Cavendish Update 11/16/18 News/Events
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11/16/18 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Updates from the Cavendish Historical Society
3. Food Shelf Taking Holiday Basket Applications
4. Events
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Remembering Joe Allen, Owner of the Cavendish General Store: Joe Allen gained international fame with his sign “No directions to the Solzhenitsyn’s home.” All the signs he put up on the store kept on being taken so he finally made a wooden one that he nailed to the building underneath, “No Restrooms No Bare feet.” He retired in 1996 and settled in Chester. He died on Sunday, Nov. 11 after a lengthy illness. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 2:00 PM in the Davis Memorial Chapel, 99 Summer Street, Springfield, VT In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Chester-Andover Family Center, 908 VT Route 103, Chester, VT 05143.
Ludlow Rotary Grant Awarded: In October, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) was awarded a successful Rotary District 7870 Grant in the amount of $2000. This grant was charting new territory as rather than one recipient, the funds were given to five area community organizations. The Town of Cavendish received one of the grants to landscape the plot of land next to the school. Those receiving grants will be required to match the Rotary funds.
103 Paving on Hold Until Spring: An abundance of wet weather this summer means the Route 103 paving project won’t be done until spring. Natalie Boyle, project outreach coordinator with EIV Technical Services, a firm that does public outreach for the Vermont Department of Transportation (VTrans), said last week that the paving project on Route 103 between Rockingham and Clarendon has entered a “winter shutdown” phase and will resume in the spring. The project was originally slated to be complete before winter. “It’s complete up through Chester,” she said, adding that the 42-mile project only needs another 14 miles of work, however air and road temperatures have finally dipped below the level required for paving. “If it’s raining, they can’t pave, if it’s wet they can’t pave,” she said. It rained many days this summer and fall, Boyle said. Furthermore, the days in between rains were cloudy and overcast so the roads wouldn’t dry out. To prepare the road for winter, Boyle said, some additional work will be done in the coming weeks. This will allow people to use the road normally, access driveways and let road crews plow it and drop sand and salt. Rutland Herald
Car/Truck Collision on 131 Near Downers: A dump truck and car hit head-on in Weathersfield Monday morning. Police say the driver of a dump truck, which was hauling sand, crossed over the centerline on a turn while traveling west. The driver of the car, heading in the opposite direction, was unable to avoid the truck. The collision sent both vehicles off the road. Both needed to be towed from the scene. A hazmat cleanup was required. This road section in Amsden is particularly hazardous and caution should be used when driving there. WCAX
VT Fish and Wildlife Release New Survey App: While hunters are picking up their rifles, members of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department want them to pick up their phones too. A new app records things like how many hours someone hunted and how many deer or other wildlife they saw on each day of the November rifle season. Crews say this will help them evaluate how conditions vary in different parts of the state. It's free and can be used without cell service. For more information on the app, click here.
Springfield Hospital Board of Directors Hears Complaints from Community Members: About 25 people, including doctors, nurses, patients, technicians, and others, crowded into a small conference room here at Springfield Hospital Tuesday evening to tell the hospital’s board of directors about the upsetting changes they are experiencing. Those present told anecdotes of bills unpaid, nurses leaving, staffing issues and plans to quit their jobs because of a new emergency care vendor. The current provider of emergency department services, Emergency Services of New England, based in Chester, is being replaced with Bluewater Emergency Partners, based in Brunswick, Maine, according to Corky Bond, his wife. The change is scheduled to happen next April, and will involve a reduction of service hours, she said. “Something is seriously wrong,” said Ted, a retired physician who claimed that 55 people signed a letter of no confidence in the hospital administration. “There are serious financial problems.” “We are hemorrhaging nurses,” said Linda, a nurse. Nurses are leaving for better work situations and more money, she explained. Also, new nurses are assigned up to six patients at once and “it is too much for them to handle.” Many speakers were unsure who to blame for their grievances. Some blamed the board, others the hospital administration. Nearly all, however, expressed their support for Springfield Hospital and called for greater transparency, urging the board to dig into the complaints and discover what the underlying problems actually were. Eagle Times
Residential Electric Customers to See Drop in Energy Efficiency Charges: Most residential electric customers around Vermont will see a 3 percent decrease next year in a fee that’s used to fund energy efficiency services statewide. The money goes to Efficiency Vermont, which uses it in energy savings programs. The charge is based on how much electricity a customer uses. The decision made by the Public Utility Commission on Nov. 6 applies to all utility customers except for those of Vermont Gas and the Burlington Electric Department, whose efficiency charges are calculated differently. The PUC's decision also kept rates flat for business and commercial customers despite the state’s calculation that those rates should rise substantially instead. VPR
2. UPDATES FROM THE CAVENDISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY: The fall newsletter of the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) is now available on-line. In keeping with the 100th anniversary of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s birth, this edition contains excepts from his newly released book Between Two Millstone: Sketches of Exile 1974-1978 Book 1. Published on October 30 in English, it covers the first two years of Solzhenitsyn’s life in Cavendish and provides answers to questions about why he came here and how he spent his time. Copies of the book are available from Amazon.
