Cavendish Update: 4/24/20 Comcast/News
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In the pandemic, Ted was more grateful than ever for family. Jane Hart
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4/24/20
1. What’s Been Happening
2. Events
We’re staying home today for Black River Good Neighbor who is doing an incredible job supporting our community.
With more spring like weather and the significant decline in new cases of Covid-19-it appears Vermont has peaked- it’s not surprising that Vermont has a group thinking that the Governor isn’t turning the spigot on fast enough. Called “Vermont Against Excessive Quarantine,” they held a rally in Montpelier on Wednesday to “end this shutdown.” Just a handful of people showed, along with four nurses who were counter protesting.
It’s important to put this in perspective, it is a small minority of Americans that are protesting “stay at home” orders.” Eight out of 10 Americans are listening to Uncle Tony (Dr. Fauci) and continue to “hunker down” and practice social distancing, while wearing masks.
Yes the economy sucks, but as Gov. Scott noted we need to “Live within our means.” Ultimately, the Governor is choosing health over wealth and is more concerned about the well-being of Vermonters and less about elections. You can revive a dead economy, but unless you are on a first name basis with Miracle Max of Princess Bride fame, dead is dead. No such thing as “slightly dead.”
One of the things that was learned from the 1918 Flu Pandemic is that cities and towns that went into quarantine earlier and stayed longer, did much better in terms of fewer deaths and better economic recovery, then those who came out of quarantine too quickly. We’re seeing examples of that now in other countries, and there is modeling that shows this is as true today as it was in 1918.
At today’s upcoming press conference (11 am), Scott is expected to turn the spigot on a little more as far as getting people back to work and off of unemployment. We will post to Facebook and have more information on Monday.
This week the NIH released its treatment guidelines . They have concluded there is not enough data on some of the most touted drugs — including hydroxychloroquine, which the panel said should not be used outside clinical trials when paired with antibiotics. So we’re still in a wait and see mode.
With connectivity and telecommunications being such an enormous issue, considerable attention at Wednesday’s press conference was on this topic as well as remote learning. June Tierney, Secretary of the Dept. of Public Service was very clear that anyone who was having difficulty getting service or had poor service should call 800-622-4496. She even noted that if you were laid off but needed broadband to qualify for a remote service job, she specifically mentioned Amazon is looking for remote workers, to call that number and the state could help you.
In that vein, we do have some good news. Comcast is wiring the Knapp Pond area for service. We expect to learn this morning about when it will be available for purchase.
Without an effective treatment or vaccine, as good a job as VT is doing with testing, contact tracing, and quarantining, we will continue to have flare ups and it’s likely we will continue to need to use remote learning. In fact, the state announced that the Governor’s Institute will be done remotely this summer, and schools like Dartmouth have said their summer classes will all be via remote learning. Yup, I can hear both the cheers and the jeers from here. While the initial reaction to remote learning was “not so much,” as time has gone by, some kids and families really like it.
We’re entering into a new era where so many aspects of our lives will be changing, and while we fear change, sometimes it takes a major course correction like Covid-19 to get us back on tract. When you look at the before and now pictures of Paris, the canals of Venice, India and every part of the world, the environment is enjoying their holiday free of the humans. Can we maybe see that there needs to be a better way we can handle things from here on out?
Finally, VT needs all the help it can get. In order to qualify for federal programs, we need for everyone to complete the 2020 Census. No matter if you’ve received a form in the mail, you can do it on-line and it takes maybe five minutes. TAKE THE 2020 CENSUS.
If you can’t find TP, masks, hand sanitizer or need help with shopping, please call 226-7291 or 7292. You can also e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com
1. WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
• Start Greening up Cavendish: You can pick up Green Up Bags at the Town Office, just open the front door and take one. As you take your walks around town, please “green up.” Filled bags can be brought to the Cavendish Transfer Station for free.
• Ripley to be elevated to interim principal at GMUHS next year: During their remote April 16 meeting, the Green Mountain Unified School District agreed to adopt an administration reorganization of the Green Mountain Unified High School that elevates Mike Ripley to interim principal for the coming year. The proposal was suggested by outgoing principal Lauren Fierman. She is assuming the position of superintendent of Two Rivers Supervisory Union next year.
• HCRS opens free stress, anxiety phone support line during pandemic: Health Care and Rehabilitation Services, southeastern Vermont’s community mental-health agency, has opened up a phone support Warm Line, 1-800-917-1622, for the community. The warm line is staffed with trained professionals offering support seven days per week from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The phone support line is anonymous and open to anyone in Windsor and Windham counties.
• Planned Parenthood has launched new telehealth services in VT, NH and MA which allows patients to access its health care services by phone or through a private and secure videoconferencing platform. Through telehealth, providers can answer patient questions, manage prescriptions, and help patients address their sexual and reproductive health care needs remotely. PPNE is still offering in-person visits when necessary. FMI: , www.ppnne.org or call 1-866-476-1321.
• Mack Molding and Southwestern Vermont Health Care partner to develop PPE alternative
• Villagers at Downers 4 Corners opens today at 12 pm for ice cream: Hours of operation will be 12pm - 7pm, for take away food and ice cream only. Online ordering will be available via their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/VillagersIceCream/ Please remember to keep social distancing rules
• Three State College Campuses will remain open for now
• Vermont National Guard is delivering MREs to Vermont residents from 9-6 at the following locations Friday, April 24: Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport: 1002 Airport Road, North Clarendon; Monday, April 27: Hartness State Airport: 15 Airport Road, North Springfield. The Vermont Foodbank allots one seven-day supply of MREs for each member of a household. You can pick up food for a neighbor. Note you must be a VT resident to qualify for this program.
• Self-employed Vermonters can now apply for federal benefits
2.. 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.
MAY 1 : Farmer’s Markets open for the season
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; the healthcare workers who have died of Covid-19; and Black River Good Neighbors
Have a Heart -stay home or 6 feet apart wearing a cloth mask or scarf.
Stay healthy to protect yourself and Cavendish.