Cavendish Update 7/8/22: Water Testing/News/Events
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Town Wide Tag Sale is just a few weeks away – July 30 (Saturday) 9-2. We will begin posting pictures of what people will be selling, and their locations, starting this weekend. If you would like space on one of the town greens, or your information posted, please e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com
7/8/22
1. Black River Testing
2. Cavendish Info
3. Covid update
4. Events
1. BLACK RIVER TESTING: Each Wednesday the Black River Action Team (BRAT) tests swimming holes on the Black River. This week Greven Field had an E. coli level of 727 CFU. This is significantly higher than the EPA’s 235 CFU limit for safe swimming. According to Kelly Stettner of BRAT, shallow water tends to warm up quickly and move slowly, good conditions for breeding bacteria. Add in a steady 24-hour rain, washing in all kinds of "stuff," and it's no surprise that numbers were elevated across the board. Other spots on the Black River tested as follows:
• Cavendish Gorge 42 CFU
• Buttermilk Falls (Ludlow) 250 CFU
• West Hill Road Red (Ludlow) 44 CFU
• Tolles Power Dam (Perkinsville): 98 CFU
• Twenty Foot Hole (Reading): 47 CFU
It is recommended to stay out of the water when it appears cloudy and within 24 hours of a heavy rain.
2. CAVENDISH INFO
• Cavendish Curiosities: Three Strange But True Medical Oddities: Seven Days includes three Cavendish Curiosities in their June 29, 2022 publication-Phineas Gage; Nettie Stevens; and Alexis St. Martin.
• Cavendish Property Taxes: New property tax bills will be mailed out mid-July with the first quarter due on August 15.
• CCCA Presents Rick Davis and Friends: The July 13 (Wed) concert features Rick Davis, a staple of the VT ski scene, on his own and with the Davis Brothers Garage Band, since the 1970s, A cover band, they features songs of Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers. The concert begins at 6 pm at Svec Park (Proctorsville Green).
• Neal’s Restaurant: Last evening, Neal Baron posted to the Chester Helping Hands Facebook page, “I was blessed with the opportunity to pursue a dream. It’s what makes America so beautiful. I didn’t quite get it right this time. I will continue to apply the lessons learned. The team we had is what I treasure most. My employees are family. All of them. I hope they all know that. We created many magical evenings. It has been an honor to serve the public and be a part of creating a vision that all involved should forever be proud of. Thank you to all who were a part of the experience. On to the next chapter. Neal’s has been a regular contributor to the “Everyone Eats” program.
• Chester Planning Commission moves toward regulating short-term rentals: With a growing number of homes in the area being used as short-term rentals booked through such organizations as Airbnb and VRBO, the question of whether such a use should be regulated and even restricted has become a hot topic for area select boards and planning commissions. On Tuesday night, Chester’s Planning Commission weighed in on the subject by considering a draft ordinance that would require such rentals to be registered and meet some health and safety standards. Chester Telegraph
• Okemo Valley Car Show and Cruise-In: The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce invites participants for the Second Annual Best of Vermont Summer Festival Car Show and Fifth Annual Benson’s Chevy Cruise-In. The car show, sponsored by Coldwell Banker Lifestyles Real Estate, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 20 and Sunday, Aug. 21 in Ludlow, Vt. at the Okemo Field on Route 103. The cruise-in will be held the night before the festival on Friday evening Aug. 19 from 5–8 p.m. at Benson’s Chevrolet located at 25 Pond St. in Ludlow Village. Learn more and register at www.yourplaceinvermont.com/cars/.
3. 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, which was updated this week.
The current VT Dept of Health Weekly Report June 26 to July 2, reports statewide community levels as low, with two counties (Bennington & Rutland) reporting medium levels. There has been an uptick in hospitalizations this past week.
Now that the PCR testing sites are closed, the VT Dept of Health (VDH) is relying on hospitalizations and other measures to determine how the virus is spreading:
• New hospital admissions with Covid: 53 (increase from 33 last week).
• Percent of staffed inpatients occupied with Covid: 2.08% (increase from last week’s 1.47%.)
• Deaths: Five additional deaths in the last seven days, including three in July. Current total for VT is 687.
• Outbreaks: As of Tuesday, there were eight active outbreaks of Covid, including 5 long-term care facilities and one prison.
The BA.5 variant of Omicron, which was first detected in South Africa in February, with first cases in the US identified in April, is rapidly becoming the most common variant nationwide. The World Health Organizations classifies it as a “variant of concern.” Highly contagious, with few mandates in place, and the variants ability to evade vaccines and prior Covid infections, Covid cases are increasing.
For those who become infected, symptoms don’t appear to be more aggressive than other Omicron strains. There have been fewer deaths and hospital admissions, as many millions of people are vaccinated or have antibodies, making the general immunity of the population higher than at the start of the pandemic.
The vaccines continue to protect against severe cases of illnesses, but as the time lengthens between vaccination/booster, protection is reduced. If you are 50+ and/or immunocompromised, and your last boost was over six months ago, consider getting boosted again with the current vaccine to keep your protection strong.
For Vermonters having trouble getting at-home tests, please call the Health Department at 802-863-7200 to be connected to a resource near you.
Covid Reinfections Raise Risk Of Other Illness: Repeatedly catching Covid-19 appears to increase the chances that a person will face new and sometimes lasting health problems after their infection, according to the first study on the health risks of reinfection. The study, which is based on the health records of more than 5.6 million people treated in the VA Health System, found that, compared with those with just one Covid-19 infection, those with two or more documented infections had more than twice the risk of dying and three times the risk of being hospitalized within six months of their last infection. They also had higher risks for lung and heart problems, fatigue, digestive and kidney disorders, diabetes and neurologic problems.
4. EVENTS
JULY 13 (WEDNESDAY): Summer concert series continues featuring Rick Davis and Friends. 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 20 (WEDNESDAY): Summer concert series continues featuring Morning Dudes, celebrating the repertoire of The Grateful Dead. 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 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.
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