On December 2 (Sunday) at 4 pm, CHS will be hosting a celebration of Solzhenitsyn’s 100th birthday (Dec. 11, 1918), which will include the showing the video of Solzhenitsyn’s farewell address to Cavendish in 1994. Following the screening there will be a discussion and a potluck supper. CHS will be providing the ice cream and cake. This event will take place at the Cavendish Baptist Church, 2258 Main St. The snow date is December 9 (Sunday), same time and place.
November is National Native American Heritage Month. CHS has a Vermont Native American Timeline posted to their blog that is continually being updated. This site also includes a talk by the VT State archeologist Jess Robinsons about Vermont pre European contact.
3. FOOD SHELF TAKING HOLIDAY BASKET APPLICATIONS : The holiday season is beginning and most people are looking forward to family and celebrations. But not all of our neighbors are so lucky and many will struggle to just keep food on the table and heat in the house this winter.
Black River Good Neighbor Services in Ludlow helps those who need a helping hand each year with food and children’s toys through the holiday basket program. Each year the folks at BRGNS reach out to over a hundred local families, delivering all the ingredients for a full holiday meal.
In order to receive a holiday basket an individual or family must first fill out an application. If you or someone you know needs assistance this season, please call Krey or Audrey at 802-228-3663. Applications are available at the food shelf and thrift store, 37B Main Street in Ludlow, and on line.
BRGNS serves people in Ludlow, Cavendish, Proctorsville, Plymouth, Mount Holly, and Belmont. The food shelf is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
4. EVENTS
NOVEMBER 16-18 (FRIDAY-SATURDAY): Okemo Mountain School’s Annual Ski & Snowboard Swap. Sale hours are 4-7 on Friday; 9-5 on Saturday and 9-1 on Sunday.
NOVEMBER 16 (FRIDAY): REGARDLESS OF WEATHER- Turkey Bingo, beginning 6 pm at CTES. Prizes include turkeys and cash. Money raised will benefit the PTO, which pays for field trips, Camp Keewaydin and many other fun events. Cost is $1 per card, 10 rounds plus Goodman’s American Pie Pizza, yummy snacks and more.
NOVEMBER 17 (SATURDAY): The Holy Name of Mary Altar Society will hold a Winter Berries and Food Sale from 10 AM to 2PM at the church hall, 308 Main Street in Proctorsville, VT. The sale will include the berries, a cookie walk, pies, other baked goods, fudge, jams, hand knitted & crocheted items, and a white elephant table. For more information, call Carol at 226-7842.
NOVEMBER 19 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office.
NOVEMBER 21-23 (WED-FRIDAY): School closed for Thanksgiving break
NOVEMBER 22 (THURSDAY): HAPPY THANKSGIVING Free Thanksgiving Dinner, noon-2pm at the Cavendish Elementary School. Everyone is invited to a delicious home-cooked turkey dinner. Prepared and hosted by St. James United Methodist Church. This is an outreach program of Black River Good Neighbor Services. FMI: (802) 228-3663 or kreykellbrgns@gmail.com
NOVEMBER 23 (FRIDAY): Black Friday-Shop local this holiday season. Town Office closed.
DECEMBER 1-2 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY): Indulgence Tour
DECEMBER 2 (SUNDAY): Cavendish Celebrates Solzhenitsyn’s 100th birthday, 4 pm at the Cavendish Baptist Church. Will be showing Solzhenitsyn’s Farewell Address to Cavendish, which will be followed by discussion and a potluck supper. FMI: 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com
DECEMBER 11 (TUESDAY): Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s 100th Birthday.
DECEMBER 14 (Friday): Quilt Raffle Drawing at the Cavendish Library. Raffle tickets are for the quilt made by Gloria Leven are $1 each or a book of 6 for $5. The quilt, which measures 74” by 56” is hand tied and made of batik cloth. It can be seen online at www.cavendishlibrary.org or at the library. FMI: 226-7503.
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.