Cavendish Update 4/17/20: Covid News
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Quarantined single parent Vince is doing great. Jane Hart
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4/15/20
1. What’s Been Happening
2. Sanity Break: Show Up for Hope by Anne Lamotte
3. Events
We’re staying home today for the medical workers who have died from Covid-19.
Testing for Covid-19 is reminding me a bit of “the checks in the mail.” There has been considerable talk, but little to show for serology testing or the 15 minute rapid test kits Vermont was supposed to be getting from Abbott Labs. Well the rapid test kits arrived but only with enough testing materials to do 100 tests versus the 120 per kit initially promised. However, as Dr. Mark Levine, VT’s Health commissioner noted, it’s better to be a low incidence state and not get all that was promised because it’s been redirected to ‘hot spots.”
Serology testing is all over the map and we’ll have to just wait and see. To obsess over “if and when,” is a lesson in frustration I don’t need. Fortunately, VT has been doing an excellent job scrounging around to getting everything from personal protective equipment, to identifying labs who can run the tests. In addition, Vermonters are really good at taking care of business and we’re just bending that curve to the point that it’s possible we’ve reached peak and we’ll start seeing some shifts in the Stay at Home order by the beginning of May.
The one major area of frustration that has people pulling their hair out is the inability to get through to the Department of Labor. Scott noted at Wednesday’s press conference, they are trying to deal with an antiquated computer system that can’t easily process the volume of claims, which VT has never experienced before and never anticipated. Scott was clear that Vermonters had every right to be angry. “It’s not enough for me to say ‘have some patience’ because this isn’t about patience. I accept responsibility for this. This is an area that we didn’t foresee and certainly, no excuses, but we need to do better.”
There are more and more discussions about what the “new normal” will look like. What does it mean for our economic future? Will school still be remote come September? Since my crystal ball isn’t up to snuff these days, all we can really say is that until there is a vaccine and/or a very effective treatment, we’re going to doing the social distancing 6 foot dance, complete with masks and we’ll be relying on Internet to keep us connected.
Scott is working with the other states in ending “stay at home” orders in a manner that is based on data, science and what is in the best interest of people. He said that the Coalition of Governors recently announced is a formalization of what has already been taking place.
VT has a Covid-19 Recovery Resource Center that includes the RestartVT Team whose purpose is to develop plans for the smooth, safe and orderly reopening of the economy in concert with the State Emergency Operations Center and the Department of Health.
Locally Cavendish Connects is working to make high speed Internet available town wide; upgrading our various online services to best meet the changing needs; and has started reaching out to key members of the community to discuss the establishment of an economic development committee. In short we’re all in this together and even though our focus is our corner of the world, none of us are alone.
Don’t forget tonight is the community solidarity event at 8 pm in Proctorsville. See the Event section for more information.
So as we move into what’s been happening, today’s Sanity Break is actually Anne Lamott’s strategy for dealing with adversity-Show Up with Hope. Everyone I know, including me, has lived through devastating times at least twice, through seemingly unsurvivable loss. And yet we have come through because of the love of our closest people, the weird healing properties of time, random benevolence, and, of course, our dogs
If you need help with shopping, a transfer station run, TP, hand sanitizer or something else, please call the Cavendish Town Office, M-F from 9-5 226-7291 or 7292.
2. WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
Cavendish SB Meeting: Covid-19 likely to impact summer projects, budgets in Cavendish: The Cavendish Selectboard had their first online meeting via Zoom Monday, April 13, which focused on how COVID-19 will likely impact the completion of town summer projects and the budget. Of particular concern are upcoming tax bills scheduled to go on in July. One option being considering is whether to waive all penalties and interest from anyone unable to pay timely. Board Members Mike Ripley and George Timko both expressed their support for that option. Another possibility is delaying the mailing of the tax bills until September, which would delay the payment deadlines as well. McNamara said they were gathering as much information as they can with new information coming in daily from the state and other agencies on various options. They will continue to discuss the matter in upcoming meetings. Vt Journal
• Ludlow Electric currently has one person at a time in the office to answer phones. The Drive-up is CLOSED to the Public. Payments may be made at our ~ Night Drop Box or the door has a slot for mail at Pond Street. You may call with your CC/Debit Cart or E-Check to process your payments. You may also make payment thru the Payments site: https://ipn.paymentus.com/epd/stde/ldlw To use this site: you must know your Account# & the Amount you want to pay. (This is only a payment portal & does not give you any information).
