Cavendish Update 10/6/23: Traffic Alert/Flushing/News/Events

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                            HYDRANT FLUSHING 10/10-10/12 (see item 2)

FROM VT STATE POLICE @ 6:52 AM. VT 131 from intersection of VT 106 to Amsden School Rd. is closed due to a VSP investigation of pedestrian incident

10/6/23

1. Flood Information

2. Fall Hydrant Flushing

3. Cavendish Related News

4. Events

1. FLOOD INFORMATION: Please use the Cavendish Guide for Flood Recovery for up to date resources and information.

Disaster Recovery Center: FEMA will be at the Ludlow Community Center until Oct. 12.

 Black River Valley Resource Guide for Flood Recovery: A new guide is now available to those living in the towns of Cavendish, Ludlow, Plymouth and Mt. Holly. Download a copy from the Cavendish Municipal Website.

Efficiency VT-How to take advantage of new funds:  $36 million for new flood recovery programs is now available through Efficiency Vermont for homeowners, renters, rental property owners, and businesses affected by the summer floods. The offers can help replace critical home heating systems, hot water systems, and essential appliances that were damaged or destroyed in the floods. The webinar, now available on-line discusses how you can take advantage of these offers, plus, new weatherization and financing options that can help you rebuild.

2. FALL HYDRANT FLUSHING 10/10/23-10/12/23: Cavendish Municipal Water System will be conducting hydrant flushing from 9-5 on Tuesday, October 10th, through Wednesday, October 12th.

System users are reminded that: Flushing hydrants may cause temporary discoloration and turbidity of the water.  We apologize for any inconvenience to our users, however this very important system maintenance procedure must be conducted each spring and fall.  The flushing program allows the pipes to be purged and the hydrants checked for proper operation.

Users are advised to avoid drinking the water or washing clothes (especially whites) while discoloration is in evidence.  Following hydrant flushing in your area, users should run cold water until it clears before resuming normal use.  It is also a good idea to flush residential water heaters after the water clears following a hydrant flush in your area. Thank you for your cooperation, Cavendish Municipal Water System. FMI: call 802-226-7291

3. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

VEE Meals End Program Ends statewide on 11/4: This means you will still be able to get meals from our local providers in Ludlow, Cavendish and Weston until Saturday the 4th of November! this is the last extension there will be for this program. Any vouchers that you still have dated to expire 10/1 will continue to be honored until 11/4. Black River Good Neighbors will continue to be distributing new vouchers on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Community Center. Thanks to Calcuttas, the Killarney, The Hatchery, The Eatery (check out their new fresh bagels!), Gamebird Kitchen, Chef Mei, Ludlow Village Pizza, Singleton's Market and Deli, and the Hub in Weston.

State action on Chieftain appeal looks stalled: While the board of the Green Mountain Unified School District board has stopped paying for an attorney to defend its Chieftain name, appeals to the Vermont Agency of Education, which  could permanently settle the issue of whether the name violates school policy, appear to have stalled. Chester Telegraph

Ludlow Skate Park Reopening Sunday: Opening moved to Sunday, October 8th, 11am-3pm at Dorsey Park.  Free burgers and dogs, music and prizes from DEX Skate! Let’s skate this park and have some fun!

Rite Aid Ludlow Will Not Reopen: Between the flood and Rite Aid’s filing bankruptcy, the Ludlow Rite Aid has been permanently closed.

4. EVENTS

OCTOBER 9 (MONDAY): Indigenous People’s Day. Town office closed

OCTOBER 10-12 (TUESDAY-THURSDAY): Cavendish Fall Hydrant Flushing 9-5 pm daily

OCTOBER 12 (THURSDAY): Town Office closed for Elections Training

• Last day to file a FEMA application

OCTOBER 16 (MONDAY): Monthly Cavendish Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office.

