Cavendish Update 10/2/21: Paving/News/Events

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10/1//21

1.    Construction Update for 131, Exit 8 & Route 100

2.    Cavendish Info

3.    Covid update

4.    Events

1. CONSTRUCTION-131, EXIT 8 ON 131 & ROUTE 100: Please direct questions and concerns to Natalie Boyle at Vtrans802-855-3893 or nboyle@eivtech.com. The updates below are from Vtrans on 9/30/21:

EXIT 8 Bridge/131: Bridge 30S has been opened to one lane of traffic. This will remain in place until the crossovers have been removed and reconfigured for next year's work.  Permanent pavement marking will be placed next week. The traffic pattern will alternate from the travel lane to the high speed lane for this work. Once completed the traffic will be placed back into the travel lane until the crossover work is complete. There should be no effect on VT 131 traffic.

ROUTE 131: Paving is scheduled for next week. Crews will continue with the wearing surface moving east to west. Some modifications are being made in the Town of Cavendish for drive access and sidewalk. This work will continue next week. Sign installation will take place next week at various locations throughout the project.

ROUTE 100: On Aug. 30, 2021, the Vermont Agency of Transportation closed Vermont Route 100 between its intersections with U.S. Route 4 in Bridgewater and Route 100A in Plymouth for a series of culvert replacements. Due to unanticipated delays experienced by the contractor, the new anticipated reopening date is Oct. 29, 2021. During this time, traffic will be detoured along U.S. Route 4 and VT Route 100A. Motorists should note that a paving project is also underway along VT Route 100A. Please expect alternating one-way traffic with some delays along this route.

2. CAVENDISH INFO

• Cavendish Receives Speakerphones: In a recent meeting of the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, Holger Stoltze, a representative of Yamaha Unified Communications, Inc, and member of the chamber’s board of directors, announced an important and timely product donation of Yamaha’s YVC-300 Portable USB & Bluetooth Speakerphones to area towns and organizations, including Cavendish. . These YVC-300 systems are intended to be used with online conference applications like Zoom or Microsoft Teams and are ideal for small business settings of up to 10 participants. Vermont Biz

• Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening GMUHS Students: The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated Jason Graham, 24, of Holland, Michigan, pled guilty today to making a 2019 threat over Facebook to “shoot up” Green Mountain Union High School located in Chester, Vermont. 

• More CAES students quarantining; over 10% of TRSU students return to remote learning Chester telegraph

• GMUHS Mascot Open Forum: On Oct. 14 from 6-7:30 pm a zoom call has been scheduled to discuss the high’s school mascot. GMUHS is the last high school in the state to have an Indian themed mascot. Join Zoom Meeting https://trsu.zoom.us/j/83331860790 Meeting ID: 833 3186 0790 One tap mobile +13017158592,,83331860790# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,83331860790# US (Chicago)

• Cannabis Sales in Ludlow Informational Meeting Nov 1: A Special Town Informational Meeting on whether the town should allow cannabis retail sales will be held on Nov. 1 at 5 pm in the Heald Auditorium. Voting will be by Australian ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Mail Delivery Is About To Get Slower And Pricier Just In Time For The Holidays: Beginning today, the U.S. Postal Service will start to "implement new service standards" for first class mail and periodicals — slowing its target delivery time by about 30%. NPR

3. COVID UPDATE: Before providing the latest in Covid world, some helpful info:

• Viruses mutate. That’s their job. If it doesn’t get you the first time its motto is “try, try and try again.” One way or the other most Americans will develop immunity via vaccination, infection or a combination of the two. Covid will be with us from now on, similar to the 1918 flu, which is known today as H1N1 influenza A virus,

On the topic of 1918 flu, yes Covid deaths (over 681,253) have exceeded the 1918 death toll (estimated 675,000). However, the population has tripled since then so a more accurate statistics is the 1918 flu killed one in 150 Americans while Covid’s rate is one in 500.

• Our best protection is vaccination but... Masks work. Social distancing works. Other strategies are being researched such as mouth wash, nasal sprays and daily testing.

Cavendish is up to 43 total cases, 2 for the most recent week. Cases for surrounding towns are on the rise as well-Ludlow 2 new cases (115 total); Chester 10 new cases (147) total and Springfield 42 (413 total).

WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE: VT is expanding Pfizer booster eligibility. See “Booster Shot” below for more information.

The masking recommendation for schools K-12 has been extended to Nov. 1.

New testing programs are now being offered at area schools including CTES. The state plans to offer free rapid antigen tests (RAT) to unvaccinated, asymptomatic students considered close contacts to someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. Under the new “test-to-stay” program, those students would be allowed to remain in school instead of quarantining at home so long as they test negative daily for seven days following exposure. Symptomatic students would still be required to quarantine, as will close contacts who don’t want to be tested daily.

PCR testing will be provided to schools experiencing an outbreak or have cases. Note PCR test takes a day or two to provide results but is more accurate than the RAT which provides results in 15 minutes but is less accurate. At least one study from the UK found that schools using a “test-to-stay” program had as little school transmission as schools implementing quarantine for students exposed.  All testing is free of charge to students as well as the public.

