Cavendish Update 4/23/21: SB Mtg/RC Club/Rd Construction/News
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NOTE: The Cavendish Town Office is now closed for lunch, 12-1, due to staffing changes.
4/23//21
1. Route 131 Road Construction: Week of April 26
2. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 4/12
3. Cavendish Info
4. Proctorsville RC Club
5. Covid update
6. Events
1. ROUTE 131 ROAD CONSTRUCTION: Week of April 26. Please use caution as you enter 131, be it from an intersecting street or from a driveway. Berm removal and ditching operations will continue at various locations and will be proceeding easterly throughout the project. Guardrail operations will continue. Crews are temporarily setting the guardrail back from the roadway in order for reclaim operations to take place. Operations will be near the Weathersfield town line by the end of this week. This temporary setback of guardrail is expected to be completed by April 30th.
Milling (grinding of the top portion of the roadway surface) will continue. It is anticipated that milling will progress to the Weathersfield town line and is currently on schedule to be completed by April 30. The traveling public should expect slightly longer delays in the vicinity of milling operations, and may want to add extra time to travel plans.
The roadway box cut in Cavendish Village started April 22 and will continue next week. This operation is scheduled for completion by the middle of the week. A box cut is the process of removing unsuitable material in the roadway and replacing it with new gravel.
2. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 4/12/21: The Cavendish Select Board (SB) meetings are covered by Okemo Valley TV and appear on their website. Minutes of the meeting are available at the Cavendish Municipal website.
Items Discussed/Voted on:
• Considered Retroactive request from Charles James for inactive water status for the “Vermont Apple Pie Company.” The board voted to table this item until the Water Board meets and to address it again at the next SB meeting.
• Approved
- The addition of Jennifer A. Leak as second signer on the General Fund account held at Berkshire Bank.
- The use of credit cards and debit cards as forms of payment at the Town Office.
- Liquor licenses for the following: Neals; Cavendish Pointe Hotel
- Use of Proctorsville Green: Cavendish Streetscapes Birds and Blooms Festival, June 26th from noon to 5 pm; Wednesday Summer concert series starting July 7-Aug. 11, starting at 6 pm. Concerts are organized by CCCA
• Loader: Discussions continue with the Komatsu rep on a new wheeled bucket loader for the Town. The town’s attorney will review the lease terms before accepting it.
• American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds for Cavendish: Town Manager Brendan McNamara provided an update on the ARPA funds. Cavendish could receive around $420,000, the first half arriving in May and the second within a few months. These funds are to be used for water/sewer infrastructure and broadband internet, both of which are needed in town. Project completion needs to be by December 2024. Guidelines could change as the funds are allocated.
• Tax Sale: There are seven properties with delinquent taxes that have been turned over to the Town council for a tax sale. They will be advertised for three weeks in the “Vermont Journal,” starting this week and those properties whose delinquent taxes are not paid in full will be auctioned on May 5th, 2021, 10 am, at the Town Office. Note that legal notices appear on the home page of the VT Journal Website in addition to the print paper.
• Town Projects
- Maple trees on Depot St have been removed
- Paving Wheeler and Greven Roads by Bazen Brothers is underway
- Under a class 2 paving grant, bids will be solicited for paving Quent Phelan and as much of Tarbell Hill Rd as possible. State highway funds could be used to pave High St and Ranney Hill Rd if funds allow.
- A Wifi Booster has been installed at the Town Office as part of the Covid Disaster Relief fund so there is now free Wifi at the Cavendish Green. A second Booster will be added to provide coverage on the Proctorsville Green. Note: Free Wifi is currently available at the Cavendish Library in Proctorsville.
• Route 131: McNamar is discussing with VTrans the problems with the green netting and the drainage from last summer’s project, near Chubb Hill.
• Continuation of Zoom SB meetings until restrictions are lifted by the Governor on July 1.
3. CAVENDISH INFO
• Keith Hill-one year principal for GMUHS: Over turning the previous vote, the GMUSD board approved a one year contract for Keith Hill, currently social studies teacher, for Green Mountain Union High School (GMUHS) at the April 15 meeting. Hill has accepted the contract.
- Hill is confirmed as GM principal after two votes following threats, pleas: VT Journal
- Heated votes, GM board looks at what’s next: Chester Telegraph
- A single vote changes and GM board appoints Keith Hill principal Chester Telegraph
- Keith Hill Accepts 1-Year Contract as GM Principal Chester Telegraph
• Every Day is Earth Day in Cavendish: While April 22 was officially Earth Day, Cavendish has a variety of ongoing efforts to support the planet and all that dwell on her.