OCTOBER 21 & 22 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY): Cavendish Town Elementary School needs 20 volunteers to complete their playground build. Sign Up Here: https://tinyurl.com/yc52efbe Bring wheelbarrows, shovels, steel garden rake, gloves. If you have any questions, call Jenn Harper: 802-548-7419

OCTOBER 31 (TUESDAY): HAPPY HALLOWEEN

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Cavendish Update 9/29/23:Aliens/ARPA funds/News/Events

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Food Drive tomorrow at Singletons. Bottle Drive to benefit Greven Field on Sunday. See Events Section for details

9/29/23

1. Flood Information

2. Emergency Preparedness Month: Alien Invasion

3. Final Round of Cavendish ARPA Applications Due

4. Cavendish Related News

5. Events

1. FLOOD INFORMATION: Please use the Cavendish Guide for Flood Recovery for up to date resources and information.

Heating Assistance: Governor Scott in his press conference on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, announced plans for the state to contact Vermonters with heating systems damaged due to flooding and still needing repairs or replacement. Those who reported this damage to FEMA or 211 should get a survey from a Vermont.gov email address. The Governor is requesting response to the surveys so people can be connected to technicians to complete this work. (Those receiving the survey should double check it is from Vermont.gov). Those needing assistance completing the survey can call 802-828-3333. 

2. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH: Alien Invasion: Out of all the disasters that could happen, this is the least likely, but potentially most frightening to many. At this time of year, it’s worth remembering Orson Welles 1938 radio broadcast “The War of the Worlds.”  While part of the Mercury Theatre on the Air, broadcast as a Halloween special, it incited a panic as people believed a Martian invasion was taking place. While an announcement had been made at the beginning of the program, that it was an adaption of the book of the same name, people either didn’t hear that message, got caught up in the panic and/or thought it was an invasion by the Germans.

As it turned out, the media hype was way worse than what actually occurred, as many hadn’t tuned into the program. Further, the most common response was to call their local police or newspaper to confirm the story.

Today most people would go on-line to check out information, which depending on what site you check, could confirm your worse fears. So be sure to sign up for the VT Alert System, and check their Facebook Page for accurate information.

In the event of an alien invasion, flood or other disaster, if you follow the 3 “Ps” Plan, Prepare and Practice, you’ll be all set and hopefully wont go screaming from your house without your “go bag” if the little green men do arrive. Use the Cavendish Connects Preparedness website to help you prepare.

3. FINAL ROUND OF CAVENDISH ARPA APPLICATIONS DUE 10/31: The Cavendish ARPA committee was asked by the Cavendish selectboard to recommend uses for the funds given to Cavendish under the American Rescue Plan Act. The committee solicited input from the community via a questionnaire and then sought project proposals for specific uses. The committee has received and is now considering applications from that preliminary round, which closes on September 30th.

The committee has announced that a final round of project proposal applications is due on or before October 31st. The ARPA Funds Application can be found on the home page of the Cavendish town web site under Quick Links. Completed forms can be emailed or mailed in accordance with instructions on the form.

Since the U.S. Treasury Department oversees how the funds are spent and since that agency has placed time limits on spending the money, the committee expects to make recommendations to the selectboard before the end of this year.

For more information about the ARPA Committee or the proposal process, please call the Cavendish Town Office at 802-226-7291.

4. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

• Despite long agenda, GM board meets for 7 minutes; legal fees go unaddressed: The Sept 21 Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) board meeting ended shortly after it began. Again the issue of the Chieftain logo was front and center. At a time when many critical educational issues are on the table, the chair of the GMUSD board, Deb Brown of Chester, continues to focus on something that has little bearing on educational outcomes of students. Yet, the ruling by this board, has resulted in  more than $10,000 being spent on legal fees to defend the decision without the knowledge or approval of every board member. Chester Telegraph

