Cavendish Update 7/13/23: Flood Recovery Day 3

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                    EMERGENCY FLOOD POST DAY 3: 7/13/23

Yes, the National Weather Association has issued a flood watch for our area today. The shelter (Cavendish Baptist Church)  is open 24/7 now, serving three meals-eat in, take out and delivery. Take a shower, use the free WiFi, charge your electronic device, and visit with neighbors. No need to be alone, we’re here for you.

Yesterday afternoon the state came through and posted red notices on at least three Depot Street properties. These properties are deemed dangerous and unsafe and are not to be entered or occupied. The state fire Marshalls also thought it would be fun to visit the shelter yesterday. We’re fine but not exactly convenient when you’re trying to house and feed people.

Hope to get a page up today for those with flood damage. I’m running late this morning, who knew oversleeping means getting up at 5:30 instead of 4:00.

A very special thank you this morning to Amanda Gross, who is absolutely amazing at the ins and outs of running the shelter. Along with her kids, as well as her husband Abe, this shelter wouldn’t exist without them. Also very grateful to the Seville family. Gladys is now our chief cook. Miguel does his shifts at the post office in Cavendish and then hits the streets bringing supplies and help. Their kids are also incredible. Just so appreciate the kids, who are all closer to teens now. They don’t complain, help where they can and they are such a bright spot to have around.  It takes many hands to run a shelter, and it’s amazing to have people like Heather, who came because she needed to be relocated, but stayed to help. Cara Tyrell and her daughters are among the amazing volunteers who are doing food deliveries-look for the wagon-and just gotta love Mike McNamara. He makes the best lemon cake you’ll ever have. This flood he’s definitely Mr. Clean. Load after load of cleaning materials are getting to those who need it. He’s checking on everyone.

LUDLOW: By now most know Ludlow has been hit very hard and in many of the same locations as Irene. Shaws, Rite Aid pharmacy are closed as is the Ludlow Health Center. During Irene Shaws ran a tent store and the bank had a trailer. As soon as we know plans we’ll let you know. 103 is open again to Ludlow, though it was temporarily shut yesterday because of a rogue propane tank.

IF YOU HAVE PROPERTY DAMAGE: Call the Shelter 802-226-7131 or the town if you need assistance 802-226-7291. Volunteers are out in the worst hit areas. Let them know what you need. We now have plenty of fans to assist with drying. Lots of cleaning supplies are at the Shelter Store. Remember you’ll need to toss mops and other cleaning tools after you’ve finished. Please follow the Cleaning Up After a Flood guidelines.

FEMA: There is now a website for Vermont Flooding EM-3595-VT. You will be able to submit an application at this site, but it’s not fully operational at this time. It’s recommended that people file a claim as often relief organizations will ask for your FEMA claim number

CANCELLATIONS: The following events have been cancelled

• The Cavendish Historical Society’s hike to the Proctorsville Quarry has been cancelled, but will be rescheduled for the fall. Weather permitting, the Museum will be open on Sunday from 2-4 and you can see pictures of both the 1927 flood and Irene.

• Gloria Leven’s 100th birthday party for Saturday but will be held at a later date

• Heartsaver CPR at the Cavendish Fire Station

TRANSFER STATION: The transfer station will be open this weekend. Hours are Wed and Sat. 8-5 and 10-5 on Sunday.

HOW TO HELP

• Immediate needs for the shelter, include: Toilet paper; contractor bags; mops, buckets; bleach; bread, peanut butter; jelly; hamburger buns; individual juices; iced teas

• We need better signage for the shelter. Can someone make a large sign, that’s weather safe, that says “Shelter is Open?” Call the shelter 226-7131 and we can give you more details

• Gift certificates for places like Home Depot, local eateries and gas for those most impacted by the flood.

• Checks for shelter and community support can be sent to Cavendish Baptist Church PO Box 425 Cavendish VT 05142. Checks should be payable to Cavendish Baptist Church, with Emergency Shelter noted on the check. This will be used to help those most impacted by the flood and to buy needed items for the shelter. For some reason, the pay pal account isn’t working and Neal Snyder tried all afternoon to get the Vnemo up and running with no success.

• Check on your neighbor and help where you can.

                          We’re Vermont Strong and Cavendish Safe.

Cavendish Update 7/12/23: Flood Emergency

Depot Street

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                                    EMERGENCY FLOOD POST 7/12/23

We’re into major recovery mode today and while the shelter is in full swing, we will have crews out on Depot St. and other locations with water, food, cleaning supplies and lending a hand where needed. We have sump pumps. If you need us to drop off water and meals, call the shelter 802-226-7131 or the town office 802-226-7291. The Shelter Store is well stocked with cleaning supplies and other items. Drop in and get what you need.

The fire stations are now stocking water so if you can’t make it to the shelter, stop there.

