Cavendish Update 3/20/20
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“In Ned’s case, working at home was anything but peaceful.” Jane Hart
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3/20/20: We’ve done this before
1. Was there ever a time in our history similar to now?
2. What’s Happened in the Last 24 Hours
3. Sanity Tip for the Day
4. Take a Break
5. Events
We’re coming up on the weekend so just a reminder that the town office is closed Saturday and Sunday.
1. WAS THERE EVER A TIME IN OUR HISTORY SIMILAR TO NOW?: Cavendish has certainly dealt with its fair share of disease over the years, but the Covid-19 epidemic reminds me most of the response mounted after Pearl Harbor was bombed.
Yes, the US knew what was going on in Europe, but they really hadn’t prepared, and a large part of the naval fleet was lost with Japan’s attack on December 7, 1941. Sound familiar? However, the Americans with their can do spirit, immediately went to work.
There were ships in the ocean, planes in the skies and troops on the ground. Everybody did their bit. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of England would later comment, that among his first thoughts after the US declared war, was “We have won the war.”
That can do spirit is alive and well in Cavendish. Just amazing to see how the community is pulling together. People are volunteering to help those who need to remain at home, others are offering classes on-line and everyone is connecting on-line. Read the article at the Cavendish Historical Society blog.
2. WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS: It is with sadness that we report that the Governor announced last evening Vermont’s first two deaths from Covid-19, with one of them being the Ludlow resident. As brother Richard noted in his poem “Lockdown” (Included in the Cavendish Update 3/17/20)
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing
• Last evening, Cavendish’s state representative Annemarie Christensen called to talk about Covid-19 . She is on the House Committee on Health Care so consequently putting in very long days remotely from her home in Weathersfield. In addition to committee meetings and briefings, she also gets to conference call once a day with the Governor. Did I use this as an opportunity to advocate for what we need? Of course. She wants the community to know how impressed she was at the speed by which Cavendish hit the ground running. The legislature, while not meeting in Montpelier, is working to get legislation passed that can help those who have lost jobs, don’t have health care etc. However, her over riding message was straight forward, and she repeated again and again and again, “Just stay home.”
• While the headlines are screaming frightening statistics, there is also a growing number of stories on drugs that look like they could offer real benefit. Researchers Look to Old Drugs for a Possible Coronavirus Treatment that Might Just Work. While I’ve read some of the original research about how an anti-malaria drug is being used in other parts of the world, it’s interesting to see the reporting from business publications. Note Bayer has ramped up its production of the anti-malarial drug.
• Hey Millennials out there, listen up: This disease affects you too. New data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests adults ages 20 to 44 have accounted for nearly 30% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, and 20% of related hospitalizations. After adding adults ages 45 to 54, the percentages swelled to nearly 50% and 40%, respectively. So none of us are immune to this, so do yourself and everybody else a favor and Be Smart and Do your Part. Stay home or 6 feet apart. Learn more.
• If you are in quarantine, Ludlow Ambulance has asked that you post a sign on your door so they can protect you and their staff. We’ve posted a sign that you can print and tape to the door at the Dish. If you don’t have a printer, call 226-7291 and someone in the town office can print one and mail it to you. Remember they’re only in during the week.
• Best of luck to our parents who will be “homeschooling” all Cavendish students today. Thank you to our teachers who have worked very hard to make this possible.
• Stores opening early for seniors/high risk customers: Market Basket-Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30-7; Shaw’s 7-8:30 on Tuesday and Thursdays. Stores hours for Shaw’s will be 7 am-8 pm Sunday through Saturday.
• Walmart is offering special shopping hours for seniors. From March 24 through April 28, Walmart stores will host an hour-long senior shopping event every Tuesday for customers aged 60 and older. This will start one hour before the store opens. Pharmacies and Vision Centers will also be open during this time. Learn more.
• If you are a Hallmark Christmas movie fan, they are marathoning these movies during self-quarantine. Starting Friday, March 20 at 12 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark will air 27 original "Countdown to Christmas" holiday films from recent years ending at 6 pm with “Christmas in Rome.”
• No lines at the DMV!! They too have gone virtual, which is good news if you want to process registration and license renewals and various other services via online, by mail, or via telephone. Not so great if you need to take a driver’s test as in-person transactions like exams, trainings, and hearings will be postponed for the duration of the state of emergency. However, the Gov. has granted a 90 day extension for all license and registration renewals. You can reach the DMV at 888-998-3766 or www.dmv.vermont.gov/contact
3 .SANITY TIP FOR THE DAY: If thou are pained by any external thing, it is not the thing that disturbs thee, but thine own judgment about it. And it is in thy power to wipe out this judgment now. Marcus Aurelius Roman emperor from 161 to 180. One of the famous Stoic philosophers, he wrote daily, in what are now called his “Meditations.” His message was clear that it isn’t the event in and of itself that is problematic, it’s how we respond and how we choose to work with it. So consider how you can control yourself by staying calm and don’t panic. Focus on what you can do about the situation, e.g. in our current Covid-19 world, practice social distancing religiously. Don’t lose your cool and finally, look for the good. Every situation has one. Personally, I’m liking this social distancing thing cause nobody knows if I did the dishes, made the beds and best of all, no bra required. Not a biggie for you guys, but the gals know what I’m talking about.
4. TAKE A BREAK: Have some of the veggies about to head south? No worries. Today’s take a break is all about preserving veggies in a simple brine solution that takes little effort.
Each fall, we take the 6th graders to Sturbridge Village. One of the things we learned is that as long as you kept your veggies soaking in the brine solution (they used a weight to make sure the veggies were well sunk) they would keep for a year with no refrigeration or canning. Yeah…Well that certainly made me realize that veggies I had put in brine and had in the refrigerator in a glass jar would definitely last a lot longer than the 3 weeks many recipes indicate. In fact, some of my tastiest veggies are the ones I forgot were in there. Here’s a link to get you started. And don’t limit yourself to just cucumbers. I “can” a wide variety including beets, carrots, cauliflower, radishes, string beans and more. Enjoy and let me know how they turn out.
5. UPCOMING EVENTS
3/20 (Friday): 7 am Boot Camp with Denise. dgBody Works Classes; https://www.facebook.com/dgbodyworks/ These are Facebook Live Classes and free. Will be post to Cavendish Facebook page the next day
Be smart. Do your part. Stay home or 6 feet apart.
Stay healthy to protect yourself and Cavendish.