Cavendish Update 11/27/20: Scam Alerts/Holidays/Comcast/Covid
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Plaster Items available in the CHS Cares Cabinet (located next to the steps of the Museum)
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11/27/20
1. Cavendish Info
2. Make Way for the Holidays: Keeping it green in Cavendish
3. Covid update
4. Events
1. CAVENDISH INFO
• Scam Alerts!: Multiple people in Cavendish are reporting calls from someone claiming to be from Social Security. DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR NUMBER. Instead report them to the VT Attorney General’s Office 800-649-2424
Vermonters have reported receiving an email or text message claiming to be from the Vermont Department of Labor, promising to pay “COVID-19 Benefits and Compensation” to eligible workers. This is a phishing scam that attempts to steal your personal information and your money A large sum of money is promised to be paid pending ID Verification. If you receive one of these notices, do not click on any links or attachments. Do not respond and do not send money. Move this and all scam emails to your junk folder. Block text messages from this number. Call the VT Attorney General’s office 800-649-2424 if you have responded to this scam or if you need help determining if you have been a victim of a scam. Learn more about the scam and report it to the Vermont Department of Labor website.
• Get your Flu Shot: A message from the Ludlow Health Center: With the increase of COVID-19 in our local communities, we are strongly urging ALL individuals to get their flu shot as soon as possible. Ludlow Health Center has plenty of flu vaccine and we are giving flu shots daily from 8am to 5:30 pm. We ask that individuals call ahead at 802-228-8867 and we will coordinate a time that works for them to come in and get vaccinated.
• Thank You CTES 6th Grade: The students, faculty and staff have spent three afternoons cleaning in the Proctor Cemetery. Because leaves, left on gravestones can damage the stones, the cemetery was raked and cleaned of branches etc. They'll be back in the spring to help with the preservation of one of the town's oldest cemeteries and to lay flags on the graves of veterans. The Preserve & Serve program is part of the Cavendish Historical Society's Carmine Guica Young Historian's Program.
• Comcast to impose home internet data cap of 1.2TB in Vermont next year: In 2021, Comcast plans to charge home internet customers in the northeast, including Vermont, for going over 1.2TB of data in a month. This cap is already in effect for customers on non-unlimited plans in other parts of the country. According to Xfinity, The 1.2 Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan provides you with 1.2 Terabytes (TB) of Internet data usage each month as part of your monthly Xfinity Internet service. If you choose to use more than 1.2 TB in a month, we will automatically add blocks of 50 GB to your account for an additional fee of $10 each. Your charges, however, will not exceed $100 each month, no matter how much you use. We're also offering you a courtesy month, so you will not be billed the first time you exceed the limit. This data plan is based on a principle of fairness. Those who use more Internet data, pay more. And those who use less Internet data, pay less. It is important to know that only a very small percentage of our customers use more than 1.2 TB of data and are not likely to be impacted by this plan, so they can continue to stream, surf, and download without worry. To see your actual usage, sign in to My Account To learn more go to the xfinity website.
Nov. GMUSD Board Meeting-Principal Search/No Ski Program: Superintendent Lauren Fierman broached the subject of administrative positions at CTES and GMUHS. CTES is currently operating with a shared principal/Asst principal with Chester Andover while Mike Ripley stepped in as principal when Fierman accepted the position of Superintendent. Changes in either of these positions could have a budgetary impact, as Ripley being principal, with senior staff members sharing some of the duties of the associate principal position was estimated to save about $80,000. Given the logistics required by Okemo Mountain, the decision was made not to run the snow sports program this year. Chester Telegraph
New at the CHS Cabinet: Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) Museum, lots of new stuff. In the chest are new puzzles, a wooden train set, Disney Princess Pop up castle game, craft books, craft items etc. Note if you see an item with a name on it, please leave it as it’s a hands-on history kit for a student. The cabinet currently includes plaster seasonal items to paint plus masks and books. Everything is free and available 24/7. To learn more about available hands-on history kits, please check the CHS blog.
2. MAKE WAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Keeping it Green in Cavendish
- Recycling Christmas Cavendish Style: If you haven’t started your holiday shopping or already completed it, keep in mind what can be recycled and composted.
- Buy local and support our businesses. Use the Cavendish Business Directory to arrange for gift certificates for goods and services. Happy shopping
- Donations for CHS Cares Cabinet: If you have gently used toys, art supplies, craft projects, games, puzzles, books etc., and would like to donate them to the CHS Cabinet, please e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com or call 802-226-7807 to arrange for a drop off/pick up.
3. COVID UPDATE: Given the holiday, data is a bit wonky this week as there has been no reporting for Thanksgiving and there will be no town report today. Daily cases did decrease, but it’s still much higher than it was several weeks ago. The Governor is fearful that some Vermonters will ignore staying at home this Thanksgiving season and within two weeks, rates could spiral out of control, well beyond what we’ve recently seen in the state. However, early indicators are that Vermonters are staying at home this holiday. Air traffic at the Burlington Airport is down about 70% for this time of year.
If you do choose to gather with multiple families, the health department is requesting that you quarantine for 14 days, or on day 7 being tested and quarantine you obtain a negative test result.
Some exceptions are now allowed on socializing-those in a dangerous or unhealthy situation can leave and seek shelter elsewhere, taking a walk, hike, or bike with one trusted friend, but social distancing and masking required.
School sports are now postponed indefinitely.
Vaccines: The Pfizer Vaccine could be available in Vermont as early as Dec. 10th. The CDC recommends that health care workers receive the vaccination first, as well as people who are living with chronic disease and those who are 65 and older.
The AstraZeneca Vaccine, the third vaccine and the one being tested at UVM, shows signs that it could last a year, is easier to store and has 70% effectiveness after one dose, and over 90% with a second injection. This is similar to the Pfizer and Moderna rates, which require two doses.
Bamlanivimab & Remdesivir: VT received a small shipment of Bamlanivmab, recently approved by the FDA. However, the drug, designed for those with mild-moderate Covid at higher risk for hospitalization, has received unfavorable reviews from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Infectious Disease Society of America.
The World Health Organization recommends against Remdesivir, as they have found no evidence that the drug has an impact on mortality rates, ventilation use or time until improvement.
More Testing sites: Five on demand testing sites opened last week (including Brattleboro and Rutland). Five additional ones are opening this week (closest one is Stratton) and five more will open next (including ones in Springfield and White River Junction). These testing are in addition to all of the other testing being done in VT. Testing is free and you can register online at the state’s site. If you gathered with other people for Thanksgiving, the recommendation is to be tested immediately, again at 7 days and quarantine until negative test results are achieved. The state is now testing an average of 6,000 people a day. To schedule a test or to learn about sites, go to the VDH website.
CDC Likely to Recommend Shortening Quarantine Period: Federal health officials are likely to shorten their recommendation for how long people should quarantine to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus from the current 14 days to as few as seven. NPR
Local Resources
- CHS Cares Closet: Masks (cloth and disposable), books, toys, craft supplies. Open 24/7. All free. Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum.
4. UPCOMING EVENTS:
NOVEMBER 27 (FRIDAY): Town Office Closed
NOVEMBER 28 (SATURDAY): Christmas tree and greens go on sale at the Cavendish Fire Dept. The sale will continue through the week and into the following weekend(s) until all items are gone.
NOVEMBER 29 (SUNDAY): Deer Season Ends
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