Cavendish Update 4/8/16 News/Events
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4/8/16 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Got Rain? Storm Water Expo April 16
3. Input Requested for The Current Bus
4. World Team Sport & Face of America Ride
5. Drug Take Back Day in Windsor County April 30
6. Events
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Pet Owners Should Vaccinate Pets for Distemper After Fox Tests Positive: Vermont's Department of Fish and Wildlife is warning people about a potentially growing outbreak of canine distemper among wild animals in central Vermont. So far, just one gray fox has tested positive for canine distemper Fourteen foxes have been turned into the department for "behaving in a weird way" that the department associates with distemper. Press Release
Police Probe Animal Cruelty Allegations at Chester Shelter: Webster House, formerly known as TARPS, closed its doors on Friday, April 1, due to an investigation over its practice of taking in sick animals and euthanizing some of the cats. The shelter has also received an eviction notice effective July 1. Eagle Times
Hikers Asked to Avoid Muddy Hiking Trails: The Green Mountain Club (GMC), maintainer of Vermont’s Long Trail and Vermont’s hiking trail advocate, and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), manager of State Forests and Parks, announce that Mud Season has returned to the Green Mountains a month early. We ask hikers to stay off muddy trails from now until Memorial Day weekend; the forest has not caught up with our variable climate so the trails will remain wet, muddy, and prone to erosion. Hikers walking on saturated soils or on the sides of trails cause irreversible damage to surrounding vegetation, widen trails, and inhibit natural drainage of our beloved hiking trails. Press Release
Weather Makes for a Good Sugaring Season: Both the quantity and quality has been positively impacted by the strange winter, with warmer temps and little snow. The season is actually longer this year. WCAX
Net Metering Rule Changes: Sharing the Burden of the Grid Costs: The program that gave liftoff to Vermont’s renewable energy industry is getting a makeover, and new rules from the Public Service Board could alter the solar power landscape across Vermont. Lawmakers approved the net-metering law back in 1998 as a way to jumpstart the construction of small-scale renewable energy projects. By forcing utilities to pay a set price for the power, the legislation allowed for the construction of environmentally friendly power sources that the market wouldn’t have otherwise borne. When do premium prices for renewables begin to cause undue financial impacts on other ratepayers? Utilities need ways to collect from net-metering participants the money needed to maintain their local transmission grid. VPR
2. GOT RAIN? STORM WATER EXPO
If it snows or rains on your property, you need to come to the Storm Water Expo on Saturday, April 16! From 9-12, the Expo will be held at HCRS (Health Care Rehabilitation Services) located at 390 Route 106 (River St) in Springfield, VT. Learn about some of the tools, programs, and partners available to help YOU deal with rain and snowmelt on your property. Exhibits include rain barrels, erosion-control socks, the Stream Table, and more; learn about a new rain garden being installed this spring on a private property with a history of storm water devastation; tour the infiltration area (rain garden) at HCRS; pick up a flyer for a free public presentation about working with nature's water cycles coming up in Ludlow later in April.
A program of the Black River Action Team, the Expo features speakers, materials, and exhibits from the BRAT, State of Vermont, Jan Lambert, Filtrexx Erosion Control Products, Ottauquechee Natural Resources Conservation District, and EJ Prescott. The $15 registration fee covers all Expo materials and refreshments. Pre-registration is requested; registration may be paid on the day of the Expo. Register by contacting Kelly Stettner of the Black River Action Team: (802) 738-0456 or blackrivercleanup@yahoo.com.
3. INPUT REQUESTED FOR THE CURRENT BUS
Southeast Vermont Transit (often known as “The Current”) is in the middle of a project to evaluate the buses it runs in the Springfield/Ludlow/Bellows Falls area, which includes Cavendish. The majority of this project is focusing on a survey of existing and potential bus riders that was completed in January. We had a great response to the survey and now we want to continue the conversation with two public meetings.
On Tuesday April 12, 2016, meetings will be held at 11 am and at 5 pm at the Springfield Hall, 96 Main St. The following bus routes are included in this project:
· Springfield In-Town (#1)
· Bellows Falls In-Town (#2)
· Bellows Falls to Springfield (#55)
· Bellows Falls to Ludlow (and Rutland) (#57)
· Bellows Falls to Okemo (#61) (seasonal)
For more information about the project, the draft report with survey results and information about how to get to the meetings by bus, see http://swcrpc.org/bus-route-evaluation-project-2016/
For more information on existing bus routes, see www.crtransit.org
4. WORLD TEAM SPORT & FACE OF AMERICA RIDE
On April 23 and 24, Mark Huntley will be riding with the American Portfolios team, in cooperation with the U.S. military, for the 16th annual Face of America (FOA) bike ride from Washington, D.C. to the battlefields of Gettysburg, P.A. The 2016 FOA is a two-day, 110 mile inclusive bike ride to honor, appreciate and include service members from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Participants include severely injured as well as able-bodied service members and civilians. According to Mark, What makes this trip unique, as is the case with all World Team events, is its inclusive nature. We get to ride alongside these brave individuals, we get to support them, honor them and understand more fully what they have sacrificed for our country. This is so important for them but it may be equally important for those who ride alongside them. The opportunity to connect with those brave men and women whom have given so much, to ride with them in both support and more importantly in understanding of what they have done for us and what they are now experiencing is the opportunity World Team Sports makes available through The Face of America Ride
Last year, Mark raised over $2,000 for this effort and is looking to increase that amount for the 2016 event. For more information on the ride and how you can support Mark’s efforts go the World Teams Sports link
Please note: This Ride is not part of Wounded Warriors.
5. DRUG TAKE BACK DAY IN WINDSOR COUNTY 4/30
On Saturday, April 30, the Windsor County Sheriff’s Office, local and state law enforcement agencies, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The Take-Back Day event is free and anonymous, no questions asked, with drop-off sites located throughout Windsor County.
The following locations in Windsor County will serve as drop-off sites on Take-Back Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30: Chester Police Department; Windsor Police Department; Weathersfield Transfer Station (operated by the Weathersfield Police Department); Springfield Police Department; Ludlow Police Department; Hartford Police Department; Woodstock Police Department; Royalton Police Department; Royalton State Police Barracks; Norwich Police Department; and Rochester Constable’s Office. The Take Back Day and Permanent Collection services are free. Liquids, lotions, powders and patches are accepted in addition to pills and capsules. Press Release
5. EVENTS
April 9 (Saturday): Stars Wars: The Force Awakens will be screened at 7 pm at the Cavendish Library. This is a free event open to the public.
April 11 (Monday): Cavendish Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. The Agenda will be posted to The Dish as soon as it’s received.
• The April meeting of the GFWC Okemo Valley Women's club will be held at 7pm at the Black River Valley Senior Center in Ludlow. The evening will include a speaker, followed by a business meeting and refreshments. During and after the meeting there will be a teacup silent auction to raise funds.
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.