• GM Board votes to stop attorney’s defense of Chieftain for now: In response to the Sept. 21 seven minute board meeting, a special meeting was held on Sept. 24. Voting 6 to 3, the board voted to stop paying an attorney and have him halt work representing the board to defend the Chieftain mascot in an appeal before the state Agency of Education (AOE). Instead, the board will meet in executive session with the attorney to discuss the representation. Last night’s meeting was dominated by members who had voted for discontinuing the use of the name Chieftain and who believed they were kept in the dark over the decision on its defense before the AOE. The issue was put before the AOE when three members of the public appealed the board’s May 18 decision to keep the name “Chieftains,” saying it did not violate school policy. Board chair Deb Brown did not attend the meeting, which was chaired by vice chair Adrienne Williams. Cavendish representatives-Kate Lamphere, Steve Parini and Lisa Sanders were joined by Chester reps Jeff Hance, and Rick Alexander and Scott Kendall of Andover in voting to cease paying the attorney. The Zoom meeting was interrupted by a Zoom bomber who flashed a porn video on the screen and blasted vile racial slurs. Chester Telegraph

• Municipal Public Meetings Become Target of “Zoom Bombing.” Rude interruptions at what should be pretty commonplace meetings are starting to emerge in our region again. It’s called zoom-bombing. Just this week, hackers disrupted a city council meeting in Montpelier and the GMUSD board meeting. WCAX

• Food Drive Sept. 30: The Okemo Valley Women’s Club (OVWC) will hold a food drive as part of the GFWC National Day of Service. The drive will held on Saturday, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Club members will be at Singleton’s Store in Proctorsville, and also in front of the Okemo Mountain School (at the site of the Ludlow Farmer’s Market) on Main Street in Ludlow to collect food items for the drive.

• Volunteers Needed for the Final Playground Build at CTES: October 21 & 22 (Saturday & Sunday) from 8-4, or for whatever time you can volunteer.  We are so close to the finish line. Soon the pieces and parts will arrive for the final main structure. We need 20 volunteers for each day to help build this final piece. Sign Up Here: https://tinyurl.com/yc52efbe Bring wheelbarrows, shovels, steel garden rake, gloves. If you have any questions, call Jenn Harper: 802-548-7419

• Bob Evens Free Sale: Bob has finished his “yard” sale, but still has a lot of stuff. He wants to let everyone know that everything that did not sell is free starting now and continuing through Sunday. He will be there from 9 to 5 every day.  His address is 662 Moriglioni Road.  As he noted, “I’d rather give it away rather than pay someone to take it away.”

• Free Covid Test Kits: While the Cavendish Fire Department provides free Covid tests Monday-Friday from 9-4, you can now order four of them from the federal government by going to covid.gov/tests or calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). Note that free masks and hand sanitizer are available at the Cavendish Cares closet next to the Museum steps or from the Cavendish Fire Dept.

• Then Again: The first humans in what’s now Vermont found a very different place: The first occupation of Cavendish was most likely about 11,000 years ago when they came seasonally to fish and hunt along the Black River (Mikazatekw in Abenaki). VT Digger

• Human Could have arrived in the Western Hemisphere Earlier than we thought. Canadian Geographic: Be sure to check out the map in this article.

5. EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 30 (SATURDAY): Food Drive sponsored by the Okemo Valley Women’s Club (OVWC). Will be at Singleton’s and Okemo Mountain School to collect food from 10-2.

OCTOBER 1 (SUNDAY): Bottle Drive to benefit Greven Field Account at Brewfest. 11-2.

OCTOBER 9 (MONDAY): Indigenous People’s Day. Town office closed

OCTOBER 12 (THURSDAY): Town Office closed for Elections Training

• Last day to file a FEMA application

OCTOBER 21 & 22 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY): Cavendish Town Elementary School needs 20 volunteers to complete their playground build. Sign Up Here: https://tinyurl.com/yc52efbe Bring wheelbarrows, shovels, steel garden rake, gloves. If you have any questions, call Jenn Harper: 802-548-7419

OCTOBER 31 (TUESDAY): HAPPY HALLOWEEN

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Cavendish Update 9/22/23: Flood/Zombies/News/Events

Coffeen Cemetery

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Black River Good Neighbor Services (BRGNS) Rummage sale starts today and continues tomorrow from 10-3 at Fletcher Farm off of Route 103.

