCA.

The Bolton Conservation Commission’s role is to promote stewardship of natural and cultural resources in our town and to advise the Select Board, Planning Commission, and Development Review Board on matters relating to the environment. Members are appointed by the Select Board; represent diverse backgrounds and the regularly scheduled meeting date is the third Monday of each month, 6 – 8 p.m. at the Bolton Town Office. Members receive a stipend of $10 per meeting. Please contact Amy Ludwin if interested [email protected] or 802-355-3646

Town Energy Committee: The Town of Bolton is looking for members for its newly- created Energy Committee. The committee's role will be to conduct a range of activities to decrease energy consumption in Town, promote energy efficiency, and support the development of renewable energy in the Town of Bolton. The committee will focus on activities that lower energy bills for the Town, residents, and businesses of Bolton, and create jobs in Vermont. The Committee's activities will range from tracking current energy consumption and progress, coordinating with the Town and School district for improvements in the buildings, researching grant and financing options, organizing events and workshops, coordinating with existing programs offered in Vermont, etc. For more details or if you are interested in joining the Committee, please contact the town office.

November 6, general election! Reminder – your voice is your vote – November 6th! AND you “CAN” can also support our Holiday Baskets by bringing a non-perishable food item to donate, and/or purchasing some goodies at the bake sale!

There also will be a display table from Button Up VT! Pick up some free tools to help you start saving immediately on your heating costs and make your home or business more comfortable. We'll also have a checklist with the most important DIY tasks to take on, some of which can qualify you for up to $100 back from Efficiency Vermont. For More Information Contact: Juliette Juillerat [email protected]

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Pickleball is back in Bolton and now at smilie school! PICKLEBALL - Monday nights in the Smilie School gym from 5- 8 p.m. All levels are welcome, and equipment is provided, and there is NO charge! Contact Keith Chase for more information: [email protected] There are some Monday nights that have conflicts with Smilie’s November calendar, so please check the CSC calendar to make sure that Pickeball is on! https://www.cscvt.org/weekly-activities-and-events.html

Join us at the Richmond Library Community Room on the first Sunday of the month at 4:00 pm in November, December, January, and February for a series of speakers who will talk about the natural world and inspire us to enjoy and protect it.

Celebrating Our Ancient Forests Through Words and Action with Joan Maloof, Sunday, November 4, 4:00 pm As someone who has probably visited more US old-growth forests than anyone alive today, Joan Maloof will discuss what remains of these never-logged forests and what makes them so special–including the latest scientific findings. She’ll also tell us about the successful expansion of the Old-Growth Forest Network, an organization she founded to ensure that each county in the US will preserve at least one forest open to the public. In addition, Maloof will discuss her writing process and how each of her books was ‘born.’ Maloof, a Professor Emeritus at Salisbury University in Maryland, is the author of four books about forests: Teaching the Trees: Lessons from the Forest; Among the Ancients: Adventures in the Eastern Old-Growth Forests; Nature’s Temples: The Complex World of Old-Growth Forests; and The Living Forest: A Visual Journey into the Heart of the Forest. Please join us for this discussion of special forests and how they might be saved for the next generation.

Save the date for future programs: Born to Rewild–East and West with John Davis, Sunday, December 2 From Camels Hump to Patagonia: Who Saved the Parks Beloved by Millions? with Tom Butler, Sunday, January 6 The Real Eastern Coyote with Chris Schadler, Sunday, February 3

Events are free and wheelchair accessible, light refreshments will be served. Programs made possible with support from the Eddy Foundation.

Birds, Words and Notes is a unique celebration of our place in nature, expressed in poetry, reflection and music. It blends the talents of four Vermont artists: Scudder Parker creates poetry at the rich intersection of nature and people. Bryan Pfeiffer reflects on the joy and meaning of wildlife on the wing. D. Davis (guitar) and Ruth Einstein (violin) stir the senses with a serenade inspired by the natural world. Birds, Words and Notes is a relaxed and intimate evening of music, ideas, nature and the force of the written word. Richmond Free Library Community Room, Wednesday, November 7 @ 7PM. Refreshments served.