Cavendish Update 8/21/20: Construction 131/News/Events
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Whenever she rode Dobbin in the pandemic, Lady Godiva always wore her mask. Jane Hart
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8/21/20
1. Cavendish Info
2. Construction Update 131
3. Covid-19 Update
4. Events
1.CAVENDISH INFO
• Rebecca Nareau is appointed as Cavendish Fire Chief: The Cavendish Fire District 2 Prudential Committee appointed Rebecca Nareau as the fire chief for Cavendish Volunteer Fire Department last week, replacing Abraham Gross who has been acting chief since Chief Shane Turco resigned in early 2019. Nareau had served as deputy chief during that time. She is one of only three female fire chiefs in the state of Vermont. Nareau is an advanced EMT with both Fire 1 and Fire 2 certifications and has been with the department since 2007. She is also planning on continuing her training with upcoming classes that are fire chief specific and for advanced firefighting. VT Journal
• Blue Green Algae Upper Knapp Pond: Cavendish's Health Officer, Doris Eddy, was notified by the VT Department of Health (VDH) that they had received a report of cyanobacteria (blue green algae) on Upper Knapp Pond this past weekend. They posted this information, along with photographs to the state's Cyanobacteria Public Tracker. Doris did check the pond Wednesday morning but saw no evidence of it. Please be sure to look-out for it. Water may be green, blue, brown, red or appear cloudy like pea soup. Some Cyanobacteria cause illness such as an allergic reaction. Please keep dogs away from it also..
• Sean Whalen Running to Represent Cavendish/Weathersfield: Sean Whalen of Weathersfield is running as an independent for the State Representative for Cavendish/Weathersfield.
• Survey for Parents of CTES Students: The TRSU is conducting an online survey to find out if you plan to have your child attend school in-person, Two Rivers Virtual Learning Academy or home School.
• Scott Plans to Close $180 million budget without major cuts: Gov. Scott’s proposed state budget includes using the remainder of the Covid-19 funding Vermont received from the federal government in April for a series of initiatives, including $133 million for additional grants for businesses strained by the crisis. The budget proposed by the Scott administration relies largely on a surplus from last year to fill the hole caused by the pandemic. VT Digger
2. CONSTRUCTION UPDATE ON 131: A full closure of Route 131 near the Glimmerstone Mansion will begin at 12:01 AM on Tuesday, September 1st and Route 131 will reopen at midnight on Friday, September 4th in order to replace the culvert at this location. The closure period has been delayed from the originally scheduled dates due to longer than anticipated concrete fabrication times at the production facility resulting from COVID-19 reduced workforce requirements. A signed detour will be in effect throughout the closure period.
A crew is expected onsite for the coming week to work on preparation activities for the box culvert replacement. Construction activities at this location will include tree clearing and sewer work. Soil nail drilling has been completed. Mesh installation and general site clean-up of this area of the project will continue for approximately 2 weeks. This work will be completed behind the barriers located within the signalized portion of the project between Lindberg Drive and Brook Road.
Two drainage crews are scheduled to be onsite installing headwalls next week. Work will begin west of the Cavendish-Weathersfield town line and progress westerly.
Previously completed pipe crossings will remain as a gravel surface for several weeks until paving is scheduled. The traveling public is urged to use caution when traveling on gravel surfaces at the location of any pipe crossings that remain unpaved.
One-way alternating traffic patterns should be expected at various locations along the project during work hours (approximately 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) There will be several work zones throughout the project and the traveling public should expect longer than average delays when traveling through the project. Each work zone will keep traffic flowing as freely as possible, however it is recommended that extra time be added to travel plans/schedules.
3. COVID UPDATE: Take homes from the most recent press conferences:
• Governor Scott continued the state of emergency until September 15, which provides local towns and cities the opportunity to set new restrictions beyond what is now allowed in state law. Aimed at college towns, it applies statewide and allows towns to shorten the hours bars can operate. Addendum 3 to Amended and Restated Executive order March 13, 2020. The Governor noted, “It appears uncontrolled parties and crowds at bars and clubs are a big part of the problem, so I believe giving our towns, especially the college towns, some additional mitigation measures to work with, is the right thing to do.”
• The projections of new cases of Covid for the coming weeks are for an uptick in cases, largely because of college students returning to campuses and VT’s strict testing and tracking regulations.
• While it’s not known when a vaccine will be available, VT already has a task force established to deal with distribution and ensure that the state gets its fair shair. Health care workers and high risk groups will become the initial groups to be vaccinated.
• $12 million in federal relief funds are planned to be used to expand child care capacity for school-aged children, including establishing regional child care hubs for students on remote learning days. Hubs will be set up in workplaces, in school buildings, recreational buildings, municipal buildings and summer camp buildings that historically care for children. The plan would eliminate the restriction on in-home providers that prevents them from offering more than 4 hours of care per day to school-aged children. Governor’s Executive Order
• Utility relief is now availability. Developed by the Department of Public Service, the Vermont COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program includes federal Coronavirus Relief Fund monies as appropriated by the Legislature. The program will provide 100% of eligible outstanding arrearages that are more than 60 days overdue for regulated utility customers with delinquent balances who may face disconnection of service if arrearages go unpaid. Eligible applicants include residential and nonresidential account holders served by a Vermont electric, natural gas, fixed-line telephone service provider or a private water company. Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2020 and grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis until funds are exhausted or by the program’s end date on December 20, 2020, whichever comes first. For more information about the program and to apply, visit publicservice.vermont.gov or contact the Department at psd.consumer@vermont.gov or 1-800-622-4496.
Outbreaks/Numbers: There have been 53 new cases of Covid in the last week, but fortunately no new deaths. Two people are currently hospitalized and 1,537 Vermonters have been diagnosed with Covid to date.
Border Closed: The Canadian/US Border is closed for another month
Cancelled: Killington World Cup
Mask Give Away: Cavendish now has cloth masks for children and adults. If you need a. mask, please e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com or call 802-226-8044 or 226-7807. Please specify number and types needed.
Trying to decide about the coming school year? Use the CDC "decision tool" to help you in making the decision that is right for your situation.
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4. UPCOMING EVENTS:
SEPTEMBER 1-4 (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY): Route 131 closed due to culvert repair by Glimmerstone
SEPTEMBER 8 (WEDNESDAY): Schools open
SEPTEMBER 12 (SATURDAY): VT Golden Honey Festival, Golden Stage Inn
• RiverSweep
SEPTEMBER 13 (SUNDAY): Annual Phineas Gage Walk & Talk, 2 pm at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, 1958 Main St. The walk is about a mile and a half. Walking shoes are recommended. FMI: margocaulfield@icloud.com or 802-226-7807
SEPTEMBER 15 (TUESDAY): Property taxes due
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