Cavendish Update 10/20/20: Halloween/131 Construction/Covid
/
VIEW THE CAVENDISH VT FACEBOOK PAGE DAILY FOR THE LATEST NEWS You don’t have to be a Facebook subscriber to see this page.
Voting on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3)- Drop off your completed ballot today or Monday at the Town Office. The town’s polling place is the Proctorsville Fire Dept (Cavendish’s official polling place) for Tuesday from 10-7, where you can vote in person or drop off a ballot. Please bring your ballot with you. If you’ve lost it, no worries you can still vote, it will take another short step. Special thanks to Cavendish’s town clerk Diane McNamara, as well as the town office staff-Jen Leak, Ginny Garrow and Brendan McNamara-for their incredible efforts at making sure early voting has taken place smoothly in Cavendish.
10/30/20
1. Cavendish Info
2. Cavendish Halloween
3. Covid-19 Update
4. Construction Update 131
5. Events
1. CAVENDISH INFO
• "Twenty Mile Stream Grave Robbery," a story from Mary Churchill with information about the practice of grave robbing to assist students at Woodstock Medical College in learning anatomy. Happy Halloween from the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS).
• Resources for Home Learners: CHS has posted their November update for the Carmine Guica Young Historians Program that includes lots of resources to help plan activities in November, including Thanksgiving, the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower and Native American History Month.
• Planet Axis of Proctorsville Announces Virtual Premiere: Planet Axis is premiering its film about Vermont’s community resiliency through the pandemic. “Community Through Crisis: a Vermont story” is the first and only documentary about Vermont’s response to Covid-19, through the eyes of 10 small businesses. “Community Through Crisis: a Vermont story” is in the final stages of post-production with a scheduled virtual premiere Oct. 30, 2020 via coordinated Facebook Live and YouTube channels. Other virtual viewings will be Nov. 2 and Nov. 5. To view a trailer, go to www.youtu.be/r6tXiDHtekc or www.youtu.be/4UFnl7iv2vU.
2. CAVENDISH HALLOWEEN-What’s happening where: It’s exciting to see the new and creative ways Cavendish is celebrating Halloween this year. The Cavendish Baptist Church features a Candy Catapult from 5-7. From 4-7, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) Museum will have an expanded CHS Cabinet, where people can load up with books, puzzles, craft supplies etc. for the months ahead, along with picking up some special Dia de los Muertos treats. The Cavendish Fire Department will be handing out treats from 4-7 and you can place last minute orders for their Gourmet Classics Cookie Dough, with delivery in time for Thanksgiving.
Proctorsville Fire Department will be hosting trick or treaters starting at 4:30 and invites locals to come to PFD with their vehicles and decorate them and pass out candy in the firehouse parking area.
Gethsemane Church (off Depot Street) has just completed a community labyrinth, which will be lit by luminaries Saturday night and is open to anyone that wishes to walk it starting at 6:30 pm. Bring a flashlight, wear a mask and make space between you and others. It is there for anyone In the community who wants to use it, anytime. The labyrinth is behind the church.
Many families will be offering new and unique trick or treat opportunities in both villages. A Cavendish Trick or Treat Map is available at the Cavendish Connects website. If you would like your home or organization added to the list, send an e-mail to cavendishconnects@gmail.com We will be updating the list until 3 pm on Saturday.
Social distancing and masks required. The CHS Museum and the Cavendish Fire Department have free masks and are hand sanitizer stations. The Cavendish Baptist Church has a public bathroom available.
3. COVID UPDATE: What a week in Covid world! Cases in Vermont are rapidly rising, with numbers not seen since April. From 10/22-10/29, VT has had 155 new cases. Currently there are six people in hospital, two requiring ICU care. This is significantly increased from the previous week, where there was a total of 84 new cases. At the rate we’re going, estimates are that VT could reach 50 new cases a day in November. Talk about a wake up call.
The virus is spreading through community transmission. The outbreak at the ice skating rink in Montpelier has now resulted in 57 people becoming infected, with many of them having little to no contact with the initial incident. “What we’ve been experiencing recently are different outbreaks among relatively unrelated groups and individuals, spreading from the original cases, to their contact, and contacts of those contacts, crossing situations and geographic regions of the state,” said health commissioner Dr. Mark Levine. Note that this outbreak was not connected to actually playing hockey or broomball, but more to the activities associated with sports, such as team activities and carpooling. Levine noted that it’s small social gatherings, at which people take off their masks to eat or drink that are leading to the infections.
The outbreak at St. Michael’s College is up to 37 cases. The campus is in quarantine and new cases are primarily being picked up in those already is isolation. The wedding outbreak in Cambridge is responsible for 18 cases.
As the Governor and his team made very clear on Tuesday, as fast as the numbers go up, they can come down. It’s up to Vermonters to practice the safer six (social distance, mask, hand wash & disinfect frequently, stay home when sick, work remotely if possible and avoid unnecessary travel). Get a flu shot to help reduce twin pandemics this winter.