• Survey: Vermont 4th hardest hit by pandemic effect on tourism
• Better Business Bureau says stop sharing senior pictures on Facebook: According to the BBB, scammers or hackers who surf through social media sites will see these #ClassOf2020 posts, and will now have the name of your high school and graduation year, which are common online security questions.
• Virtual appointments and medical visits during the Covid Pandemic: Quickly becoming the norm as we continue to practice social distance, telemedicine is how many are now receiving medical care. This post addresses many of the questions about telemedicine as well as getting routine medical care.
• Small Business Shut out as SBA Rescue Loan Program is out of cash.
• Leahy named to Trump’s council to reopen U.S. economy
• Is Vermont’s child care bailout fair?: In a bid to ensure child care facilities can afford to reopen when the pandemic ends, Vermont has promised a massive bailout to the industry. But as part of the state’s stabilization program, families are being asked to pay 50% of the tuition they were paying before facilities closed if they want to keep their spot in a program.
• COVID-19 treatment, diagnosis to be covered at no cost to patients: Gov. Phil Scott has ordered private insurance companies to eliminate all costs for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, including copayments and deductibles. VTDigger reports that the rule can be retroactively applied to claims from March 13 onward, when Scott declared a state of emergency. The new rules only apply to those with private insurance. Medicaid has already pledged to cover COVID-19 medical treatment retroactive to March 1, 2020.
• Take the VT Labor Dept. Survey: Estimated Business Impacts from Covid-19 The Agency of Commerce and Community Development is seeking to understand and document the impacts of COVID-19 on Vermont businesses. Accurate responses to the questions below will assist the Agency as we continue to assess and respond to unfolding events.
• COVID-19 leaves colleges struggling to plan for the future
• Vt. ed officials urge schools to focus on remote learning, not remedial plans
• Stop Scammers from Cashing in On Your Stimulus Check
2. SANITY BREAK: It’s a short read, but check out Anne Lamott’s approach to surviving adversity. Show Up With Hope.
3.. UPCOMING EVENTS: Go to dgBody Works for classes that are being posted via Facebook live. Take a new one, do an old one. Stay fit and healthy.
April 17 (Friday): Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a community solidarity event at 8 pm. Come together to show your support for Cavendish Citizens working the frontlines at area hospitals, nursing homes and rescue squads. We are asking for the community to join us with your vehicle (do not get out) by parking along Main Street, at CTES or around Svec Park in Proctorsville on Friday April 17th at 8pm. At that time we will have our apparatus outside with emergency lights activated, and will do a one minute blast on the building siren. We ask that at that time you join in with your car horn and lots of cheering from your vehicle. If you live on Main Street or close by please participate from your yard. If you walk to Main Street, please remain with your household members 6ft or more away from others and don’t forget your mask. Let’s come together and let our local healthcare professionals know that we are proud of them and appreciate everything they do for us.
Staying home for Patty; Bob Kirkbride; Singletons; Dave Norton; Deb Hryckiewicz; Ludlow Ambulance Service; the Cavendish Water/Waste Water Treatment Team; Rocky and the Cavendish Transfer Station Crew; Cavendish Town Crew; Mt. Ascutney Hospital; Cavendish/Proctorsville firefighters & first responders; Mack Molding employees; Shaw’s Ludlow employees; and the healthcare workers who have died of Covid-19;
Have a Heart -stay home or 6 feet apart wearing a cloth mask or scarf.
Stay healthy to protect yourself and Cavendish.