For those of us who went through Irene, we find ourselves making a lot of comparisons. While some have been hit hard, and we once again find ourselves with a nasty road situation on route 131, the fact that the town has full power, water and sewer makes this a lot easier to recover from. As Rick Chambers, town manager, pointed out, “We know it gets better.”  

TOWN WATER IS FINE!! There is a rumor that by asking for bottled water that implies something is wrong with the town’s water. Couldn’t be further from the truth. We need the water for first responders, for meals at the shelter and for those who haven’t turned their water back on.  If you have questions about the water, call town manager Rick Chambers 802-226-7291.

STAY SAFE WHEN CLEANING UP AFTER A FLOOD: Don’t wait for FEMA. Just take a lot of pictures/videos that will be helpful for insurance claims and FEMA. Keep records of all expenses. Be sure to check with your insurance company for other requirements needed to make your claim.

Start cleaning now so you can avoid mold. What to do

1.    Shut off gas and electricity.

2.    Wear protective gear.

3.    Remove standing water and all soaked materials. Shovel out mud. Remove wall interior surfaces and insulation.

4.    Scrub walls and floors and then disinfect with bleach solution.

5.    Dry thoroughly before rebuilding.

Cleaning supplies to help you are at the “Shelter Store.” Take what you need.

For more tips see Cleaning Up After a Flood

TRANSFER STATION: The transfer station will be open today. It’s already pretty close to capacity. The goal is to have more dumpsters in place for the weekend. Hours are Wed and Sat. 8-5 and 10-5 on Sunday.

CURRENT SITUATION

• The Cavendish Shelter-located at the Cavendish Baptist Church- is open 24/7 and serving three meals and snacks. Free WiFi and places to charge electronic devices (bring your own chargers). Please go there for information. Breakfast is at 8 and we have a French Toast Casserole with maple syrup and blueberries.

• Power has been restored town wide.

• 103 to Ludlow is now open. Brook Rd to Downers is closed.

• Please check the Cavendish Facebook page regularly for updates

HOW TO HELP

• Immediate needs for the shelter, include: brooms, fans, spray bottles, mops and buckets

• Gift certificates for places like Home Depot, local eateries and gas for those most impacted by the flood.

• Check on your neighbor and help where you can.

IF YOU NEED HELP: If you are having an emergency, please call 911. For non-emergencies, call the town office. They open at 9. 802-226-7291. You can also call the Shelter at 802-226-7131.

LONG TERM SHELTER SUPPORT: Since December, this is the 4th time we’ve opened the shelter. Our weather is changing and we’re having to prepare for it. The shelter needs the following: twin size air mattresses (we fine these are more comfortable then cots and take up the same amount of space); vacuum storage bags (we need to save space by storing bedding in as small a space as possible); storage bins. These items can be dropped off at the Shelter.

                          We’re Vermont Strong and Cavendish Safe.

Cavendish Update: Emergency Post 7/11/23

Cyrus Gross helping to keep the shelter from flooding.

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                                    EMERGENCY FLOOD POST 7/11/23

 The combination of saturated ground and very heavy rain has created a similar situation to Irene. At the moment, many of our roads are damaged and closed and it’s not easy getting in or out of town. Depot St and Mill St. bridges are closed at the moment. For the record, we beat Irene as far as rainfall-8 inches versus 7. Guess not the record we’d necessarily want to break.

 While this morning will be spent in assessing our situation, we have to start this post by wishing Gloria Leven a very happy 100th birthday today. She’s missing out on her party today unfortunately.

CURRENT SITUATION

• The Cavendish Shelter-located at the Cavendish Baptist Church- is open 24/7 and serving three meals and snacks. Breakfast starts at 8 am; lunch 11:30 and dinner at 5:30. Showers are available. Free WiFi and places to charge electronic devices (bring your own chargers). Please go there for information.

• We have a number of people that have been evacuated that are staying with neighbors and some are at the shelter.

• 341 GMP customers in town are without power. Most of the outage is from the Power Plant Rd box. It’s going to take time to get to this area as the water needs to recede.

• Our first responders will be out on ATVs this morning delivering water, food and supplies as needed.

• Please check the Cavendish Facebook page regularly for updates

HOW TO HELP

• Immediate needs, which can be dropped off at the shelter, include: bottled water (for those without power); fresh fruit; cleaning supplies (buckets, brooms, clothes etc.; toothbrushes (brand new only) and toothpaste.

• We will be needing food for the shelter but will post a list later this morning on Facebook

• Cleaning crews will be needed. Will be posting what’s needed and where later this morning.

• We will be setting up a way to make donations to help those most impacted by the flood.

IF YOU NEED HELP: If you are having an emergency, please call 911. For non emergencies, call the town office. They open at 9. 802-226-7291

THANK YOU: So many people have stepped to the plate and are helping in the most unbelievable ways. Our first responders-Cavendish and Proctorsville Fire Departments-are doing an incredible job at rescue and keeping people safe. The shelter crew is keeping people fed and housed. The town office is answering calls and helping to guide help where it’s needed. Most of all thank you to the people of Cavendish for keeping it together and doing what we always do-take care of one another. If you have to have this kind of emergency, there is no better place to be then Cavendish.

