Cavendish Update 10/23/15 Survey Results/News/Halloween
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Today’s Cavendish Update is made possible by contributions from the Cavendish Green Mountain Snow Fleas and Bill Hallowell. Thank you for your support
10/23/15 Cavendish Update Contains:
1. Preliminary Results of the Speed Test Survey
2. Cavendish Related News
3. Cavendish Halloween: Good Bye Haunted House Hello Haunted Trail
4. Archer Mayor Helps Launch 1st Cavendish Book Jam
5. BRGNS To Hold Annual Stick Season Social Fundraiser
6. Events
1. PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE SPEED TEST SURVEY
The Cavendish Speed Test Survey ended Monday night. Of the 56 respondents 30 (54%) were TDS subscribers, 10 (18%) Comcast, 9 (16%) VTel and 7 (12%) listed “other.”
With the exception of Comcast, Internet service speeds are below Vermont’s Broadband standard of 4/1 Mbgs and the FCC’s January 1, 2015 standard of 25/3 Mbgs.
• TDS 2.96/0.44
• VTel 2.80/1.23
• Other 1.36/0.47
• Comcast 20.16/6.12
When combining all speed tests, regardless of provider, the town’s median average speed was 3.4/0.47 Mbgs. However, given that Comcast’s median speed far exceeded any other Internet provider, the town’s median speed, excluding Comcast, is closer to 2.56/0.46 Mbgs. There was little difference in speeds between morning and evening.
It is important to note that three respondents posted speeds of 0/0. All were located on Tarbell Hill and reflected the lack of service in that area.
In terms of impediments to service, 25 respondents (45%) reported Daily problems, while 17 (30%) had Weekly issues. Monthly and Rarely impediments were experienced respectively by seven (12%) respondents apiece. Excluding Comcast, Daily impediments were experienced by 50%; Weekly 28%; Monthly 13% and Rarely 9% of the time. The provider with the fewest amounts of impediments was Comcast, with 3 (30%) selecting Rarely.
Seventy percent of respondents with children had problems daily, compared to 28.6% for respondents without children.
The final results of the survey will be forwarded to the Vermont Division of Telecommunications and Connectivity as documentation that Cavendish is underserved for Internet and should be eligible for Connectivity funding.
2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Proctorsville Burglary: Gas can, half full, stolen from Proctorsville garage on Main Street in the last week or so. Homeowners just discovered that it was gone.
Former 2nd Grade Vera Davis Dies: It is with sadness that we post the passing of Vera Davis, who taught at CTES for many years. Graveside services will be held on Friday, Oct. 23 at 11 am in Pleasant View Cemetery Ludlow. For more information, please see her obituary.
GMP Scam Calls: Customers are receiving calls from people pretending to be GMP, threatening disconnection and demanding instant payment. GMP never calls demanding instant payment. If you receive such a call and want to talk about your account, hang up and call 888-835-4672. Do not give credit card info to scammers!
VT and Cavendish NECAP Science Test Results: Vermont students performed at about the same level in science in 2015 as they did in 2014 and achievement gaps continued to grow, according to results from the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP). Last year, 44% of fourth grade students met or exceeded the state science expectations –CTES students tested above the state average with 61% proficiency- 30% partially proficient and 7% below proficiency- and this year, 46% achieved the same standard. Grade 8 saw a slight decline from 25% met or surpassing standards last year to 24% this year. GMUHS 8th graders tested well below the state average with only 11% testing proficient, 47% partially proficient and 18% substantially below proficient For Grade 11, there was a slight increase in the state from 30% to 32%. GMUHS 11th graders tested slightly above the state average with 33% proficient, 47% partially proficient and 18% substantially below proficient. No CTES or GMUHS student for any grade achieved “proficient with distinction.” Press Release
Scouting Salute to Veterans: On November 7 (Saturday), Ludlow VT will host the 17th Annual Scouting Salute to Veterans Parade at 11 am. Veterans, area fire departments, police and rescue squads will participate in the event. It is anticipated that there will be 1,000 participants including antique rolling stock, 40th Army band, marching bands, fire trucks and more. The event is sponsored by the Green Mountain Council Boy Scouts of America facilitated by American Legion Post 36, Ludlow. FMI: 802-228-9807, nedbow56@yahoo.com, http://www.alpost36vt.com
3. GOOD BYE HAUNTED HOUSE HELLO HAUNTED TRAIL
For many years, children and parents alike were thrilled (and scared) by the Golden Stage Inn’s Haunted House, which began when the Greggs purchased the Inn back at literally “the turn of the century.” The current owners have kept the tradition alive until this year, when the props and other items, some dating back to the “haunted hallway,” are being turned over for the start of a new Cavendish tradition-“What Lies Behind the Green Monster?: A Haunted Walk at Greven Field.”