9/22/23

1. Flood Information

2. Emergency Preparedness Month: Zombie Apocalypse

3. Cavendish Related News

4. Events

1. FLOOD INFORMATION: Please use the Cavendish Guide for Flood Recovery for up to date resources and information. Note that it’s been updated several times this week.

• Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) Open in Ludlow: FEMA has opened a DRC at the Ludlow Community Center. Hours are Mon-Fri 9-6; Saturday 10-2 and closed Sunday. You can file an appeal, an extension for an appeal, file for the first time and/or check on where things are with your particular case. They also have someone who can talk to you about hazardous mitigation.  Just Now Finding Flood Related Damage? People are finding that heating systems, appliances and other aspects of their homes have been impacted by the July floods. If you have filed a FEMA claim, you have 60 days to appeal. If you don’t think you can make the appeal within that time frame, file for an appeal extension. You can do that at the DRC. As a result of the DRC, the Okemo Valley Flood Recovery Forum has been cancelled for Sept.30th..

• Black River Good Neighbors Services (BTGNS): Has received money to help with flood relief assistance for a wide array of needs. Please call 802-228-3663 as help is being provided on a case by case basis. They are open Monday-Saturday from 10-4, Food shelf 10-3 Monday-Friday and Furniture store Saturday and Sunday 10-4.

• Efficiency Vermont (EVT): For a limited time, EVT is offering homeowners, renters, businesses and rental property owners rebuilding from summer flooding the following for low and middle income

- Homeowners and renters: Up to $10,000 for qualifying heat pumps, wood stoves, furnaces, boilers, water heaters and appliances; up to $5,000 back on heat pump water heaters; up to $9,,500 back on weatherization projects and zero-interest financing up to $30,000.

- Businesses: $1,000 for kitchen, HVAC, and refrigeration equipment for up to 4 products (on top of standard rebates) and technical assistance

- Rental Property Owners: Up to $10,000 per rental unit on appliances and in-unit equipment; up to $10,000 per building for central heating systems and technical assistance Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com/floodrebates.

EVT is holding an Affordable Energy Resource Fair tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23, at the LISTEN Community Dinner Hall at 42, Maple St. WRJ. Free-no registration required. The Fair provides a one-stop shop for Do-It-Yourself Weatherization materials, information on Weatherization assistance and rebate programs, utility bill (electricity, fuel, water) state and town assistance programs, and material resources to be more comfortable in the coming cold temperatures. Drop in anytime from 10-2.

2. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH: Zombie Apocalypse: Interestingly, out of the safest states, in such an event, Vermont ranks 3rd, after Wyoming (number 1) and Alaska (number 2). Even better, both the Centers for Disease Control and the US Military have plans for a Zombie Apocalypse. The first line of the Counter-Zombie Dominance Plan, you know that has to be the military, or “CONPLAN 8888-11,” states, “This plan was not actually designed as a joke.” The CDC has since replaced “Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse” with Prepare Your Health.

Whether it’s a flood, fire or Zombie’s the message is the same:

• Take Action: Be prepared to protect your family’s health and well-being until help arrives

• Plan Ahead: have a strategy for staying healthy, informed, connected and calm

• Create Community: Work with others to improve preparedness, increase connectedness, and build resilience.

3. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

• Bob Evens Moving Sale: Bob Evens is leaving Cavendish after many years, and he has to dispose of a household of goods. After a weekend yard sale he realizes that there’s far more to dispose of, so he has extended the yard sale through this week and next weekend. All prices are reasonable. Come to 662 Moriglioni Road in Cavendish between 9 and 4 each day, and see what he has to offer. A special thank you to Bob for the many incredible years he has given to Cavendish, volunteering for the Cavendish Fire Dept., the library, Black River Good Neighbors Services and so much more. Best of luck in your new home. We will miss you!

