Cavendish Update 3/19/21: SB Mtg/Tag Sale/Covid/Scams
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New plaster items in the CHS Cares Closet
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3/19/21
1. Cavendish Select Board March 15
2. Cavendish Info
3. Cavendish 11th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale
4. Covid update
5. Events
1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 3/15/21: Cavendish Select Board (SB) meetings are held via Zoom. Minutes are available at the Town’s Website. Items discussed and actions taken:
Selectmen’s Organizational Meeting: Positions are similar to those listed on page 6 of this year’s Annual Report. A new position is being added, 911-Coordinator. Ginny Garrow has held this position but with her retirement on April 8, town manager, Brenda McNamara, will temporarily serve in that capacity. There are vacancies for the following positions: 2 School board directors; animal control officer, and budget committee. Anyone interested in these position should contact the town office 226-7291.
Tag Sale: Approved 11th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale following state Covid guidelines that are applicable on Saturday July 31.
Construction on 131: The construction on 131 begins April 5 (Monday) at the intersection of 131 and 106 (Downer’s). This will be an extensive paving project including coarse-milling, full depth reclamation (FDR), major roadway rehabilitation, grading and all other final paving. FMI: VTrans Cavendish-Weathersfield 131 Fact Sheet.
New loader: Lease option seems to be the best approach for the town at this time. May need to call a special meeting to discuss this further.
Town Personnel Policy: McNamara is putting together a personnel handbook for town employees as one currently doesn’t exist. The SB will need to review and adopt it. McNamara would like it completed by July 1.
Liquor License applications approved: Brook Farm Vineyards; Outer Limits, and Murdocks
Other Business
- Mud Season: Town Crew is out spreading gravel. If people have concerns please call the Town office. 226-7291
- New Hire for Highway Dept Position is now posted
- 131 problematic spots/Dead Trees: McNamara will talk to VTrans about patching 3 spots on 131 soon as possible. He will also discuss the removal of a number of dead trees along 131 as part of the repaving project.
2. CAVENDISH INFO
• Scam Alert: The Springfield Police Dept. recently posted a Scam Alert noting, We are seeing an increase of scams taking place during the tax return season. Please! under no circumstances provide your personal information, banking and social security numbers. The IRS and or the Social Security Administration will never call you, they would communicate via mail. Use the following resources to help protect yourself from scams and unwanted calls:
- Scams Office of the VT Attorney General:
- Consumer Assistance Program at the University of VT (CAP)-Scams:
- Computer Tech Support Scam Alert: Scammers claim to be calling about a “data breach”, antivirus security or hack. Scammers claim to be from companies like Apple or Microsoft. Contact CAP and file a report 800-649-2424.
• Cavendish Women You Should Know: A chance donation to the Cavendish Historical Society, helped to uncover the story of Alice Wheeler Bertrand, who lived in Proctorsville and made dolls that won a blue ribbon at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Thank you to all who provided information. Special thanks to Dr. Stacia Spaulding, Norma Randall, Penny Trick, and William W. Jenney, Regional Historic Site Administrator, President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site. Read Alice’s story and see some of her dolls at the CHS blog.
• Super Senior: Jim Hasson-Part 2: Nice report on Jim Hasson's 95th birthday parade by WCAX. Pics from Otis Nelson and Sharon Huntley, an interview with CTES teacher Jenn Harper and a visit at Jim's, whose fully vaccinated and ready to be out and about. What a guy. Really shows what a special place Cavendish is.
• Ludlow Rotary Donates Masks to Cavendish Closet Thank you to the Ludlow Rotary for their donation of surgical masks now available at the Cavendish Historical Society’s Cares Closet (next to the CHS Museum on Route 131). Both surgical and cloth masks are available in the top left hand corner. New Easter plaster casts, suitable for painting, are now available in the upper right hand side. Puzzles, games, craft projects in the chest below.
• IRS Postpones April 15 Tax Deadline Filing Until May 17
3. CAVENDISH’S 11TH ANNUAL TOWN WIDE TAG SALE: Hard to believe that in 2011, we held the first town wide tag sale as part of Cavendish’s 250th anniversary. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the sale, as well as the 10th anniversary of Irene.
