Cavendish Update 7/22/22: SB Mtg/News/Tag Sale
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1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 7/18/22
2. Cavendish Info
3. Town Wide Tag Sale
4. Covid update
5. Events
1• CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 7/18/22: A video of Monday’s Select Board (SB) meeting is available at the Okemo Valley TV website
Items discussed/voted on
• Animal Control/ Vicious dog hearing within 7 days: Cavendish does not have an animal control officer so the administrative side falls to the town manager, Brendan McNamara. He raised the following question to the board, “Who is responsible for taking a dog when it needs to be removed from the community?” McNamara is not trained to do it, and the state police nor sheriff will do it. There are animal removal businesses, which are being considered when such a need arises. In the mean there is an issue with a vicious dog in Cavendish that requires a hearing within seven days. Note: Meeting has been set for Monday, July 25 at 5 pm via zoom.
• Brook Road Signage: Looking for more signage by Brook Rd/East Rd. In the last rerouting of traffic, a gas truck was stuck on the bridge by this intersection. This resulted in damage to the bridge. Seems that more trucks are taking that route and the bridge is too narrow for some of them.
• Discussion regarding speed study on main street in Cavendish. Regional Planning did a speed test study June 15-27. This will be one of two studies, with the second being set up by the Town Garage shortly. Average speed was 34 MPH. Data could be skewed as the test was done during the search for Don Gurney, whereby drivers may have slowed down due to police presence.
Town Manager Report:
-Hydro seeding/stone lining on Felchville Gulf. Looks good and will be doing more on Davis where there is erosion. Considering the possibility of purchasing a hydro seeder for the town.
- Looking for more bids for Tarbell Hill project. Getting close to being ready for paving. Completion date would be before Halloween.
-Replacing Culvert on High St [Project was completed this week.]
- Testing of old town garage site is underway and should have results soon. Will reestablish a water connection for the Museum. Hope to move the tank down to the new garage in August.
- 131 scenic management plan is being worked on. Needs a review before the winter.
- The board approved the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association VT 26-3 use of the Proctorsville Green for their August 6 Poker Run awards program.
SB Member Comments/Concerns
- ATVs: Having dedicated roads is becoming an issue in Ludlow and SB members have been contacted about it. This has been informally discussed, but no decisions have been made in Cavendish.
- The town plan portion on energy has been tabled, though it’s been discussed for the last 4 years. The SB directs the Planning Commission and if the SB wants it they can require it. There needs to be a resolution. McNamara will ask that Peter Labelle and Etienne Ting come and discuss it with the SB.
- Would like to see pressing issues such as affordable housing, the school, economics, addressed by the Planning Commission.
- There are sink holes on the Proctorsville Green.
- Would like to see a 25 MPH sign for the school through the intersection of 131/103.
- ARPA funding and water meters. Looking at various options.
2. CAVENDISH INFO
• Water Testing on the Black River: Wednesday’s water testing results were all below the EPA CFU level of 250 for safe recreating. However, the Greven Field site continues to be on the higher side and Kelly Stettner, the head of the Black River Action Team, is conferring with the Basin Coordinator. It is recommended to stay out of the water when it appears cloudy and within 24 hours of a heavy rain.
Cavendish Gorge-28 CFU
Greven Field -172 CFU
Buttermilk Falls (Ludlow)-20 CFU
Twenty Foot Hole (Reading)-1CFU
Tolles Dam (Perkinsville )-20 CFU
West Hill Road Rec Pond (Ludlow)-1 CFU
• Karen (Ascenzia) Marini (1949-2022): It is with sadness that we report the passing of Karen Mairini on July 12, who was known to many through her work with Cavendish Green Mountain Snow Fleas. Our condolences to Joe, her family and her many friends. Per her wishes, there will be no calling hours, and services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Proctorsville Fire Department, Rescue Snowmobile Fund, PO Box 81, Proctorsville, VT 05153.
• Memorial for Jim Fisher: James A Fisher, Jr, age 68, died Wednesday, June 15, 2022. A Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville Themed Celebration of James' Life will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 5 pm at Bailey's Mills Bed & Breakfast (1347 Bailey's Mill Road, Reading, VT) with a BBQ to follow. Live stream available through James' obituary on www.knightfuneralhomes.com
• Guided Trail Walk in Cavendish: The Cavendish Association of Trails will hold a guided nature trail walk on the Hardy Hill trail in Cavendish on Sunday, July 31st at 10 a.m. This trail is the gift of Pieter Van Schaik to the community and his intention is for it to be handicap accessible. The trail is not yet open to the public, but Pieter will be offering guided walks during the year. Along the trail there’s a large beaver pond hosting several Great Blue Heron nests, specimens of wild orchid and lady slipper, porcupine nest and vernal pools. Binoculars, tick protection and boots are recommended. Meet at the trail head, which can be found at the intersection of Susannah Johnson Lane and East Road in Cavendish, just west of Caton Place campground. All are invited to attend, no matter town or city of residence. For planning purposes, please RSVP to Eric Krasnauskas aterickrasnauskas@protonmail.com to let him know that you are coming and how many are in your party. FMI: call 802-259-2327.