• Cavendish ARPA Committee Meeting 9/19/23: Due to the flood, the deadline for filing ARPA applications will have a first round ending Sept. 30 and a second round ending Oct. 31. To date applications have included converting the Gethsemane Church on Depot Street into a community center; a kiosk for the trail project in the Proctor Piper Forest; digitizing parcel maps and making them available on-line; the purchasing of virtual meeting equipment, including an amplifier system for Town Meeting; town projects of a sidewalk study, sewer pump station evaluation, water meter replacement, battery backups for the Town Office phones and computers; and more benches in town. Three new uses for ARPA funds have been recently added: surface transportation, community development, and emergency relief from natural disasters. Minutes of the meeting are available at the town’s website.

4. EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 22-23 (FRIDAY-SATURDAY): Black River Good Neighbors Rummage Sale, 10-3 pm at Fletcher Farm off Route 103.

SEPTEMBER 24 (SUNDAY): Yom Kippur

OCTOBER 9 (MONDAY): Indigenous People’s Day. Town office closed

OCTOBER 12 (THURSDAY): Town Office closed for Elections Training

• Last day to file a FEMA application

OCTOBER 31 (TUESDAY): HAPPY HALLOWEEN

    IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

Cavendish Update 9/15/23: SB Mtg/Flood/Go Bag/News

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9/15/23

1. Flood Information

2. Emergency Preparedness Month: Make a Go Bag

3. Greven Field

4. Cavendish Related News

5. Events

1. FLOOD INFORMATION: Please use the Cavendish Guide for Flood Recovery for up to date resources and information.

Save the date: On Saturday, September 30, from 9-11, there will be an Okemo Valley Flood Recovery Forum for those impacted by the July floods. The event will take place at the Ludlow Community Center.  This will be an opportunity to ask questions, obtain assistance and learn what’s available to assist those who are in the rebuild phase. More information will be posted next week. In the meantime, if you have questions that you want to make sure are addressed at the Forum, please e-mail them to cavendishconnects@gmail.com

Flood Update to the Select Board: At Monday night’s Select Board meeting, town manager Rick Chambers gave an update to the board that included the following:

• He and Diane McNamara, town clerk met with FEMA last week. The town has 60 days to report damage estimates.

•  FEMA wanted to visit any sites that were less than 90% complete. Fortunately there weren’t many- Greven Field (see Item 3), Bailey Hill Road and the gravel bar in the Black River near Mill St.

• With 131 reopened, the Highway crew will work on repairing Greenbush. Most roads are in good shape but need top dressing, ditching and grading.

• In comparison to. other towns, Cavendish is in good shape with contractors and highway department having done great work. To date, the Town has spent under a million dollars.

• Chambers would like to post a bid for gravel removal from the Black River near Mill St., as he has concerns about it causing flooding for the Water Treatment Plant this winter and spring. Work in the rivers needs to be completed by Oct. 15.

2. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH: Prepare A Go Bag: A “Go Bag,” can be stashed in the garage, by your bed or someplace handy you can just take with you should you have to evacuate due to a disaster. It also can be the basis of your at home kit should you need it.

The American Red Cross has a good checklist of what you should have in your “Go Bag.”

• Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home) Note: While that’s the ideal, water is heavy so put in what’s reasonable to carry and consider options like LifeStraw. These can be purchased in bulk from places like Amazon.

• Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)

• Flashlight 

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

• Extra batteries 

• First aid kit

• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items

• Multi-purpose tool such as a Leatherman or even a Swiss Army Knife

• Sanitation and personal hygiene items

• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)

• Cell phone with chargers 

• Family and emergency contact information

• Extra cash

• Emergency blanket

• Map(s) of the area

You should have a bag for every member of your household, including one for the pets. Some of the pricier items, like battery powered or hand crank radios, can be limited to one person.

