Cavendish Update 2/20/15 News/Grants/Workshop
/2/20/15 EDITION OF THE CAVENDISH UPDATE
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Cavendish Community Fund Accepting Grant Applications
3. Irish in Cavendish Workshop
4. Events
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Cavendish 2014 Town Report is Now Available: The 2014 Cavendish Town Report is now available on-line at the Municipal website and was mailed on Feb. 19. For additional information, please contact the town office at 226-7292.
Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) Newsletter is On-line: The CHS Winter 2015 Newsletter is now available at the CHS Blog. Learn more about how to date Cavendish photographs as well as how to preserve photographs for future generations.
Citizens Bank in Springfield Robbed: On Tuesday, Feb. 17 Citizen’s Bank in the Springfield Plaza was robbed of an undetermined amount of money. The suspect was described as a white male subject, young in age approximate 20’s, 5’4 to 5'8" in height, with a slender/petite build. Offender was also described as wearing chocolate brown cotton style gloves, a black coat, flannel type shirt possibly beige and green in color, with blue jeans and black logger style boots. The male suspect was said to also be wearing a black winter hat and a fake black beard. The suspects voice was described as being soft, yet high pitched, and young. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Springfield Police Department at 802-885-2113
Good Roads and Economic Development are linked, town leaders tell legislative committees: Concerns about winter road maintenance and pleas for economic development help topped the lists of area leaders Tuesday when two Vermont House committees came to Springfield. The House Commerce Committee and the House Transportation Committee, of which Cavendish State Rep Mark Huntley is a member, listened to concerns. Frank Heald, town manager of Ludlow, said that Proctorsville Gulf on Route 103 is a perennial problem area. “In fact, the entire Route 103 from Rutland to Gassetts can be interesting. ” Rutland Herald
Supporting Green Up Day Via Tax Return: For the first time you can donate to Green Up Day on your Vermont Tax return. This annual event almost did not happen last year for lack of funding. But corporate sponsors stepped in to keep it going and lawmakers approved the tax return check off. Green Up Day 2015 is Sat., May 2. For more information on how to participate, you can email -- greenup@greenupvermont.org Press Release
Changes in Net-Metering Energy Projects Proposed: The financial incentive for net-metered projects could be reduced as lawmakers work out a new renewable energy policy for Vermont. VT Digger
Education Reform Bill Calls for Larger Districts by 2019: The third draft of the working House Education Committee bill was presented Wednesday, calling for “integrated education systems” or larger regional school districts of at least 1,000 students unless the State Board of Education grants a waiver to permit alternate governance structures. Cavendish is part of the Two Rivers Supervisory Union, which includes four towns-Cavendish, Ludlow, Mt. Holly and Chester. Even though this district includes two high schools and middle schools, GMUHS has an enrollment of 342 students, while Black River HS/MS is only 171. When combined with the elementary schools in the four towns, Two Rivers Supervisory Union would not meet the 1,000-student requirement. VT Digger
Agreement Reached in Fair Point Strike: Fair Point Communications and striking workers have reached a tentative contract agreement. The announcement comes after weeks of negotiations under the auspices of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), which says FairPoint’s striking employees will return to work next Wednesday. VPR
2. CAVENDISH COMMUNITY FUND ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS: The Cavendish Community Fund is now accepting grant applications for spring 2015 grant awards. The deadline for applying is April 1st. Applications that miss that date will be considered in the fall. In 2007 the fund inaugurated its program of giving cash grants to individuals or organizations for educational, artistic or cultural projects, programs or events. 2014 grants went to Stepping Stones Preschool for curriculum expansion, to Cavendish elementary school for a drama-based collaborative project with the Weston Playhouse, and to Gethsemane Church’s Raise the Roof concert series.
Grants are available for projects, programs or events that directly benefit the Cavendish community in some way. A panel of local citizens reviews the applications and recommends awards based on the quality and feasibility of each proposal. The number of grants and the amount of each depend on how many applications are received. Application guidelines are available at the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association’s website under the Community Fund tab. Hardcopies are also available at Crow’s Bakery in Proctorsville and at the Cavendish town office.
For further information on applying, on eligibility or on any other aspect of the grant program, or for help completing the application, please call Barbara Dickey at 226-7187 or Peter LaBelle at 226-7250.
3. IRISH IN CAVENDISH WORKSHOP: If you thought the first Irish immigrants in Cavendish came here from Ellis Island you would be wrong. Most came through Canada and worked in the mills, farmed and/or help to build Vermont’s railroad. In fact, it was the Irish work crew at the site of the Phineas Gage accident that alerted Dr. Williams to his injury and directed him to the boarding house where Gage was taken. As the expression goes, “the rest was history.”
On Feb. 28 (Saturday), as part of the Cavendish Historical Society’s Annual Meeting, a “hands on history” workshop will be held on the Irish in Cavendish. Not only will more information be given about the Irish impact on the town, but also participants will learn how to make a St. Brigid’s cross and various forms of Celtic knots.
Believed to be a protector of home and hearth, the St. Brigid’s cross is made on Feb. 2 in Irish households. It remains hanging in the home, often the kitchen, until a new one is made the following year. While made of reeds in Ireland, early immigrants would have used flax, straw or whatever may be poking up through the snow.
The CHS annual meeting begins at 5:30 pm with a potluck supper, followed by a short business meeting and then the workshop. It is anticipated that the workshop will begin between 6:30 and 7 pm. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place at Gethsemane Episcopal Church’s Parish Hall, located off of Depot Street in Proctorsville. FMI: 802-226-7807 or margoc@tds.net
4. EVENTS: Upcoming events this week include: Little Caesar’s Pizza Sale (Monday); GMUHS Annual Meeting and CCCA Informational Forum for Town Meeting; the solar/electric workshop for Ludlow Electric subscribers (Friday). For more information about these and other upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For events in the area, see the Okemo Valley Calendar.