Cavendish Update 9/3/21 Crime Watch/131/News/Events
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Crime Watch: In the last several weeks there have been a variety of incidents in Cavendish/Proctorsville-catalytic converter theft, car and homes broken into, and even gas siphoning from a car. If you have any information, please contact the state police and be sure to keep doors locked.
9/3/21
1. Construction Reports
2. Sept. is Preparedness Month
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. The updates below are from Vtrans:
131 Construction: Guardrail work to continue next week. Roadway ditching operations will continue next week. Adjustments to drainage structures is scheduled to continue next week. Paving of the shim layer of asphalt in Proctorsville is scheduled to be completed next week. 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. This work was not able to be completed this week due to mechanical failures with the paver. Paving of shim in Proctorsville will be finished next week prior to the start of paving of the wearing surface. Paving of the wearing course is scheduled to start next week project-wide. Paving will start on the east side of the project and progress to the west. Some modifications are being made in the Town of Cavendish for drive access and sidewalk.
Bridge @ Exit 8: Crews will be stripping the bridge deck and removing the forms next week. Expect lane closures on VT 131. The contractor is scheduled to mill the pavement and pave the approaches to the bridge on I-91. Milling and paving should not have any effect on traffic.
2. SEPTEMBER IS PREPAREDNESS MONTH: As one Cavendish resident noted, “During Irene when the fire department knocked on our door and said, ‘If you hear the siren, you have 10 minutes to get to higher ground,’ I didn’t know what to take.” In keeping with National Preparedness Month, the following resources are being provided to help you better prepare for disasters and emergencies.
Please note that in times of emergency, special bulletins from the Cavendish Update will be sent to subscribers and the Cavendish Facebook page will contain the latest information.
What you Need: Mark Huntley, of Huntley Financial Services, Inc, has offered the following information in response to the request he receives about what things should be in order if something unforeseen should happen. These documents should be in one place that key people would know where it is and how to access [Consider using a file organizer, such as a fireproof document bag, that can be handily grabbed if you need to evacuate quickly]: Emergency Contacts; Medications and Supplements; Health Insurance; Health Information and History; Living Will/Advance Directive; Medical Power of Attorney; Durable/Springing Power of Attorney; Bank Accounts (make sure and add someone on to your checking accounts as this will allow the ability to continue to pay bills etc); Investments; Retirement Accounts; Safe Deposit Box; Credit Cards; Mortgages and Loans; Important Financial Contacts; Personal Insurance Property; Insurance; Will and Estate Plan; Funeral Arrangements and other Important Information such as Identification Property and Titles; Important Tax Documents; and Online Accounts and Passwords Memberships and Subscriptions.
Keep Smart Phones Current: Your mobile phone and/or tablet can store a lot of the information Mark has identified above, as well provide an invaluable resource to first responders in the event you are unable to speak. However, this is only going to be possible if you take the time to regularly update your device. Use the following resources to help you:
• Use your Smart Phone for Better Health: Includes information on apps and ways to keep health information readily available if a first responder or emergency personnel needs to assist you.
• Smartphone Settings Could Save Your Life: Built in features can help you call for aid quickly. Know how to use them before you need them.
• Mobile Preparedness: Using Smart Phones & Tablets to Expedite Disaster Recovery
Resources to help you prepare
• Cavendish Connects Emergency Preparedness Page (this includes town, state and regional resources and links)
• VT State’s Preparedness for Individuals & Families
3, CAVENDISH INFO
• Cavendish Gulf Incident: On September 1st, 2021 at approximately 1230 hours, the Charlestown NH Police Department responded to a residential burglary alarm and upon arriving, interrupted a suspect mid burglary. The suspect then fled in a stolen vehicle. Charlestown PD pursued the vehicle which then crossed into Springfield, Vermont and line of sight was lost on the vehicle. It was then reported that a firearm was stolen from the initial burglary. The
Springfield Police Department subsequently observed the vehicle on Spoonerville Road in Springfield and then received another tip that it was near Dean Brook Road in Chester Vermont. Officers of the Chester Police Department responded to that area and located the vehicle which then fled. While attempting to flee on Densmore Road in the Town of Cavendish, due to a crossing train, the suspects intended path of travel was blocked. The suspect attempted turn around and in doing so, crashed into the train which flung the vehicle off the roadway into the woods. The suspect then fled on foot. Another Officer located the suspect on a train trestle further down the tracks and initiated a foot pursuit. Upon closing the distance with the suspect, he was observed to have a firearm in his right hand. After refusing commands, the suspect was hit with a Conducted Electrical Weapon which was ineffective. The level of force was increased due to the suspects noncompliance, which resulted in the suspect dropping his firearm and being taken into custody after a brief struggle. The suspect was identified as Kristopher Royce. Royce was subsequently found to have a warrant for failure to comply with the sex offender registry, as well as a warrant for a furlough violation, with the underlying offense of Occupied Burglary. After processing, Royce was lodged at the Southern State Correctional Facility. Chester Facebook page.
