Cavendish Update 8/27/21: Irene/SB Mtg/News/Events
/
VIEW THE CAVENDISH VT FACEBOOK PAGE DAILY FOR THE LATEST NEWS You don’t have to be a Facebook subscriber to see this page.
This weekend we remember the 10th anniversary of Irene. At the Break Maids concert, 5:30 pm at Svec Park (Proctorsville Green) on Saturday, Aug. 28, the Cavendish History Society (CHS) will have a table where you can see pictures and artifacts from Irene. These will also be available at the Museum on Sunday 2-4 pm. A special 10th anniversary post is at the CHS blog.
8/27/21
1. Construction Reports
2. Special Select Board Mtg 8/16/21
3. Cavendish Info
4. Covid update
5. Events
1. CONSTRUCTION REPORTS: Please direct questions and concerns to Natalie Boyle at Vtrans802-855-3893 or nboyle@eivtech.com. In observance of the Labor Day holiday, no work will take place Saturday, 9/4 through Monday, 9/6.. The updates below are from Vtrans:
131 Construction: Placement of curbing has been completed. Guardrail work to continue next week. Roadway ditching operations will continue next week. Adjustments to drainage structures is scheduled to continue next week. Cold planing (grinding of the top 2 inches of existing asphalt) in Proctorville has been completed. Paving of the shim layer of asphalt in Proctorsville has been completed. Please note that this is not the final layer of asphalt. The shim coat is also referred to as the "leveling course" and serves to level out low areas in the roadway. There will be no paving on this project next week.
Bridge @ Exit 8: All concrete work on Bridge 30S has been completed. Crews will be stripping the bridge deck and removing the forms next week. Expect lane closures on VT 131.
2. SPECIAL SELECT BOARD MEETING 8/16/21 Minutes of this special select board (SB) are available at the town website. As a continuation of the 8/9/21 SB meeting, the SB met to discuss the paving of the town portion of the CTES parking lot. The board voted 4 to 1 to allow GMUSD permission to pave the portion of the parking lot owned by the town. A second vote, approved $12,000 of town funds for paving the town portion of the school parking lot. George Timko voted against both motions.
CTES principal, Katherine Fogg, suggested the school and town have a Memorandum of Understanding similar to what library has. Fogg would like to put up a sign at the lot because they find non-staff cars parking there especially in winter. She added that people also use the school dumpsters for their household trash.
Town manager, Brendan McNamara distributed copies of a deed for the mineral rights of the 65 acre property currently owned by Narbut on Route 131 which is next to the town-owned lot of 47 acres. The property and the potential buyer’s attorney sent a letter requesting the town release mineral rights before the sale proceeds.
A copy of the town’s current “junk yard ordinance” is available at the Town’s website.
3, CAVENDISH INFO
• Black River Water Testing: Water testing on the Black River showed satisfactory levels on Wednesday with the exception of the Rec Pond on West Hill. It is recommended to stay out of the water for 24 hours after a heavy rain or any time it appears cloudy. Test results are posted to Is it Clean?
• GMUSD to follow AOE Guidelines for Masking: At the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) Aug. 19 meeting, the issue of masking of students became contentious, when a parent frequently interrupted proceedings. Ultimately, the board voted to allow the Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU), Superintendent, Lauren Fierman, authority concerning health matters. Fierman’s plan is to follow the recommendations of both VT Agency of Education (AOE) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), which calls for masking in all schools for the first 10 days. Thereafter, those schools that can demonstrate that 80% of the students have been vaccinated, can make masks optional, Since there is currently no vaccine for students 11 and under, masking will be required at CTES and the other elementary schools in the district. Masks will not be required outdoors. Lunch will take place in the classroom, not in the cafeteria, with social distancing. Masks will be required on school buses.
Among other items discussed at the meeting included replacing the GMUHS’s “Chieftain” mascot. This is being considered in part due to the letter “No, My Son Will Not be a Chieftain.” GMUHS is the last school in VT to hold onto their Native themed mascot. For More Information on the meeting: Vermont Journal: GMUSD Board Authorizes Superintendent to Impose Mask Mandate; Chester Telegraph: Ludlow resident disrupts GM board meeting over masking; Video of GMUSD 8/19 meeting
• Hazardous Waste Collection: There will be a household hazardous waste collection on September 21 (Tuesday) at the Springfield Transfer Station, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. for residents of Andover, Athens, Baltimore, Cavendish, Chester, Grafton, Ludlow, Plymouth, Reading, Rockingham, Springfield, Weathersfield, West Windsor, and Windsor. Sponsored by the Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District and the host town. E-mail mobrien@marcvt.org or call 674-9235 for more information or visit the website for a list of what to bring and what not to bring.
4. COVID UPDATE: The VT Dept. of Health is once again reporting weekly totals of new cases by town. On Friday, Aug. 20, for the first time since May 19, Cavendish had a new case of Covid (31 total). Ludlow had 4 new cases (91 total), while Chester had one new case (112 total) and Springfield 5 (312 total).
Health Department Employee Letter: Yesterday, VT Digger broke the story that 91 employees of the VT Dept. of Health (VDH) had sent a letter to Health Commissioner Levine and others. The signers include a wide range of people who have been working on the state’s response- district office staff, epidemiologists, contact tracers and public health analysts. “We are writing to express our deep concern at what we believe to be a lack of adequate COVID-19 prevention guidance from our Health Department to Vermonters at this unique state of the pandemic.” The letter highlights some important statistics:
- Although the rate of COVID-19 infection is lower among vaccinated individuals than unvaccinated individuals, the proportion of cases among vaccinated Vermonters is concerning, Currently four out of ten cases are among vaccinated people.”
