Cavendish Update 3/5/21: Election Results/Hasson/Covid
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Jim Hasson surrounded by his fans at CTES after giving a talk on Veterans Day.
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3/5/21
1.Cavendish Info
2. Covid update
3. Events
1. CAVENDISH INFO
• Cavendish Voting Results: With few absentee ballots, only 163 registered voters cast ballots on Tuesday. All four of the town articles passed, though it was close for Article 4 (77 Yes, 72 No and 14 blanks) which rescinds the Australian ballot method for the adoption or amending of the town plan. The Select Board will now be responsible for this activity.
With the exception of the three year Select Board position, which was won by the incumbent Mike Ripley (89 votes for Ripley, 58 for Michael Kell and 15 blanks), all elected positions were running unopposed. There weren’t sufficient write-ins for the positions for Town Agent (1 year), Auditor (3 years), Trustee of Public Funds (2 years), and GMUSD Directors (1 year and 2 year terms).
The Green Mountain Unified School District (Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish and Chester) voted 546 to 293 to pass the district’s $14.2 million budget. Cavendish votes are lumped in with the votes from other towns so no information is available as to how Cavendish voted on this item. The budget is about a 1% increase over last year in spite of a 14 percent increase in spending – mostly special education – by the Two Rivers Supervisory Union, which GMUSD is part of.
• Help celebrate Jim Hasson’s 95th birthday: Cavendish resident and WWII through Vietnam veteran, Jim Hasson is known to many in our community. Covid has been very challenging for him as he’s been unable to be with friends. To make his 95th birthday special, March 7 (Sunday), a request is being made to call, send cards and/or participate in a birthday parade.
• Cards can be dropped off at the Cavendish Library today and Saturday. Put them in the “drop box” or ring the bell for the librarian. Kata will be there on Saturday from 10-4.
• A birthday parade will take place on Sunday, March 7th with line up beginning at 1:45pm. This is being coordinated by the Proctorsville Fire Dept. Line up facing parallel down Main Street in Proctorsville facing Cavendish. We need to keep the front of the Fire Dept and CTES open. You can also line up down Depot Street. Departure from the Proctorsville Fire Department will be at 1:55pm. Jim will be stationed at the Black River Health Center building in Cavendish Village on Main St.
• If you wish to call, they’d like to avoid an overload on that day, so if your last name begins with A - L call Sunday. FMI: cain4vt@gmail.com or (802) 484-7775
• Cavendish Women You Should Know: March is National Women's History Month. To celebrate, CHS has put together a virtual bibliography of "Cavendish Women You Should Know."
• Our Pandemic Year: Above all Else we need to look after one another: Former CTES Principal writes about her experience with Covid, including how organized Cavendish was when the pandemic hit last year. Valley News
• Fletcher Farm School Announces Summer Opening
• Divided Sky Foundation purchases Ludlow Property: Trey Anastasio, the front man for Phish, has made his recovery from addiction no secret, and now he is trying to help others who are trying to get out of the cycle. Anastasio launched the Divided Sky Foundation, and in association with Ascension Recovery Services, recently announced that it purchased a site in Ludlow that will become a nonprofit substance use disorder treatment center. WCAX
• Vermonters should receive new 1099-G forms by Friday
2. COVID UPDATE: As of 2/24/21, Cavendish had no new cases of Covid in the prior week and has a total case count of 19. Ludlow had 3 new cases (total 53), while Chester had 3 (60 total) and Springfield 5 (178 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.
Vaccine Roll Out: With the approval of the one shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, along with increasing dosages of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines being sent to the health department, individual pharmacies and the Veterans Administration, the roll out is going much faster. Vaccinations begins for those with underlying conditions and teachers on Monday March 8.
• Special Covid vaccine program (SCVP) for teachers, school staff, child care providers and certain first responders (not covered under Phase 1) Using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is one dose and much easier to store, vaccines will be administered by school district and will vary depending on rural settings versus more populated areas. In some cases, vaccine will be brought to the school. Those qualifying for SCVP can also opt to register with Walgreens for the two dose mRNA vaccines. Names of those who qualify for the SCVP will be given to Walgreens. More information about the SCVP will be made available at today’s press conference. Note that coaches, art teachers and similar personnel are included in this group. The first responders include police staff such as sergeants, lieutenants, and others, 911 call takers who are needed to direct personnel to emergencies, and state correctional facilities staff.
• 16-64 with underlying conditions Due to the large size of this age group 75,000-it will be broken into:
- Phase A-55+ registration begins March 8 (Monday) @ 8:15 AM
- Phase B-16+ registration begins March 15 (Monday) @ 8:15 AM
• The underlying conditions that qualify:
- Current cancer
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- COPD, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
- Heart disease, including heart attack, heart failure, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease (angina, acute and chronic ischemic heart disease), cardiomyopathies, and pulmonary hypertension. Does NOT include high blood pressure.
- Immunocompromised (weakened immune system), due to solid organ transplant, blood, or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, or other causes; or HIV with a low CD4 cell count or not on HIV treatment; prolonged use of corticosteroids or other immune suppressing drugs.
- Severe obesity (BMI of 40 or above)
- Pregnancy
- Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
- Disabilities including chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome; intellectual disabilities (IQ of 70 or below); disabilities that compromise lung function (neurologic and muscular conditions such as muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and multiple sclerosis).
- Sickle cell disease
For those registering with underlying conditions, this is being done on the honor system. However, you will be asked for the name of your medical provider. If you currently do not have a provider, the health department may contact you to arrange to network you into care.
• Home bound can register: Starting today, those who are home bound can register for a vaccine by calling 855-722-7878
• Walmart is now becoming a vaccination location. However, unlike Walgreens and Kinney Drugs, to get a vaccine at Walmart, you will register through the health dept. site. As more vaccine becomes available, more pharmacies are likely to come on line.
• National Guard and EMS: To help facilitate vaccine distribution, the National Guard and Emergency Medical Services are helping out. An expanded vaccine option will be starting in Springfield next week.
Please note as additional vaccine becomes available, this process can speed up even quicker. The estimation is that by late spring/early summer the entire state will be vaccinated.
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.
What if I have a preference for a vaccine? Right now the only group that can opt for a Johnson & Johnson vaccine versus an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer and Moderna) are those in the SCVP group. The recommendation of the VT Dept. of Health is to take whatever vaccine you can get. All of the vaccines are very effective as they almost eliminate deaths and hospitalizations from the disease, even those who have the new mutations.
Modeling: The modeling presented on March 2 continues to show a downward trend nationally, regionally, and in Vermont. The current 7 day positivity rate, as of March 4, in VT is 1.4%. VT’s case count is now 15,686 with 27 in hospital and five in ICU. Twenty percent of all Vermonters 16 and up have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. Unfortunately, the largest COVID-19 outbreak within a correctional facility-Northern State-since the pandemic began has occurred this week. 127 inmates in Newport tested positive in the last week, as well as 10 staff members.
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 7 (SUNDAY): Birthday parade for Jim Hasson. See Item 1 for more information
MARCH 8 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm. Zoom call.
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.
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