Sponsored by the Cavendish Rec Department & Goodman’s American Pie, the haunted walk at Greven Field will take place from 6-9 pm on Halloween, Oct. 31. The Goodman’s pizza truck- Pizza Helping People- is going to be there. Are you?
A special thank you to current Golden Stage Inn owners Julie and Michael, and to the originators of the “haunted inn,” Sandy and Peter Gregg, for many years of wonderful Halloween memories.
A second new tradition is being started this Halloween with the “Trunk or Treating” at the Cavendish Elementary School parking lot from 5-7 pm. Adults can bring their car, decorate the trunk with a theme and hand out candy for the Trick-or-Treaters! Come in costume, collect candy and vote for the best decorated trunk. For more information about this event contact Amanda 226-8113.
4. ARCHER MAYOR HELPS LAUNCH 1ST CAVENDISH BOOK JAM
The first Cavendish Book Jam will take place on Saturday November 7th at the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library in Proctorsville. The doors open at 12.30pm and the author talks will start at 1pm. The afternoon will feature three Vermont writers talking about their books and their writing processes.
Kathryn Bonnez is a retired English as a Second Language Teacher and incurable explorer whose first book, A Lone Star in the Green Mountains, allowed her to combine three of her passions: history, traveling, and writing. Originally from Texas, she has lived mostly in the Northeastern United States as well as many years in France. She has lived and has a house in Chester, VT.
Archer Mayor is a death investigator for Vermont’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, a detective for the Windham County Sheriff’s Office, the publisher of his own backlist, a travel writer for AAA, and he travels the Northeast giving speeches and conducting workshops. He has 25 years of experience as a volunteer firefighter/EMT. Mayor was brought up in the US, Canada and France and had been employed as a scholarly editor, a researcher for TIME-LIFE Books, a political advance-man, a theater photographer, a newspaper writer/editor, a lab technician for Paris-Match Magazine in Paris, France, and a medical illustrator. In addition to writing novels and occasional articles, Mayor gives talks and workshops all around the country, including the Bread Loaf Young Writers conference in Middlebury, Vermont, and the Colby College seminar on forensic sciences in Waterville, Maine. Mayor's latest Joe Gunther mystery, The Company She Kept, released earlier this Fall.
Brian Staveley is the author of The Emperor’s Blades, the epic fantasy trilogy, Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne from Tor Books. The first two books, The Emperor's Blades and The Providence of Fire have already been published, while the final volume of the series, The Last Mortal Bond, will come out in 2016. Staveley has taught literature, religion, history, and philosophy, all subjects that influence his novels, and holds an MA in Creative Writing from Boston University. He works as an editor for Antilever Press, and has published poetry and essays, both in print and on-line. He lives in Vermont with his wife and young son, and divides his time between running trails, splitting wood, writing, and baby-wrangling.
The first Cavendish Book Jam will take place at 1pm on Saturday November 7th at the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library at 573 Main Street Proctorsville, VT. There is no charge for this event.
5. BRGNS STICK SEASON SOCIAL FUNDRAISER
Black River Good Neighbor Services is holding its sixth annual Stick Season Social at Sam’s Steakhouse on Saturday, November 7th starting at 6:00 p.m. “Stick Season is that time between the fall leaves and the winter snow. There are no free concerts and not much to do, so it’s a great time to party,” said Peter LaBelle, President of BRGNS. “This is a fun fund raising dinner and it is our major fund raiser of the year. It will help BRGNS with operating costs so it can continue to help local people in need of food, rent, utilities and heat assistance.”
This year BRGNS welcomes Imerys Talc Vermont, Four Seasons Sothebys International Realty, and Vermont Properties and Development as major sponsors of the event.
In addition to dinner, the evening will include a cash bar, a terrific silent auction, and lots of raffle items and door prizes. Sam’s has planned a full buffet including its signature salad bar and a variety of entrées and desserts.
The event includes a wide variety of items in a silent auction, a raffle and door prizes, all of which are donated by the community.
Tickets are $55 per person, including dinner, gratuities and tax and can be purchased at BRGNS Thrift Store, Peoples United Bank, the Book Nook, and The Wine & Cheese Depot, all located in Ludlow. Or, and this is the really easy way to buy, you may purchase tickets on line at www.brgn.org. Please call 802-228-3663 with any questions.
Tickets must be purchased in advance and seating is limited. BRGNS is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
6. EVENTS
Upcoming events for Cavendish include:
• Oct 24 (Saturday): 2nd Annual Yogi Run
• Oct 25 (Sunday): Raise the Roof Concert, 4 pm, Gethsemane Church, featuring Lissa Schneckenburgher
• Oct 31 (Saturday): Happy Halloween! Trunk or Treating, CTES Parking Lot, 5-7 pm and What Lies Behind the Green Monster: A Haunted Walk at Greven Field.”
For more information on this and other events, go to the Cavendish Connects October Calendar. For regional events, check out the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce Calendar.