• How the $1.25 billion in Covid-19 relief funds were spent in VT: Two dashboards have been releases by the Dept. of Finance and Management that reflect the many ways the relief funds were spent.
4. PROCTORSVILLE VT RC CLUB: What started with Bobby Glidden getting two RC trucks at Christmas for he and his son to enjoy, has turned into an amazing healthy and stress relieving outlet, as well as a new opportunity for Cavendish. A new group has been formed called “Proctorsville VT RC Club.”
Who knew there was a local track at the old Wild Bills store in Proctorsville? At one time, the inside of Wild Bill’s used to be artificial turf where they had RC car races. What’s old is new again.
With the approval of the Cavendish Rec Dept. and the Town Manager, efforts are underway to build an RC race track at Greven Field for the public to use and enjoy. If you are interested in helping out, being a sponsor, or just want to support this community effort, join the club on Facebook. Details for meetings and work parties will be posted there. Various events and activities will also appear via Cavendish Connects (Facebook, website, Update).
4. COVID UPDATE: As of 4/14/21, Cavendish had one new cases of Covid in the prior week for a total of 25 cases.. Ludlow had two (total 67), while Chester had 2 (79 total) and Springfield 6 (217).
The tide is turning and cases are falling in VT thanks to both an increase in vaccinations, approximately 55% of the state has had at least one shot, and the younger community adhering to masking and social distancing. The test positivity cases have continued to drop-from 1.8% Thursday a week ago to 1.3% yesterday.
As of 4/22, Vermont has a case count of, 22,325 with 243 deaths. This week’s modeling continues to show a downward trend for Vermont and the region.
VACCINATIONS: All Vermonters 16+ can now register for a vaccine. Make an appointment for your free vaccine on-line or by calling 855-722-7878. If you can’t make an appointment, please call 855-722-7878 to cancel and reschedule.
Johnson & Johnson: Today, Federal advisers will consider whether Johnson & Johnson vaccine injections should resume after reports of very rare blood clots. Among the options being weighed is resuming shots with a medical warning or suggesting that certain groups of people -- such as women under 50 -- avoid the J&J shot.
Can We Get to 'COVID Zero'? Experts Predict the Next 8 Months: COVID-19 is likely to follow a seasonal pattern — similar to some other respiratory viruses — with fewer cases come summer 2021 followed by a jump next winter, experts predicted in a Thursday briefing. If that pattern holds, it could mean a need to reinforce the mask-wearing message as the weather gets colder and people once again congregate indoors. The encouraging news is the vaccines appear to be working and more Americans are getting them. "If you look at the data for these vaccines, they are extremely safe, they are extremely efficacious, and they make you basically impervious — for the most part — to getting serious disease, hospitalization, or death.” The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is likely to approve emergency use authorization (EUA) among teenagers 12 to 15 years old "imminently," thereby expanding the pool of people potentially protected by vaccines. Medscape
4. UPCOMING EVENTS:
APRIL 23 (FRIDAY): Green Up Bags will be available in the vestibule of the town office starting today.
APRIL 24 (SATURDAY): Take Back Day, drop off prescription drugs at convenient drop boxes throughout Windsor County. Drop boxes are available year round at Ludlow Pharmacy and the Ludlow Police Dept.
MAY 1 (SATURDAY): Green up Day
MAY 8 (SATURDAY): CCCA Annual Spring Bird Walk: Two hour bird watching amble along 20 Mile Stream Rd. and into the surrounding fields. Meet at Crows Café at 7 am - wear good walking shoes, mask up, and bring your binoculars! RSVP to Robin at 226-7736. Limit is 10 people. FMI: CCCA website
MAY 25 (TUESDAY): Household Hazardous Waste Day 2-6 pm at the Springfield Transfer Station. FMI.
MAY 28 (FRIDAY): Cavendish Historical Society’s Annual Plant Sale early bird special, 5:30-7 pm on the Museum grounds. Masking and social distancing required. FMI: 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com
MAY 29 (SATURDAY): Cavendish Historical Society’s Annual Plant Sale 9-2 on the Museum grounds. Masking and social distancing required. FMI: 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com
JUNE 26 (SATURDAY): Birds in Bloom, market gathering of local art, decorated bird houses, and plants sponsored by Cavendish Streetscapes from Noon to 5 on the Proctorsville Green.
JULY 31 (SATURDAY): 11th Annual Cavendish Town Wide Tag Sale
SEPT. 11 (SATURDAY): VT Golden Honey Festival 10-4 at the Golden Stage Inn, Proctorsville Depot St. Free
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.