• Bags That Give Back: Reduce single-use plastic in the environment and give back to a worthy cause in the local community, all while running routine weekly errands at the Ludlow Shaw’s. The all-volunteer Black River Action Team has been selected by local Shaw’s store leadership as the benefiting non-profit in the Give Back Where it Counts Reusable Bag Program for the month of August! . Every $3.00 reusable Bag sends a $1 donation to a non-profit local to the Shaw’s in which it was purchased.
3. CAVENDISH TOWN WIDE TAG SALE: The sale is just around the corner- Saturday, July 30th from 9-2. Along with a lot of individual vendors, various organizations will be participating. Both fire departments will be offering BBQs. Birds N Bloom (Cavendish Streetscapes) will be set up on the Proctorsville Green. You will be able to meet CTES’s new principal, Amy Bohren, and pick up some free children’s books on the Proctorsville Green. A very large sale-office furniture, new/slightly used snow sports clothing and gear, plus lots more- is taking place at the Academy Building next to the Cavendish Village Green.
Please check the Tag Sale web page frequently as new vendors are being added daily. Note that there are some who have so much stuff you’ll need to go to their residence. Addresses are provided. Also, check the Cavendish Facebook page as we’re posting pictures of items for sale.
The Cavendish Historical Society’s Cares closet is open 24/7, but for the sale, there will be books and various items on the steps-all for free.
KN95 masks and hand sanitizer are available for free from the Cavendish Fire Dept, the CHS Cares Closet (next to the Museum steps) and at the Proctorsville Gazebo. If you have questions, stop by the Cavendish Connects booth at the Gazebo.
4. COVID UPDATE: For local information on testing, vaccinations, boosters, notifying contacts as well as other resources, including for Long Covid, please see the Cavendish COVID-19 Resource Guide.
State: The current VT Dept of Health Weekly Report July 10 to July 16, continues to report statewide community levels as low, though three counties, up by one from last week, Bennington, Essex and Rutland, are rated as medium.
While hospitalizations are considerably lower, it doesn’t mean that people aren’t getting infected, particularly since much of the country is experiencing another wave due to the BA.5 variant. There are two reasons public health officials are concerned: 1) The more times people are infected, the greater the risk of long Covid, illness, hospitalizations and even death. 2) The more people who become infected, the greater the chance of a new variant forming.
• New hospital admissions with Covid: 21 (decrease from last week’s 33 cases)
• Percent of staffed inpatients occupied with Covid: 1.39% (decrease from last week’s 1.77%
• Wastewater Monitoring: As of the time of this report, no NWSS wastewater trend data were available for Vermont or any other New England states.
• Outbreaks: As of Tuesday, there were 11 active outbreaks of Covid, up by 9 from last week, including 6 (up by 2 from last week) in long-term care facilities, 3 correctional facilities (up by 1), and one each non-Long Term Care Facility and a school/childcare. There are 3 active outbreaks listed for Windsor County, including Cedar Hill and Springfield’s Southern Correctional Facility.
The CDC endorses Novavax, a more traditional COVID vaccine, for adults
Area pharmacists wary about becoming frontline in dispensing COVID antiviral: Pharmacists can now prescribe the COVID antiviral medication Paxlovid without a doctor’s approval. The move is intended to get the highly effective treatment to more people, faster. But staffing and reimbursement issues are creating barriers to putting the plan into practice in this area.
5. EVENTS
JULY 27 (WEDNESDAY) Summer concert series continues featuring Sammy Blanchette.. Music starts at 6:00 pm on the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville. In case of rain, check the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Facebook page for postponement and rescheduling information. All concerts are free and open to the public. For more information email CavendishCommunityConservation@gmail.com.
JULY 30 (SATURDAY): Cavendish’s Annual Town Wide Tag Sale, 9-2.
JULY 31 (SUNDAY): Hardy hill Walk.
AUGUST 3 (WEDNESDAY: Summer concert series continues featuring Beecharmer, an acoustic duo from Wilder.. Music starts at 6:00 pm on the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville. In case of rain, check the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Facebook page for postponement and rescheduling information. All concerts are free and open to the public. For more information email CavendishCommunityConservation@gmail.com.
AUGUST 9 (TUESDAY): Statewide Primary. Town office Closed. Voting is from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Dept.
AUGUST 10 (WEDNESDAY): Summer concert series continues featuring the Gully Boys.. Music starts at 6:00 pm on the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville. In case of rain, check the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Facebook page for postponement and rescheduling information. All concerts are free and open to the public. For more information email CavendishCommunityConservation@gmail.com.
AUGUST 15 (MONDAY): 1ST Quarter Property Taxes Due
AUGUST 31 (WEDNESDAY): First Day of School
SEPTEMBER 5 (MONDAY): Labor Day, Town Office Closed