Covid 19 Update: 3/16/20 Cavendish Hunkers Down

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3/16/20: Cavendish Hunkers Down

1. Hunkering Down

2. What’s happened in the last 24 hours

3. How you can help

4. Brenda Gregory’s Irish Soda Bread

1. HUNKERING DOWN: Everybody needs an Uncle Tony to keep them on the right track. Fortunately we have Uncle Tony in Dr. Anthony Fauci, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. He deeply cares about Americans, and knows exactly what’s been happening in other parts of the world, particularly Italy, and he doesn’t want that to happen here.

His message was heard loud and clear yesterday: hunker down America to flatten the curve. The fewer people who get sick, the better the U.S. healthcare system can treat them. “I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing,” said Dr. Fauci. The elderly and those with underlying medical conditions should already be hunkering down — but other Americans, too, should consider “much more” restrictions on outside activity, from work and travel to possibly eating at restaurants. “Everybody has got to get involved in distancing themselves socially.”

So that’s what Cavendish and the state of Vermont are doing. Before we provide you with the daily update-a sense of humor about things can make it more bearable. Consequently,  some post items will have a few twists. It’s going to be St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow so prepare by making Brenda Gregory’s mother’s Irish Soda Bread-see Item

Expect to be “hunkered down” for about the same length of time the schools are closed and the state is under emergency conditions- April 6 but be prepared for longer.

While places are closed and events are cancelled, Cavendish is very much open. Get out and enjoy the fresh air. Wave to your neighbors- keeping 6 feet apart. This is the perfect time to do some early spring cleaning and put aside items for the July 25 (Saturday) Town Wide Tag Sale.

This will not last forever. We will get through it and we will be better for the experience.

1. WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS

• All schools will be closed in VT until April 6 by order of Gov. Scott. Provisions for students who depend on the school for food will be made. As soon as we’ve heard from the TRSU about the program and scheduling we’ll post it. Note that while the Governor has given the date of March 18 (Wednesday) for all schools to be closed, CTES and GMUHS’s doors are already shut, along with BRHS, LES, CAES and Mt. Holly. Read more.

• Schools are closing in NH

• Three news cases of Covid-19 were added to Vermont’s total count. Two cases are associated with Ludlow and one of those testing positive yesterday is listed as being a 50 year old man from Suffolk County, Mass who is self-isolating in his Windsor County, VT home. Learn more

• We’re going from manual to speedier testing-not quite warp speed- this week, so expect lots and lots of positive cases to be splashed across the headlines. Just don’t look if it’s going to make you crazy. Hunkering down means not having to look at scary stuff. For those that are first responders, medical providers, elderly or have a pre existing condition, you will soon be available for priority testing, particularly once drive-through testing is here.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now advising against gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks. No large events and mass gatherings that includes "conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies."

• The toilet paper situation in Ludlow is dire and the lines are even longer at Shaw’s. Try shopping in Claremont in the off peak. Really what are people doing with all that toilet paper? We have one resident who is writing “The Toilet Paper Cookbook,” so maybe he needs a lot of cases to test his recipes. However, we’ve received one very practical suggestion, We have an outhouse . We have tons of old 100 percent cotton bed sheets . Planning to rip them up into squares and the cotton decomposes in the ground completely. Yankee ingenuity at its finest.

• Green Mountain Power to suspend collections amid Covid-19 outbreak. See there is some good news.

• VT National Guard Ready to Assist in Covid-19 Pandemic. See more positive news.

• There is a lot of misinformation about Covid-19 including ”the hold your breath test” (not true) and children don’t get it (yes they do, it’s often milder).  VT Digger has done a nice job of separating fact from fiction. Remember, for factual information, listen to Uncle Tony (Dr. Fauci).

• There are a lot of closings and changes, so please call ahead before venturing out. We should have a “Hunkering Down Resource Guide” for you tomorrow, but in the meantime, note the following:

-       Black River Good Neighbor has closed the thrift store, but you can still get help from them by calling (802) 228-3663

-       Wi-Fi is available at both the Cavendish & Ludlow Libraries. Ludlow will be closing at 2 today for the duration. You can still access Wi-Fi from their parking lot. It doesn’t require a password. Cavendish Library’s board will be making a decision today about their availability today. Cavendish’s Wi-Fi requires a password, which you can get by calling the library 226-7503 or the town office 226-7291.

-       Cavendish Town Office is closed to the public but staff is reporting to work. Call 802-226-7291 or use their website.

-       Post office is keeping normal hours.

3. HOW YOU CAN HELP: The posters from WWII, with their amazing art work and short slogans got the point across-“Do your bit and knit;” Rosie the Rivieter’s “We can do it.”

For our school kids, folks working from home or anyone who has a little bit of time, we need our own messages to remind us to stay vigilant about the 4Ss (Ssing it):

Social Distancing:

- Stay 6 feet away from other people

- Stay away from large crowds

- Avoid sick people

- Don't shake hands-opt for Namaste bow, jazz hands, wave, the gong shou gesture, or the Vulcan Live long. Note that leg shakes, fist and elbow bumps violate the 6 feet rule.

Soap (hand washing) & Sanitize (clean surfaces)

Stay Home

- if you are sick

- your child is sick

- you can telecommute (work from home)

Safely Cough

- Into a tissue

- Your arm

Any type of art work that promotes "Ssing It," we'll be posted on-line and used in handouts, with the artist getting full credit. We need all types of art and from all ages- Photographs, videos, drawings, sculptures, poems, short essays. There is no set timeline, so e-mail it to Cavendish Connects or post to Cavendish Facebook Page.

4. BRENDA’S MOTHER’S IRISH SODA BREAD: Brenda Gregory’s mother was from County Cork, Ireland. If you don’t know Brenda, she lives in Cavendish and is the most wonderful story teller. Among my favorite stories is about how she grew up during WWII. While working her family’s Victory Garden, and helping out by being a plane spotter, she managed to acquire patches from many of the American military divisions. She sewed them on two different jackets and wore them constantly.  They’re amazing.

4 cups white flour

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

1 cup sugar (I use unrefined, raw or turbo sugar)

• Blend the above.

• Cut in small lumps of butter 1 and ½ sticks and blend. Will have the consistency of a pie dough.

• Add 1 cup currants and 1 and ½ cups buttermilk and ¼ cup caraway seeds. (You can substitute rasians and it’s okay to omit the caraway seeds)

• Blend until mixed.

• Form a large ball and divide in half to form two smaller balls

On a large baking sheet (use parchment paper) lay each half. Not too close together as they spread. You can use two cake pans or cast iron skillets.

Can brush tops with a mix of 1 egg yolk plus 2 T of water and then sprinkle with sugar. (I don’t do this). Use a sharp knife to cut an “X” into each loaf. This is important because it lets the fairies out.

Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes

                      Do your part ………………………..Stay a Part (by six feet)

                        Stay healthy to protect yourself and Cavendish.

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