Cavendish Update 8/14/20: SB Mtg/131 Rd Closure/Election Results
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8/14/20
1.Project Alert-Culvert Replacement Schedule Change
2. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 8/10/20
3. Cavendish Primary Election Results
4. Cavendish Info
5. Latest Spigot Turn: Covid-19 Update
6. Events
ROAD CLOSURE FOR 131 HAS BEEN CHANGED AND WILL NOW OCCUR SEPT. 1-4.
1. PROJECT ALERT-CULVERT REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE CHANGE: A full closure of Route 131 near the Glimmerstone mansion will begin at 12:01 AM on Tuesday, September 1st and Route 131 will reopen at midnight on Friday, September 4th in order to replace the culvert at this location. The closure period has been delayed from the originally scheduled dates due to longer than anticipated concrete fabrication times at the production facility resulting from COVID-19 reduced workforce requirements. A signed detour will be in effect throughout the closure period.
The closure will begin in Cavendish at the intersection of VT Route 103 and VT Route 131 and continuing East for 9 miles into Weathersfield and ending at the intersection of VT 131 and VT 106.
If you plan on using the back roads during this time, please be mindful of your speeds.
2. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 8/10/20 Select Board meetings are conducted via Zoom, and are available at the Okemo Valley TV website, while minutes are posted to the Cavendish VT Municipal Website. The following actions/discussions took place at Monday night’s meeting:
• Approved appointment of Robert Evens to the Prudential committee for Fire District #2 to replace Dan Tyrell.
• Approved a mini free library to be located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, 1958 Main St.
• Approved inactive water status for Academy Building on Main Street
• Informed the board that the 131 culvert repair was going to be delayed. See Item 1 above for more information
• A speed study, conducted by Regional Planning, is underway on Depot Street. The sheriff has been patrolling the area but so far has not issued any tickets. Signage has been held up due to delays in production resulting from Covid. However, the following signs are on order-No Thru Truck Traffic (Depot St); 25 MPH Speed Limit (Tierney Rd and Pratt Hill)
• Saturday’s electrical storm caused lighting strikes resulting in equipment damage to the Cavendish Municipal Water System. Brendan McNamara, town manager, is contacting the insurance company as these are costly repairs. The water department has done an excellent job keeping the town supplied with water, though conservation efforts have been needed.
3. ELECTION RESULTS: Thanks to absentee balloting, Vermont has broken primary turnout records for this past Tuesday’s elections. Cavendish had a higher than normal voter turnout for a state primary-343 of 1,089 voters (31%), of which 217 cast absentee ballots. Voters had the choice of voting for a slate of candidates for one party, with the results being as followed for Cavendish: 175 Ballots for Democrats, 154 Republican and 4 Progressive.
Cavendish followed the trends of the state for most races, with the exception of Republican Lt. Governor-Scott Milne won the overall election with Cavendish voters favoring Meg Hansen by a vote of 39 to 87. For Republican Congressional representative, the state nomination went to Miriam Berry while Cavendish voters favored Tuthill-20 to 43 votes.
For State representative, the Democratic nominee is Dan Boyer. Michael Kell of Cavendish was a write in candidate for the Republican nominee.
For a complete run down of how Cavendish voted in the election, see the Special Election post at The Dish.
4. CAVENDISH INFO
• FY 2020-2021 Tax Rates for Cavendish Property: The Select Board signed off on the new tax rate earlier this week and changes will be reflected in tax bills that have already begun to be mailed. Last year’s property tax rates for residents were 1.7805 for Fire District #1 and 1.7804 for Fire District #2. Rates for 20/21 are as follows:
Fire District #1
Residential 2.0811
Non-Residential 2.2178
Fire District #2
Residential 2.0587
Non-Residential 2.1954
• Black River Water Test Results: Information for this week will be posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page as soon as it is received.
• Cavendish Electrical Storm: On Aug. 8 (Saturday), several lighting strikes occurred in town-water plant and waste water treatment-damaging equipment and creating a need for water conservation the first part of the week. Repairs are underway and water levels have returned to normal
• Schools hone opening plans as state adds to, changes guidance
• Service for Al Glidden: A graveside service will be held Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 1:30 PM at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville. Due to Covid-19 Restrictions, masks and social distancing are required.