- The rate of Covid among 6-11 year-olds in Vermont is higher than any other age group. This group is currently ineligible for vaccination and could be exposed to COVID-19 by vaccinated family members, teachers, or friends who believe they are doing all they need to do to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The letter urges leadership to publicly and strongly” recommend universal masking indoors and testing and quarantine for anyone determined to be a close contact to a Covid-19 case — regardless of vaccination status. It also asks them to encourage Vermonters to get tested before and after large social gatherings, to avoid traveling to high-transmission areas, and to test before and after out-of-state travel.
The House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Senate Pro Tem Becca Balint have issued statements urging Gov. Scott to do more to tamp down viral spread.
The emergency order, and with it the Covid-19 restrictions, ceased in June when 80% of eligible Vermonters received at least one Covid vaccine. Despite the damage Delta is doing, the Governor has been reluctant to re instate the emergency order more than recommendations, though he did mention at Tuesday’s press conference that if infection rates do not drop off soon, he would consider additional measures. As it is recommendations are limited and nonbinding leaving decision making and pressure on facilities, school boards etc.
By the Numbers: While cases continue to increase, the rate is slowing down in VT and across the country. According to the weekly modeling report VT should be plateauing soon. The unvaccinated case rate has increased 28% in the last seven days while the vaccinated rate has increased by 18% in the same time period. The data provided by the state on vaccinated cases shows that among 420,672 fully vaccinated people, 915 tested positive (0.22%). Of this group 23 were hospitalized (0.006%) and 10 died due to Covid (0.002%). Unfortunately, there are outbreaks in at least four long term care facilities.
As of Thursday, Aug. 26, there are now 27,504 cases (141 new cases yesterday), 33 in hospital, eight of whom are in ICU and three more people have died bringing the total to 273 deaths-13 of which have occurred in August. Deaths this month have been double the state’s projection. The seven day percent positivity (percentage of people testing positive) is 3.1%. From, Aug 12-18, 738 new cases of Covid were reported compared to 852 from Aug. 19-25.
Cedar Hill Health Care Outbreak has reported a 30 case outbreak (20 residents and 10 employees). Due to the outbreak, visits have been paused. Except for two of the infected employees, all of those who have tested positive are vaccinated. Most everyone is having mild symptoms.
COVID-19 Vaccines 66% Effective Against Delta Variant: Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection dropped from about 91% to 66% once the Delta variant became the dominant strain in the U.S., according to a new study published Tuesday by the CDC. The decline points to the highly contagious nature of the Delta variant and underscores the importance of vaccination to prevent severe disease, hospitalization and death.
The Pfizer vaccine received FDA approval on Monday. This vaccine is one of two, the other being Johnson and Johnson, available at the Cavendish Fire Department’s free vaccine clinics on Sept 1 (Wednesday) 3-7pm and Sept 22 (Wednesday) 3-7 pm.
Johnson & Johnson Booster Shot: A booster dose of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine prompted a big spike in antibodies among clinical trial participants, when taken six to eight months after the first dose, the company announced on Wednesday (Aug.25).
Masks Save Lives: Here’s What You Need to Know: The GMUSD meeting on masking has resulted in people posting messages that masks don’t work. The research speaks otherwise.
Make vaccination a priority! Free vaccine clinics will be held at the Cavendish Fire Department on Sept 1 (Wednesday) and Sept. 22 (Wednesday) from 3-7 PM. Both the Pfizer vaccine and Johnson & Johnson will be administered.
Those 18+ can be vaccinated with one dose of the Johnson & Johnson, which provides protection after two weeks. Vaccination is available locally at the Rite Aid Pharmacy in Ludlow (228-8477) or Ludlow Health Center (226-8867). Pop up testing sites are listed at the state’s website.
5. UPCOMING EVENTS:
AUGUST 28 (SATURDAY): Last Proctorsville Green Concert featuring the Break Maids, 5:30 pm. Concerts are free and open to the public. Rain location is Gethsemane Church off Depot St.
SEPTEMBER 1 (WEDNESDAY): Free COVID vaccination clinic at the Cavendish Fire Department from 3-7 pm. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be administered. Vaccines are free
SEPTEMBER 7 (TUESDAY): First day of school.
SEPT. 11 (SATURDAY): VT Golden Honey Festival 10-4 at the Golden Stage Inn, Proctorsville Depot St. Free
• 20th Anniversary of 9/11: Local remembrance by area fire departments. A march will begin at the Ludlow Fire Station at 12:30 pm and end at Veteran’s Park in Ludlow. A ceremony with guest speakers will take place at 1 pm with lunch to follow. This event remembers those who lost their lives that day as well as those who have died from complications from exposures sustained in rescue operations.
· RiverSweep
SEPT. 12 (SUNDAY): Annual Phineas Gage Walk & Talk. Meet at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum at 2 pm. The tour is about 1 1/2 miles round trip. Walking shoes are recommended. Included in the tour is the site of the accident. FMI: margocaulfield@icloud.com or 802-226-7807
SEPTEMBER 21 (TUESDAY): Hazardous Waste Collection Day for Cavendish. Springfield Transfer Station, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. E-mail mobrien@marcvt.org or call 674-9235 for more information or visit the website for a list of what to bring and what not to bring.
SEPTEMBER 22 (WEDNESDAY): ): Free COVID vaccination clinic at the Cavendish Fire Department from 3-7 pm. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be administered. Vaccines are free
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 (THURSDAY): Free Covid Vaccine Clinic at the Cavendish Fire Dept. 3-7 pm Pfizer.
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