Governor Scott believes that by the 4th of July, Vermont will be close to “normal” as far as events etc. The Tag Sale will follow the same guidelines as those in place for Farmer’s Markets. Space is available for free on both of the town greens for Cavendish residents, property owners and businesses.
With 131 road construction starting on April 5, at the intersection of 131 and 106 (Downers 4 Corners), we hope that by the end of July, the construction will be well underway and not pose a problem for those who set up along 131. For more information about the sale, see 11 Annual Cavendish Town Wide Tag Sale.
4. COVID UPDATE: As of 3/10/21, Cavendish had one new cases of Covid in the prior week bringing the town’s total count to 20. Ludlow had 2 new cases (total 56), while Chester had none (67 total) and Springfield 1 (185 total). Community data is posted on Friday afternoons at the VT Dept. of Health (VDH) website & Cavendish Facebook page.
California & U.K Variants Now in Vermont: Both B.149 (California) and B.1.1.7 (U.K) Covid variants have been detected in VT. Dr. Mark Levine, the state’s health commissioner, stated that the variants “can move more easily from person to person. This is setting us up for a race of sorts between the presence of strains of a highly contagious virus, our rapidly progressing vaccination program, and the need for each of us to continue to focus on prevention and getting tested.”
Spigot Turning: Advocating for a slower approach to reopening, Gov. Scott last Friday said. “I believe we're going to be in very good shape by summer, midsummer, with the latest “spigot turn” allowing small gatherings involving two un vaccinated households to now take place and as many as six people from different households will be allowed to sit at the same table at most restaurants.
“You’re not limited to choose just one other household,” Scott said. “You can do so with multiple households, as long as it’s just one at any given time.” People who are vaccinated “don’t count against the limit,” he said, and kids can have play dates again. More changes are expected at today’s press conference. In the meantime, health commissioner Dr. Levine urges all Vermonters to gather as safely as possible by being outside; social distancing; wearing masks; being aware of where you’ve been and whether you could be putting someone at risk; and not gathering if you are sick.
While rates are going down in the US, Europe is experiencing another surge and Italy has already gone into lockdown. Dr. Fauci is urging Americans to take heed of the situation in Europe and to continue with mitigation measures as lifting them could cause another wave in the US. “Don’t spike the ball on the five-yard line. Wait until you get into the end zone. We are not in the end zone yet,” Fauci said, adding that prematurely pulling away from public health measures could prolong the pandemic.
American Rescue Plan: Vermont stands to gain an additional $2.7 billion dollars from the recently signed American Rescue Plan. Much of that money will arrive in the form of stimulus checks and extended unemployment benefits but there will be a billion for COVID recovery programs. The Scott administration wants to put a significant portion of the money toward broadband and other infrastructure improvement projects. Vermont has now received a total of approximately $7.5 billion in federal relief since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Modeling: As of 3/18, Vermont has a case count of 17,274, with 217 deaths. Percent of positive tests has now dropped to 1.3%. Close to 30% of Vermonters 16+ have received at least one dose of vaccine. As can be seen in this week’s modeling, the incidence of Covid in groups that have been vaccinated is rapidly declining. In long term care facilities that are now very few cases and the trend is projected to continue downwards as more and more Vermonters are vaccinated.
Vaccination Scheduling: On Tuesday, Gov. Scott posted the following, With the assurances we received today from the federal government on vaccine supply, this Friday we will outline the schedule for ALL remaining age bands, to make all Vermonters over the age of 16 eligible to schedule their vaccinations by the end of April. Again, I want to remind folks, this is an eligibility goal. It doesn’t mean that everyone will be fully vaccinated by May 1st, but it means they can sign up. But, as you will see in our schedule, if supply comes in as promised, we hope anybody who wants a vaccine will have the opportunity to be fully vaccinated by the summer.
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.
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.
4. UPCOMING EVENTS:
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
JULY 31 (SATURDAY): 11th Annual Cavendish Town Wide Tag Sale
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.