In our area, the following elementary schools have(had) cases Chester (2 cases total), Ludlow (1) and Weathersfield (4). Springfield has experienced cases at all four schools and as a result were closed on Monday. CTES and GMUHS have had no cases as of Tuesday’s reporting.

BOOSTER SHOT: Eligible to receive Pfizer booster vaccinations, as of Oct. 1 includes: those 65+, frontline workers, have an underlying condition, those who live or work in congregate settings, such as prisons, homeless shelters or long term care facilities, and anyone who works indoors and is exposed to the public. The broadening of eligibility includes workers in health care, food service such as grocery stores and restaurants, education, manufacturing, law enforcement, first responders, corrections and public transit. Please note you must have received the second dose of the Prizer vaccine six or more months ago. This booster is not for those who received Moderna or J&J.

In our area, Rite Aid has walk in appointments for Pfizer Booster. Pop up options include:

Oct. 1: Diamond Run Mall, Rutland 8-4

Oct. 1, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 30: Asa Bloomer State Building, 88 Merchants Row, Rutland 11-5

Oct. 6, 13, 14, 20, 27: Asa Bloomer State Building, 88 Merchants Row, Rutland 9-3

Find a map of locations at http://healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine. You can also call 855-722-7878.

If you received Moderna: Moderna has submitted its data to the FDA to review, and the agency is expected to make a recommendation in coming weeks. U.S. FDA leaning toward approving Moderna half-dose booster

If You received J&J: The company has not provided the FDA booster information, though they have shared early data that found a second shot increases antibody levels nine fold in those 18 to 55 as compared to the single dose.

Side Effects: Pfizer and Moderna vaccine booster shot side effects are similar to the second dose. The findings were published Tuesday in the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, analyzing responses from 12,591 Americans who completed the CDC's "V-safe" survey after receiving an additional dose of vaccine. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Tuesday’s Modeling shows a slight decrease from the previous week. Interestingly, Mike Pieciak, Commissioner of the Dept. of Financial Regulation, and data presenter, noted Tuesday that less-vaccinated states’ counts have dropped faster than more vaccinated states have.  The Covid-19 rate remains far higher among unvaccinated Vermonters, who are 4.3 times more likely to contract Covid and 3.1 times more likely to be hospitalized. The average breakthrough case in Vermont is 69 years old, and the average breakthrough death (of which there have been few so far) is 79 years old, Pieciak said. About 87.8% of Vermonters 12 and older have started the vaccination process, including about 2,200 in the past week. In total, 69.3% of the population is fully vaccinated.

September has been the second deadliest month with a total of 37 deaths. December 2020 was the highest with 71. There have now been 33,662 cases of Covid in VT.

4. EVENTS

OCTOBER 2 (SATURDAY): Cavendish Community Library will be hosting an open house from 3-5 pm. Discover what your library has for you. Books, magazines, newspapers, videos, games, audible books, and today we have home-made APPLE CRISP w/ Vanilla Ice Cream FMI: 226-7503

OCTOBER 3 (SUNDAY): Fitton-the Mill, the Firebug, and Everything in Between. Starting at 2 pm at the Museum, there will be a talk on the Fitton (Spring) Mill, the town that grew up around it-Fittonsville- and the man Robert “Firebug” Fitton who was responsible for its demise and lots of other property in the town of Cavendish. The talk will be following by a walk out to the site where the Mill, boarding house, and other structures once stood. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for walking on uneven terrain. FMI: margocaulfield@icloud.com 802-226-7807

OCTOBER 9 (SATURDAY): The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) 30th Annual Chili from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The cook-off will be located at the traffic light on Depot Street.  Proceeds will benefit the Ludlow Rotary Charitable Fund to enable the LRC to continue its programs of local support.   Admission is $10.00 per person which includes chili, bread, ice cream and cider. Judges for the chili cook-off will include Alice Nitka, Brendan McNamara, and Anthony Segreto.

OCTOBER 17 (SUNDAY): Author talk with Archer Mayor at the Cavendish Library, 1 pm. Archer Mayor will discuss his new book to be released Oct 12th. Books will be available for purchase.

OCTOBER 20 (WEDNESDAY): Cavendish Library Book Club, 7 pm at Murdock’s on the Green. This month’s book is “Killing Lincoln” by Bill O’Reilly and Maretin Dugard. The conspiracy that so few know about. Snacks and wine are provided. No fee but donations are accepted.

OCTOBER 30 (SATURDAY): 5th annual Trunk or Treat sponsored by the weathersfield Proctor Library. Vehicle set up starts at 2 pm with treating from 3-5 pm at the Hosington Field, Perkinsville (on the ground of the 1879 Schoolhouse).

OCTOBER 31 (SUNDAY): HAPPY HALLOWEEN

DECEMBER 12 (SUNDAY): Christmas Ghost Walk-Proctorsville. 7 pm, meet at the Proctorsville War Memorial. Free and open to the public. FMI: 802-226-7807.

CA❤︎ENDSH VAXXING & MASKING TO PROTECT SELF & OTHERS

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