NH is Yellow & Red: As of Tuesday, all of NH falls in the yellow or red zone, which means they are subject to VT’s travel restrictions. You can still go to Claremont and the Upper Valley for “essential purposes” without having to quarantine. Essential travel includes travel for personal safety, medical care, care of others, parental shared custody, for food, beverage or medicine, to attend preK-12 school and college if commuting daily, or to perform work for businesses that are currently allowed to operate. For more information about which businesses may operate and how they may operate, view the Work Safe Guidance. VT Cross State Travel Information
Hospitals Restricting Visitors: With increasing cases, hospitals throughout the state, including Springfield and Rutland Regional Medical, are banning visitors with exceptions for pediatrics, labor & delivery and end of life patients. Call ahead if you want to visit someone in the hospital.
Population density and Covid: There is a popular myth circulating that the reason VT’s incidence of Covid is so low is because we have low population density. VT is ranked 37th of all states for population density and has a low positivity rate and still maintains the lowest per capita fatality ranking in the country. The Dakotas, who are among the lowest states for population density-only Montana, Wyoming and Alaska are lower-are currently staggering under the weight of Covid cases.
VT has taken the “Swiss cheese stacking” approach. The more slices you pile on top-the more prevention strategies- the less likely you’ll encounter a hole-virus getting through. Readily available testing, strong contact tracing, combined with citizens willing to wear masks, socially distance, frequent hand washing, avoiding crowds etc. makes the difference. VT also has a strong program to support those who become infected, thereby reducing the number of people that require hospitalizations and ICU care.
CHS Cabinet to Go: Be it weather, sickness, or finding it difficult to get out, we can drop off books, puzzles, art supplies or even masks, to help you and your family stay safe and entertained. Please e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com with your requests. All items will be placed on the porch, mail box or a designated spot.
Press Conferences
• Scott and health officials presented the state’s plan to distribute a vaccine which has been submitted to the CDC. It is expected that this will be a two dose vaccine. The first round of the vaccine will go to health care workers and first responders.
• DFR Commissioner Michael Pieciak provided more details on the new round of hazard pay grants announced Thursday. There are 26 fields that are now eligible for the $22 million, including grocery stores, funeral homes, essential child care. Eligible employees had to work between March 13 and May 15 and have hit 68 hours. They also need to make less than $25 an hour, with some exceptions. It’s a first-come, first-served basis, and the state expects the money to run out with a high demand.
• There have been updates in the school daily health check guidelines. Checks will now include travel screening. three-foot distancing requirements now apply through grade six instead of grade five. Plexiglass barriers are still allowed, but can’t be used to reduce spacing requirements. There was also new guidance on opening windows on school buses. They can now be closed when needed for weather safety reasons. Indoor music activities can begin again with a lot of limitations, including one student practicing per room with masks. Winter sports guidance will be coming out next week.
• The CDC has revamped the definition of “close contact,” thanks to a VT health dept investigation among a prison staff member.
• On Monday, the state issued new guidance limiting youth and adult sport leagues to in state activities and limits spectators to a maximum of 75 for youth events and none for adult events. Only one spectator allowed per family. ACCD Update to Sports and Organized Sports
• Vermont will participate in Covid vaccine trial: A phase 3 trials for Oxford Universty and AstraZeneca, the University of Vermont Medical Center will recruit 250 volunteers and will prioritize Vermonters over age 65, frontline workers and people with pre existing conditions, as well as racial and ethnic groups that have been disproportionately affected.
Closing/delayed/suspended: Strolling of the Heifers; Boston Marathon 2021 delayed until the fall; Brattleboro Retreat will cut 85 positions and eliminate their addiction hub, addiction management program and two educational programs.
4. CONSTRUCTION UPDATE 131: It is anticipated that crews will finish the installation of under drain runs by the end of the day 10/29. Weather has delayed the paving of gravel pipe crossings. Paving is currently scheduled for early in the week of 11/2. Inclement weather can alter the paving schedule. Shoulder reconstruction and widening at various locations throughout the project will continue for one more week. Included in this work is stone fill for pipe inlets. A clearing crew has begun cutting overhanging branches and clearing brush along the ditch line. It is anticipated that this work will wrap up next week. A crew is expected at the box culvert site next week to perform the permanent replacement of the town sewer line over the culvert as well as finalize earthwork and turf establishment items at this location.
Look Ahead: Work is anticipated to wrap up for the season at the end of next week. A cleanup crew will likely be on project the week of 11/9 for general cleanup and restoration of pull-offs used for staging sites this summer.
Traffic Impacts: One-way alternating traffic patterns should be expected in multiple locations throughout the project. Traffic control personnel will be onsite to assist with the flow of traffic . Minor delays should be expected.
5. UPCOMING EVENTS:
OCTOBER 31 (SATURDAY): HAPPY HALLOWEEN
NOVEMBER 3 (TUESDAY): ELECTION DAY! Voting takes place from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Hall. The Town Office Will be Closed.
NOVEMBER 9 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board Meeting, 6:30 via Zoom
NOVEMBER 26 (THURSDAY): HAPPY THANKSGIVING Town office closed
NOVEMBER 27 (FRIDAY): Town Office Closed
NOVEMBER 30 (MONDAY): Deadline for the GMP Covid 19 assistance. FMI: Department of Public Service website.
CA❤︎ENDSH-A SAFER SIX COMMUNITY
Covers mouth & nose
Always masks in public
Vermonters keep each other safe
Elbow coughs
Never forgets to wash hands
Disinfects common surfaces
Is alert for symptoms
Stays 6 feet apart
Has respect for personal space