3. GREVEN FIELD: At Monday night’s Select Board Meeting, the issue of Greven field was discussed. Town manager, Rick Chambers, told the board that the Town’s insurance does not extend to Greven, but it would be added to the Town’s FEMA claim. This would include putting a bid together for basic clean-up to make the area safe, but would not include rebuilding the fields.

After Irene, a community group, the Greven Field Committee,  raised funds through grant writing, a concert by Ignat Solzhenitsyn and significant in-kind contributions of time and materials to restore the fields and park. Chambers indicated that this type of approach needs to take place again.

In August 2013, the Greven Field Nature Trail opened thanks to the Greven Field Committee, Kelly Stettner of Black River Action Team (BRAT), landscape architect Tim Calabrese and many others. The trail has been used year round since then and could be easily restored for fall and winter use.

At Monday’s meeting, former Rec Director, Terry O’Brien distributed a proposal to the Select Board, regarding steps to take this fall after the initial fencing and debris has been removed. He said that the clay needs to be replaced this fall if the fields are to be used for spring baseball.

As was of concern to the SB after Irene, the current board wants to see that flood hazard regulations are followed in the rebuilding of any playing fields.

In 1948,  Dr. H. J. Greven deeded the eight-acre field across from his home and office to the Proctorsville Fire Department. Through volunteer initiative and fund raising, a baseball diamond, bleachers, and other recreational items were installed for the community. For many years, this was the site of Cavendish’s Old Home Day celebration. 

4. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

• Cavendish Select Board Meeting 9/11/23: Topics addressed at Monday night’s meeting appear under Flood Information (Item 1) and Item 3 Greven Field. Other issues discussed included Quent Phalen Rd; the Academy Building and its sale; and errors and ommissions for a parcel of land. The Town Website includes unapproved minutes and the Okemo Valley TV website includes a video of the meeting.

• Thank You and Best Wishes to Randy Shimp: Cavendish’s Chief Water/Wastewater Operator Randy Shimp retired Sept. 8. Ron Davis, who has been with the water department for the last several years, will be stepping up as chief operator.

• Congratulations to Denise Riley Hughes: Cavendish resident Denise Riley Hughes has recently been appointed by Governor Scott as Secretary of the Agency of Digital Services. VT Digger

• Chieftain defense costs top $10,000 thus far: The Green Mountain Unified School District thus far has spent $10,000 defending its decision to continue using the word Chieftain as a mascot name, and a hearing before the Agency of Education has yet to be held. Once the hearing gets under way, those costs are expected to grow. The spending figures come from invoices The Telegraph received through a Public Records Act request. Chester Telegraph

• GM School Board chair Brown reverses course; to allow comment on Zoom — with stipulations:Chester Telegraph 

• M&T New Bank Hours: The Ludlow branch is open and has recently announced new hours for both lobby and drive thru starting September 18. Monday-Thursday 9-4;  Friday 9-5; and Saturday 9-noon. ATM & night drop are still 24/7

5. EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 15 (FRIDAY): Rosh Hashanah begins

SEPTEMBER 14 (WEDNESDAY): Magic Show and BBQ, Welcome back to the library. BBQ from 5-7, Magic Show at 6

SEPTEMBER 22-23 (FRIDAY-SATURDAY): Black River Good Neighbors Rummage Sale, 10-3 pm at Fletcher Farm off Route 103.

SEPTEMBER 24 (SUNDAY): Yom Kippur

SEPTEMBER 30 (SATURDAY): Okemo Valley Flood Recovery Workshop, 9-11 at the Ludlow Community Center. Free and open to the public.

OCTOBER 9 (MONDAY): Indigenous People’s Day. Town office closed

OCTOBER 12 (THURSDAY): Town Office closed for Elections Training

OCTOBER 31 (TUESDAY): HAPPY HALLOWEEN

    IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS