Cavendish Update 8/7/15 Rd Closed/Internet/News/Events
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Beaver Pond from Aug. 1 Cavendish Hike, photograph by Bob Naess
Due to a collapsed culvert, Twenty Mile Stream Rd will be closed this morning, Aug 7 (Friday) 7-10 am from the intersection of 131 and Twenty Mile Stream to Heald Road. Those living in the affected area will be able to access their homes but there is no thru traffic. Please use alternate routes.
8/7/15 Cavendish Update Contains
1. Cavendish Related News
2. VTel and Connectivity in Cavendish
3. Nature Preserve in Cavendish
4. Renewing Your VT Driver’s License
5. Tiemann Cavendish Memoirs: Chapter 22/Tourism
6. Yankee Chank Concert Cancelled
7. Events
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Change in Dispatch for Cavendish and Proctorsville Fire Departments: As of Friday August 7, 2015 at noon, the Proctorsville and Cavendish Fire Departments are transferring Dispatch Services to Hartford Emergency Communications Center. This will not affect how you contact Fire and Ambulance. For all Emergency Calls dial 911 and for non-Emergency use the respective phone numbers, which are listed in the phone book. Please share this to help spread the word. Like Hartford Emergency Communications Center on Facebook to stay up to date with emergencies in our area.
Victim Speaks Out Against Brett Bartolotta at Sentencing: In 2013, Brett Bartolotta, who was living in Cavendish, Vt., was one of two men charged with aggravated assault and slave trafficking, felonies punishable by up to life in prison, in relation to the alleged abuse. As part of a plea deal that prosecutors said was a necessary compromise because of problems related to the statute of limitations and evidence, Bartolotta pleaded guilty to felonious aggravated assault and engaging in lewd acts, a misdemeanor, both in relation to a bondage scenario in April 2011. Bartolotta’s five- to 10-year prison sentence all was suspended, except for six months he served earlier this year in anticipation of the deal. His eight-year probation requires him to stay away from minors, except for his own children, and to undergo sex offender therapy, although he will not have to register as a sex offender. In interviews outside the courtroom, the family, Jeffrey Wyman, his mother, grandmother, sister and two brothers — said they felt the justice system had failed them, criticizing the handling of the case and wondering how Bartolotta could serve such a short time behind bars. Wyman says he suffers from severe trust issues, post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions as a result of the abuse, and said he visits a psychiatrist weekly to cope. Although he wanted a tougher sentence, fearing that “just because (Bartolotta’s) on probation, he’s (not) going to stop,” Wyman said he felt vindicated that people would be aware of Bartolotta’s past. Bartolotta plans to transfer his probation to Connecticut, where his wife is living. Valley News
Mosquitoes in Springfield Test Positive for West Nile Virus: Three batches of mosquitoes from Springfield have tested positive in Vermont. Approximately one percent of those infected develop severe illness. Prevent bites by limiting time outside from dusk to dawn, wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors when mosquitoes are most active and use insect repellants. WNNE For additional information, check out Insect Repellants-What Works and What Doesn’t.
VT Businesses Warned of E-mail Scam: The Attorney General’s Office has received complaints from four Vermont businesses about fraudulent emails from scammers who claim to be company representatives and request wire transfers of tens of thousands of dollars. The emails may appear legitimate because the scammers replicate information found on the company’s website, a news release said. The AG’s office urged Vermont businesses to carefully examine all emails requesting a transfer of money to determine whether the email is genuine. The release suggested that email recipients pay close attention to the spelling of email addresses or domain names. The Attorney General’s Office recommended setting up other security measures such as password protection on business email accounts. Any Vermont business that has received such a communication should contact a law enforcement agency and the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at consumer@uvm.edu or by phone at 800-649-2424 or 802-656-3183. Press Release
GMP Rates are Going Down: If regulators approve, rates will go down 0.76 percent in October. Officials say the company is able to provide cheaper rates partly due to having long-term and stable energy contracts, bracing Vermont from any volatility in the market. Green Mountain Power officials say they're dedicated to helping their customers. WCAX
Don’t Pick the Yellow Flowers that Look Like Queen Anne’s Lace: The VT Health Dept. is warning people not to pick Wild Parsnip as the juice can cause burns. The plants grow wild along roadsides and other unmaintained areas, and produce yellow flowers that appear similar to Queen Anne’s Lace. Learn more at the VDH website
2. VTEL AND CONNECTIVITY IN CAVENDISH
For Proctorsville TDS customers, particularly those in the village, by the end of summer, there should be better Internet speeds as new lines are being installed to service this area.
Many had hoped with the new tower in Ludlow (N. Preedom Hill), better connectivity would be available from VTel. Unfortunately, there continues to be little to no service for certain parts of town. It’s not clear if and when a tower will be in South Reading. The President of VTel now admits that the technology is not what they had hoped and wireless can’t penetrate buildings, trees and foliage. While there is a VTel tower in Cavendish (Mill Street and White’s Hill intersection), it barely clears the trees so how effective it will be in coming years is uncertain.