If you’re feeling a bit dazed, confused, anxious this morning, it’s okay. You’re having a perfectly normal reaction to a very abnormal situation.

                          We’re Vermont Strong and Cavendish Safe.

Cavendish Update 7/7/23: Hike/News/Events

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ANNUAL TOWN WIDE TAG SALE IS THREE WEEKS AWAY.

7/7/23

1.    Proctorsville Quarry Hike

2.    Cavendish Info

3.    Events

1. PROCTORSVILLE QUARRY HIKE: If you’ve ever walked through the rotunda of the National Art Gallery of Art in Washington, D. C, were you aware you were walking on Cavendish? The Verde Antique marble in the Gallery’s floor is from the Proctorsville Quarry, off Twenty Mile Stream Rd.  It was chosen because it was a match of the columns of the rotunda, which are made of Italian Verde.

 On Sunday, July 16, the Cavendish Historical Society will be sponsoring a hike out to the quarry, that will be guided by Tim Calabrese. The walk is about 2 miles round trip and it’s recommended that hikers wear appropriate shoes and clothing. This event is not recommended for dogs and young children since there are now deep ponds of water left from the extraction of the stone.

Meet at the Museum at 2 pm, where a brief overview will be given and we’ll arrange to car pool to the trail head. In the event of rain, a notice will be posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page. The Museum will be open that afternoon from 2-4 and we will reschedule the hike for the early fall.

For questions and other information, call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com To learn more about the quarry, click here.

2. CAVENDISH INFO

• Cavendish Concerts continue with Bill Brink: The second concert of the 2023 season will be held on the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville on July 12, at 6 p.m., with the sounds of singer-songwriter Bill Brink. New to the Proctorsville annual summer concerts, Brink has been playing music for over 20 years. He enjoys playing many different styles of music using six and 12 string acoustic guitars, as well as bass and electric guitar, banjo, harmonica, kazoo, mandolin, and washboard. In addition to having an extensive collection of cover songs, he also has many of his own songs that he has written and produced. Based in Springfield, Brink’s music has been heard across the globe. In addition to writing and performing, Brink, along with his wife June, produce music and videos, organize local music events, and host live social media performances.

• Stepping Stones is Seeking a Preschool Teacher: If you are working towards your degree and/or license this is a great opportunity to work alongside their director. FMI jillian.rapanotti@gmail.com

• Expeditionary School at Black River in Ludlow to receive public tuition money. VT Digger

• Wild Turkeys: VT Fish & Wildlife needs your help monitoring wild turkeys! If you see a flock of turkeys in Vermont during July and August, they’re asking you to go to the turkey brood survey on their website and report your observations, including where and when you observed the turkeys with the number of adult and young turkeys you observed. Information gathered from this survey helps them monitor the long-term trends in the productivity of Vermont’s wild turkey population.

• A Vermonter’s guide to wildfire smoke and air quality VT Public

3. EVENTS

JUNE 5-JULY 11: The Most Costly Journal-Physical & Mental Health Needs Display Panels at the Cavendish Library

JULY 10 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Town Office.

JULY 11 (TUESDAY): 6 PM Movie Night at the Cavendish Library. Under the Cloak of Darkness

JULY 12 (WEDNESDAY): Summer Concerts at Svec Park (Proctorsville Green) starting at 6 pm. Bill Brink will perform. Concerts are free and open to the public.

JULY 15 (SATURDAY): HeartSaver CPR at the Cavendish Volunteer Fire Dept. 1-4 pm. FMI and to register

• 100th birthday party for Gloria Leven, 1 pm at the Cavendish Library.

JULY 19 (WEDNESDAY): Summer Concerts at Svec Park (Proctorsville Green) starting at 6 pm. Gully Boys will perform. Concerts are free and open to the public.

JULY 26 (WEDNESDAY): Summer Concerts at Svec Park (Proctorsville Green) starting at 6 pm. Mark Huntley and Friends will perform. Concerts are free and open to the public.

JULY 29 (SATURDAY): Cavendish Town Wide Tag Sale

AUGUST 2 (WEDNESDAY): Summer Concerts at Svec Park (Proctorsville Green) starting at 6 pm. Sammy Blanchette will perform. Concerts are free and open to the public.

AUGUST 4 (FRIDAY): Cartoonist Marek Bennett at the Cavendish Library, registration is required for this event. FMI and to Register 802-226-7503 or e-mail cavendishlibrary@gmail.com

AUGUST 9 (WEDNESDAY): Summer Concerts at Svec Park (Proctorsville Green) starting at 6 pm. Yankee Chank will perform. Concerts are free and open to the public.

AUGUST 16 (WEDNESDAY): Summer Concerts at Svec Park (Proctorsville Green) starting at 6 pm. The Silverbacks will perform. Concerts are free and open to the public.

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