Cavendish Update 2/26/21: Voting/News/Covid/Events
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Wall of old Cavendish Mill that was replaced by Gay Brothers (now Mack Molding)
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Voting-March 2 (Tuesday) from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Dept. Absentee Ballots can be arranged by calling the town office. 226-7292.
2/26/21
1. Cavendish Info
2. Covid update
3. Events
1. CAVENDISH INFO
• Cavendish Informational Meeting: Due to Covid, town meeting was changed to an informational meeting held via Zoom on Tuesday, Feb. 23rd with approximately 25 people participating. While all of the articles to be voted on where read by the moderator, Mike Ripley, there were few questions or comments. In fact, the meeting itself lasted less than a half hour. The video of the meeting is available on line.
• CVFD’s air compressor is back: The repairs have been made and once again free air, 24/7, is available in front of the Cavendish Volunteer Fire Dept.
• Lloyd Stillwell: It is with sadness that we note the passing of Lloyd who was a stalwart of the Cavendish community. Our condolences to his family and friends.
• GMUSD Board Plans Retreat, Principal Search Continues: A retreat is being planned for July for the Green Mountain Unified School District Board (GMUSD). The search committee for the Green Mountain High principal position had reviewed a number of candidates and decided to re-open the search. The job was re-posted on Feb. 8 and now there are 14 candidates, eight of whom are new and six are reapplications including the current interim Principal Mike Ripley. John Beamon, who handles the physical plant at CTES has resigned as has Asst. Principal Kevin Fay, who serves both CTES and Chester/Andover. Chester Telegraph
• CHS: Carmine Guica Young Historian Update for March 2021: Whether you are a teacher, student or history enthusiast, the Cavendish Historical Society’s (CHS) update for March related history events is now available on-line.
• People’s United Bank bought by M&T Bank in $7.6 billion deal
• After data breach, new 1099s en route to unemployment insurance claimants: Unemployment insurance recipients affected by the state’s emergency recall of 1099 tax forms can expect new forms to begin arriving in their mailboxes next week, state officials announced at a press conference Tuesday. VT Digger
2. COVID UPDATE: Both the United States and Vermont reached tragic benchmarks in the Covid-19 pandemic this week-over a half a million people in the US have now died of Covid, with 203 of them being Vermonters.
As of 2/17/21, Cavendish had two new cases of Covid in the prior week, bringing the town’s total to 19 cases. Ludlow had 6 new cases (total 50), while Chester had 2 (57 total) and Springfield 20 (173 total). Community data is posted on Friday afternoons at the VT Dept. of Health (VDH) website, with Cavendish and surrounding town data posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page shortly thereafter.
Phase 4, 65+, vaccination registration begins on Monday, March 1 at 8:15, with Phase 5 (underlying conditions) to follow shortly thereafter. It's best to pre-register if you don't have a number from having a Covid test. This way when your eligible for registering, it will go much quicker. Register at MyVaccine.
Yesterday, Walgreens (stores in Brattleboro, Manchester, Bellows Falls and Rutland) announced they would start vaccinating those 65+ immediately as they have received an excess shipment of 4,300 doses from the Federal Pharmacy Partnerships. A number of people tried to register and had difficulties. Some received messages that they were living outside the 25 mile zone for one of their pharmacies and therefore didn’t comply. Another message was that all appointments were filled. However, one Cavendish resident, after trying 5+ times, and receiving these messages, was finally able to make an appointment for this Saturday. They noted that it was important to create a Walgreen’s account and to continue to try. Link directly to the Walgreen’s site.
There are an estimated 42,000 people in the 65-69 age band. However, anyone who is included in Phases 1 (health care workers, long term care patients and first responders) through 4 can register at any time. Note those in Phase 1 will need to contact their local hospital for vaccination.
Make an appointment for your free vaccine on-line or by calling 855-722-7878. Clinics take place regardless of weather. If you can’t make an appointment, please call 855-722-7878 to cancel and reschedule.
For those 16-64 with an underlying condition, please note that Diabetes, type 1 or 2, is now on the list. Other conditions that qualify include: current cancer; kidney disease, COPD (emphysema), various heart conditions, weakened immune systems, severe obesity, Down syndrome, pregnant woman and sickle cell disease. Expect the process for validation to be announced very soon. It is anticipated that Phase 5 will be able to start registering around March 15. There are approximately 75,000 people estimated to be in this band.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine The one-shot vaccine is proving to be effective and safe. Today, the FDA panel meets to decide whether to grant it emergency authorization. The Governor reports that the White House expects the vaccine to be approved, which will initially increase doses to Vermont by 2,000 per week.
Vaccinated Vermonters (14 days after your second dose) can gather with people of one other household at a time, regardless of whether people in that other household have been vaccinated. Those who have been fully vaccinated, travelers as well as Vermonters, do not have to quarantine.
Modeling: The modeling presented on Feb. 23 continues to show a downward trend nationally, regionally, and in Vermont. This is being attributed to both vaccinations as well as people adhering to the prevention standards. State modeling indicates that cases will continue to drop. The current 7 day positivity rate in VT is at 1.6%. VT’s case count is now 14,840. Hospitalizations continue to drop, currently there are 28 inpatients with 11 ICU admissions.
Variants: New strains of the virus are emerging, including one that has been identified in New York City and elsewhere in the Northeast. One of the mutations in this variant is the same concerning change found in the South African variant. "We observed a steady increase in the detection rate from late December to mid-February, with an alarming rise to 12.7% in the past two weeks," one team, at Columbia University Medical Center reported. Learn more.
Local Resources: If you need to quarantine either from exposure or because you have Covid, local resources are available to help you:
- CHS Cares Closet: Masks (cloth and disposable), books, toys, craft supplies. Open 24/7. All free. Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum.
3. UPCOMING EVENTS:
MARCH 2 (TUESDAY): Election Day! You can obtain an absentee ballot if you prefer not to vote in person. Town office closed.
MARCH 14 (SUNDAY): Daylight Savings, set clocks ahead an hour. Check batteries in smoke detectors.
MARCH 17 (WEDNESDAY): Happy St. Patrick’s Day
APRIL 1 (THURSDAY): Town Dog License Due. You will need a current rabies certificate. Licenses are $9 per year for spayed/neutered animals, $13 for males/females. Please call the Town Office at 226-7291 if you have questions or to make arrangements to renew via mail. You may stop by to renew in person as the office is open on a limited basis M-F, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m..
APRIL 2 (FRIDAY): Good Friday, Cavendish Town Office closed
APRIL 4 (SUNDAY): HAPPY EASTER
CA❤︎ENDSH-A SAFER SIX COMMUNITY
1. Vaccinate when it’s your turn
2. Mask-Cover nose and mouth; Double mask if possible
3. Social distance-6 feet at least
4. Wash hands frequently with soap & water, or hand sanitizer
5. Avoid unnecessary travel
6. Test if you have symptoms, have traveled out of state, or been in contact with someone who has tested positive.