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HAVE YOU TAKEN THE CAVENDISH TOWN SURVEY? The last day to take it is October 31, so please don't delay as this helps the Planning Commission in their long range planning process. Input is welcomed from all members of the Cavendish community including residents of both Cavendish and the Village of Proctorsville, renters, business owners, and non-resident property owners. Paper copies are available at the Town Office. Click here to take it on-line.

VOTING: If you are a registered Cavendish voter, you should have received your ballot in the mail. Contact the town office if you haven't.

If you are 18 or older, register to vote if you haven't done so already. You can register to vote on election day (Nov.3) and vote that same day. You can register to vote at any time, in person, at the Cavendish Town’ Clerk’s office or register on-line at the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page before Oct. 30. https://vote.vermont.gov/public/dashboard

Cavendish voting takes place on Nov. 3 (Tuesday) from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Hall

LEAVING CAVENDISH THIS WINTER? Avoid burst and frozen pipes! If you are on municipal water, the Cavendish Water Dept. will be happy to shut it off and turn it back on in the spring-free of charge. Call the Town office to schedule a shut off date 802-226-7291.

10/16/26

1. Letter of thanks from Pieter van Schaik

2. Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Workshop

3. State Biologist to Give Talk in Cavendish

4. Cavendish Related News

5. Events Calendar

1. LETTER OF THANKS FROM PIETER VAN SCHAIK: Pieter van Schaik was lost in Cavendish Oct.4 and found the morning of Oct. 5. To read more about his experience, check out last week’s update by clicking here and/or read the article in this week’s VT Journal. 83 Year Old Man Found Safely after Night in the Woods

The following letter of thanks is from Pieter: I’d like to thank Cavendish, Proctorsville, and local fire departments for all their efforts organizing search parties for me on Oct. 4 and 5, when hiking Lord’s State Forest. I lost my way, but spent the evening enjoying moonlight in Vermont. I especially appreciate the efforts of all those individuals in the search parties organized by the fire department, state police, and the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department who extended use of their drone and infrared technology to help me. Finally, I got back to where I entered Lord’s State Forest and connected with Peter Kolenda. With Gratitude, Pieter van Schaik, Windsor, Vt.

2. DIA DE LOS MUERTOS (DAY OF THE DEAD) WORKSHOP: A. two day holiday, most often associated with Mexican communities, Dia de los Muertos is a time to reunite the living and the dead. Families and communities create “ofrendas” (altar) to honor those that have passed and to encourage their return at this time of year. Far from a dark and somber occasion, it is a celebration filled with good food, laughter, memories and fun.

On October 31(Saturday), the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) will be hosting a Dia de los Muertos workshop at the Cavendish Library, 573 Main St. Proctorsville. From 10-noon there will be a workshop to create items for an ofrenda including: papel picado (paper cuts); paper flowers; ornaments; mask making; vase/candle holders; “sugar skulls” and more.

This event is free and open to the public. Donations welcomed and appreciated. FMI: margocaulfield@icloud.com or 802-226-7807.

3. STATE BIOLOGIST TO GIVE TALK IN CAVENDISH: Vermont offers some incredible online tools to help you learn more about your land and understand its ecological context. Figuring out how to use them can feel a bit overwhelming. Join the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA) as it hosts Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Conservation Planner Jens Hilke for an informative session on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m., at the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library, 473 Main Street in Proctorsville, Vt. Hilke will walk listeners step by step through the Vermont BioFinder mapping tool, which enables users to learn more about what’s on their parcels and how they fit in with larger forest blocks and waterways. He will also offer a preview of upcoming changes to these tools so users can stay ahead and make the most of them in the coming years.

Hilke works for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department as a conservation planning biologist. He helps towns, regional planning commissions, and nongovernmental organizations with their conservation planning efforts. This includes help with GIS natural resource mapping, advice on prioritizing significant natural features, and help with implementing town conservation goals. Hilke did his undergraduate work at Connecticut College in environmental sociology, and then received a master’s degree in botany from the University of Vermont as a field naturalist. Hilke has taught high school science in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Jersey, and for a study-abroad program in Thailand.

4. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

• Cavendish Planning Commission Hearing and Meeting Minutes from Oct. 7 meeting are now on-line.

• Gift In Memory of Ralph E Bidgood and Florence B Hill: If you haven’t had a chance to visit Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville lately, the new fencing is truly something to celebrate. This wonderful improvement was made possible through an exceptionally generous gift from Tim Perini, given in loving memory of Ralph E. Bidgood and Florence B. Hill. The Town of Cavendish extends its sincere thanks to Tim for this thoughtful contribution to our community.

• Cavendish Historic Timeline: In honor of Cavendish’s 265th birthday-October 12, the Cavendish Historic Society has posted a timeline at the CHS blog.

• Author releases locally inspired book: Author Carol Ann Leofanti has released her new book, “The Stone House Killer,” available on Amazon. Leofanti describes her book as a phycological thriller that takes place in a small town in Vermont, following a man named Dale who becomes fascinated with the story of his distant relative Phineas P. Gage, the railroad worker who survived a tamping iron passing through his skull only to emerge a completely different man. The story captures Dale’s imagination and, over the years, that fascination slowly deepens into something far more consuming. VT Journal

• Here’s how much more Social Security recipients will get from a cost-of-living boost WCAX

5. EVENTS

OCTOBER -DECEMBER 5: Solzhenitsyn in Vermont Exhibit, Cavendish Library, 753 Main Street, Proctorsville. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 am-6 pm. FMI, or to arrange other times, call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com

OCTOBER 21 (WEDNESDAY): CCCA hosts Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Conservation Planner Jens Hilke for an informative session 6 p.m., at the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library, 473 Main Street in Proctorsville.

OCTOBER 24 (SATURDAY): Trunk or Treat 68 Town Office Road, Plymouth VT, 4-6 pm

OCTOBER 30 (FRIDAY): Bambino University’s 1st Trunk or Treat. Bring your vehicle, decorate your trunk. 6-8 pm, 2588 Route 103, Proctorsville VT. RSVP by Oct. 15th bambinouniversityvt@gmail.com

OCTOBER 31 (SATURDAY): HAPPY HALLOWEEN. Cavendish Historical Society’s Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) workshop at the Cavendish Library 10-noon. FMI: 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com

• Benson’s Trunk or Treat 4-6 pm, Ludlow

• Weathersfield Trunk or Treat 3:30-5:00 at Hoisington Field in Perkinsville, the site of the 18799 Schoolhouse.

NOVEMBER 3 (TUESDAY): VOTE. General Election. Polls are open 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Dept.

NOVERMBER 11 (WEDNESDAY): Veteran’s Day Town Office closed

NOVEMBER 26 (THURSDAY): HAPPY THANKSGIVING

NOVEMBER 27 (FRIDAY): Town office closed

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