For the last several months, John Lipmann, a Valley News reporter, has been researching VTel and three of his reports appeared in the Aug. 2 (Sunday) issue as follows:
• VTel and Its $116 Million Promise: Five Years on and Many are Unconnected: In November 2010, Cavendish Town Manager Richard Svec sent a letter of “enthusiastic support” on behalf of VTel Wireless to Washington. The letter backed VTel’s application for federal stimulus money to build a fiber-optic telecommunications system in Springfield and a wireless broadband system throughout the state. Five years later, Svec is still waiting. In interviews with residents and officials in more than a dozen towns across the state — places where VTel, on its website, says its wireless broadband service is available to “select homes and businesses” — all reported that they are unaware of anyone using it. The appearance of few users is confirmed by recent VTel state regulatory filings reporting subscriber numbers for its wireless broadband service. VTel was awarded more than $116 million in federal financing in 2010 made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. While VTel has built the fiber-optic network in its core service area, five years later the company reported a total of only 265 wireless users statewide for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014, according to a June 29, 2015, filing with Vermont’s Department of Public Service.
• How Michel Guite Built, Changed VTel: Over the years, the Vermont Telephone Co., a privately owned telecommunications company that was acquired 21 years ago in a buyout led by former Wall Street executive Michel Guite, has proven itself willing to challenge government regulators and adept at negotiating rulings in its favor.
• VTel’s Long Road to Network of 135 Antennas: There are those in Cavendish who have tried at various times to obtain VTel service only to be told to wait for the next tower, with one of the big ones being located in Ludlow. As VTel built out its wireless broadband system across the state, it required more transmission sites than initially planned. The number of reported antenna sites shifted over time, sometimes rising, sometimes falling.
Repeated calls to VTel have continued to extend the date when towers meeting Cavendish’s need would be in place.
3. NATURE PRESERVE IN CAVENDISH
On August 1, Pieter van Schaik led a group of nine people on a hike in Cavendish to view a blue heron rookery, unusual plants, stands of trees that have been untouched for over 150 years, and a ten acre beaver pond.
Starting in the 1980s, Pieter began obtaining land with the idea of sub dividing it into smaller lots. Some of the parcels he acquired were part of the Kingsbury Farm and the Guica properties. As time went by, with some of the land subdivided, Pieter fell in love with the beauty and wildlife of what is today about 230 acres.
The land is being turned over to the State of Vermont and will ultimately be managed by VT Fish & Wildlife. In the interim, Pieter is conducting various research projects on plant species, such as Lady Slippers, and trying to create trails and an access point for canoes and kayaks so it is possible to explore the beaver pond and wetlands.
Lots of pictures were taken during the hike and are being posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page and also appear on-line at The Dish.
If you are interested in learning more about this land and how you can be involved in its preservation, please contact Pieter at 802-226-7374 or 226-7303.
4. GETTING YOUR VERMONT DRIVER’S LICENSE RENEWED
Recently, various people in town have been caught up in the VT Driver’s License Renewal debacle. Basically, if you haven’t renewed your driver’s license since Jan. 2014, be prepared as it’s a lot more complicated for “security.”
To save squinting your eyes -Know that you have a 14 day grace period from your birthday. It’s in very fine print on your license.
You can renew, update or request a duplicate license by mail, however it will result in the issuance of a “Non-Real ID” compliant card-or “Privilege Card” rather than “License.” That means for things like boarding a plane, you can’t use your driver’s license and will have to have another form of federal accepted ID, such as a passport. Sooooo....If you want a License, you’re going to need to show up at the DMV (Springfield and Rutland are closest) and have with you, in addition to the renewal application form, the following three items-and they will not take any substitutions-a good book is also helpful: proof of birth; social security identification; and proof that you live where you say you do. For more details about what is required, go to the full article at The Dish.
5. TIEMANN CAVENDISH MEMOIRS: CHAPTER 22/TOURISM
As the Tiemann’s close out 1935, in Chapter 22 they are unaware that 1936 will bring considerable snow and the ushering in of a new error in Vermont- The Black River Snow Carnival and tourism. For the prelude and links to all of the chapters go to Coming to Vermont (Cavendish): Memoirs of Philip Tiemann.
6. YANKEE CHANK ON PROCTORSVILLE GREEN CANCECLLED
Unfortunately, Yankee Chank, Vermont’s well-known Cajun/Zydeco dance band will not be playing on the Proctorsville Green on Aug. 12 as previously scheduled. However, you can catch them Sunday night, Aug. 9, at the Ludlow Band Stand at 6:30 pm.
The last concert will be held on August 19th at 5:30 p.m. when Three To The Bar will wrap up the Cavendish season. All concerts are free and open to the public. Bring a blanket or chairs and a picnic dinner. Join with friends or make new ones. Please help continue this free Wednesday evening tradition in Cavendish. Everyone is welcome.
For more information please call Robin at 226-7736. In case of rain, please check the Cavendish Facebook page for further information.
7. EVENTS
Upcoming Events This week
August 7 (Friday): Twenty Mile Stream will be closed from 131 to Heald Road from 7-10 am.
August 9 (Sunday): Yankee Chank, featuring Cavendish fiddler Bob Naess, at the Ludlow Band Stand, 6:30 pm. This is a free concert
August 10 (Monday): Cavendish Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm. Click for Agenda http://www.cavendishconnects.com/blog/2015/8/5/cavendish-sb-agenda-for-81015
For more information on these and other events, go to the Cavendish Connects August Calendar. For regional events, check out the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce Calendar.