• Economists project massive revenue losses for Vermont for next two fiscal years. “In the coming two fiscal years, both the Vermont and U.S. economies will not be primarily driven by economic events, but by epidemiological and federal public policy events, with huge potential economic consequences that are all but unknowable at this time.” The report, which details that the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and consequential economic downturn was slightly better than expected but still “massive,” was ultimately adopted by the state’s Emergency Board Wednesday afternoon.
5. THE LATEST SPIGOT TURN: Covid Related Info: A lot has been learned about Covid since March. Below are, Nine Things Experts Know Now About Covid-19 Elemental
- The virus can become airborne
- Face masks are crucial to help control the pandemic
- Covid affects the whole body, not just the lungs
- Young adults and children can also get seriously ill or die from it.
- The virus isn’t seasonal
- Covid-19 is much deadlier than the flu-It’s five times more dangerous
- The virus won’t disappear
- People spread the virus without realizing it
- A vaccine is almost certain
This past Friday, Gov. Scott continued to praise Vermonters for having the lowest incidence rate in the country…. it's not by accident. Vermonters continue to do their part to help slow the spread. It's up to each and every one of us to keep this up by continuing to follow the Vermont Department of Health guidelines. It's also important to note that our numbers and positive trends aren't simply because Vermont is a rural state. As our modeling presentation today illustrates, rural and suburban parts of the country are now being hit by the virus just as hard as urban areas. We need to stay vigilant. You can view today's modeling presentation here:
On Tuesday, Scott and his team outlined what fall sports will look at schools and provided reassuring messages that VT is going to be able to handle the return to school thanks to testing and contact tracing. The Agency of Education released their revisions to their June 16 plan “A Strong and Healthy Start: Safety and Health Guidance for Reopening Schools. New revisions allow parents to do the daily health checks for their kids and staff can take kids’ temperatures any time before the child enters the school. It is strongly recommending that K-5 students do in-person learning. The requirements for distancing for the youngest learners has been lowered. Children under 10 -- now only have to be three to six-feet apart instead of six.
Outbreaks/Numbers: Since last week, VT has had 39 more cases of Covid to bring the total number to 1,484, with close to 106,000 tests having been performed. There have been a total of 58 deaths to date and currently there are two cases of Covid in Vermont hospitals.
Cancelled: Black River Good Neighbors Fall Rummage Sale. Donations can always be made to the food shelf at 37B Main Street in Ludlow, or through the website FMI: 228-3663
Mask Give Away: The state of Vermont will be giving away 300,000 cloth face coverings to the public, emergency responders and other agencies this month. In Cavendish you can obtain an adult or child’s cloth mask by by e-mailing cavendishconnects@gmail.com or calling 802-226-8044 or 226-7807.
6. UPCOMING EVENTS:
AUGUST 14 (FRIDAY): Stepping Stones Preschool Yard Sale 9-4
AUGUST 15 (SATURDAY): Stepping Stones Preschool Yard Sale until 2 pm
SEPTEMBER 1-4 (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY): Route 131 closed due to culvert repair by Glimmerstone
SEPTEMBER 8 (WEDNESDAY): Schools open
SEPTEMBER 12 (SATURDAY): VT Golden Honey Festival, Golden Stage Inn
• RiverSweep
SEPTEMBER 13 (SUNDAY): Annual Phineas Gage Walk & Talk, 2 pm at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, 1958 Main St. The walk is about a mile and a half. Walking shoes are recommended. FMI: margocaulfield@icloud.com or 802-226-7807
SEPTEMBER 15 (TUESDAY): Property taxes due
CA❤︎ENDSH-A SAFER SIX COMMUNITY
Covers mouth & nose
Always masks in public
Vermonters keep each other safe
Elbow coughs
Never forgets to wash hands
Disinfects common surfaces
Is alert for symptoms
Stays 6 feet apart
Has respect for personal space