• School Opening Measures at Well Attended Forum: At the Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU) back to school open forum on Aug. 26, Superintendent Lauren Fierman told the 150 people in attendance about how the district will be following the Covid guidelines issued by VT’s Agency of Education for masking, social distancing and vaccination. Chester Telegraph
• CVFD Vaccine Clinic: Wednesday’s free clinic at the Cavendish Fire Department provided vaccinations to 24 people. The next free clinic at the Fire Hall will be Sept. 22 (Wednesday) from 3-7 pm.
• CHS Briefs: The Cavendish Historical Society September news brief is now available at their blog. This update includes upcoming events, including the annual Phineas Gage Walk and Talk on Sept. 12, 2 pm starting at the Museum.
• Springfield Hospital’s budget proposal draws skepticism from Vermont board: Green Mountain Care Board officials called Springfield Hospital’s proposed $55 million operating budget for the coming year “aspirational” in a hospital budget hearing last week and urged the hospital’s leaders to rethink their strategy for the future by cutting costs or attracting more patients. VT Digger
• Vt. regulators approve GMP rate hike: Vermont regulators on Wednesday signed off on a rate increase, 4.69%, for Green Mountain Power, the state’s largest electric utility. GMP has sought modifications to its multi-year ratemaking plan to make investments in improved electric transmission and residential power battery storage initiatives. WCAX
4. COVID UPDATE: Cavendish had another new case of Covid this past week, bringing the total to 32 cases, two within the last two weeks.
On Tuesday, the Gill Home issued a statement via their Facebook page, that they were now dealing with Covid at the facility, We were notified [Tuesday morning] by two different visitors that they had tested positive for Covid-19 out in the community. This prompted us to test our residents and staff. We found that we have a resident that has tested positive for Covid-19 using a rapid antigen test. https://vermontjournal.com/news/gill-odd-fellows-home-takes-covid-19-outbreak-precautions/
Weekly Press Conference: At this week’s press conference, the message was very clear Covid is going to be with us for a long time to come and it was no longer of such an emergent nature that a state of emergency was needed. Without this declaration, the Governor and health department are limited to recommending people and businesses follow the CDC recommendations of vaccination, masking (regardless of vaccination status) when indoors and to socially distance. Gov. Scott noted, Because despite what you might have been reading, we are in a much better place than perhaps any other state because, vaccines have proven to be very effective at preventing cases and even more effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths. …If we had Florida’s hospitalization rates, we would have around 500 Vermonters hospitalized instead of 28. But it is not just Florida. If we had Connecticut’s hospitalization rate, for example, which has the 5th lowest rate in the nation, we would be talking about over 75 hospitalized instead of 28. So, the message here is clear: Get vaccinated! Because we have proven they work.
By the Numbers: The modeling data this week included data on August cases who have died by age bracket. Of those 0-18 years of age, none of the 730 cases died. In the 19-49 age bracket, of 1,493 cases to date, two have died. For those 50-69, 6 of the 685 cases died and for 70+, 8 of 297 died. However, since that report was issued, VT had its first death of someone in their 20s. Since the start of the pandemic, VT has had three people in their 30s and seven in their 40s die.
Despite high vaccination rates among seniors, roughly two-thirds of the Delta cases are in residents in long term care.
As of Thursday, Aug. 26, there are now 28,542 cases (145 new cases yesterday), 29 in hospital, eight of whom are in ICU and six more people died this past week bringing the total to 279 deaths. The seven day percent positivity (percentage of people testing positive) is 2.5%, which is more an indicator that VT has significantly increased testing. From, Aug 12-18, 738 new cases of Covid were reported compared to 852 from Aug. 19-25. Aug 26 and 986 from Aug 26-Sept 1.
Moderna's Vaccine Creates Twice as Many Antibodies as Pfizer's: Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine generates more than double the antibodies seen from Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, according to a new research letter published Monday in JAMA. The differences could be explained by the higher amount of active ingredient in the Moderna vaccine- Moderna vaccine has 100 micrograms of active ingredient, as compared with 30 micrograms in the Pfizer vaccine. The slightly longer interval between doses could lead to differences as well.
Hospitals across the region grapple with staffing shortage: Hospitals across our region, are facing a crisis. From UVM Medical Center to Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the pandemic has exacerbated the long-running problem of staffing shortages, and that’s leading to long wait times for many patients. WCAX
WHO Tracking New COVID-19 Variant Called Mu: The variant, also known as B.1.621, was first identified in Colombia in January. It has now been detected in 43 countries and was added to the WHO's "variant of interest" list on Monday. "The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape," the WHO wrote in its weekly COVID-19 update on Tuesday.
Make vaccination a priority! The free vaccine clinic at the Cavendish Fire Dept is Sept. 22 (Wednesday) from 3-7 PM. This will be the Pfizer vaccine. It is unclear if they will have Johnson & Johnson this time. 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:
SEPTEMBER 6 (MONDAY): Happy Labor Day. Town Office Closed
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 https://www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org/hazardous-waste.html 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
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
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