Cavendish Update 2/6/26: Warnings/Water/Candidates/News/Events
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LINKS TO CAVENDISH CONNECTS: Facebook Blue Sky or Website
Due to computer issues, which were resolved with a new computer, there was no Cavendish Update for Jan. 30.
SALT SHORTAGE: Cavendish is experiencing the same road salt shortage seen throughout New England. Nearing complete depletion, salting will be at a minimum. Please use caution and drive slowly.
PLEASE CONSERVE WATER: Due to the demand on our water system and our inability to produce enough water to meet that demand we are asking for all residents to conserve water. Things you can do to help: Take shorter showers. Only run the dishwasher when full. Laundry water should match the load. Turn off water when brushing your teeth. Make sure there is no leaking toilet or dripping faucet
With our extra water production recently our filter media will need to be changed. This change will result in a temporary stop in production. To avoid complete depletion of our water we ask that all users extremely limit water usage. Once the media has been changed and we regain our reserved supply we will be able to lift this order. Please see item 4 FMI 802-226-7291.
SATURDAY WORKSHOP: Make an 18th century valentine 1:30 pm at the Cavendish Library. (See Events section below for more information).
Ludlow Health Center Walk-In hours are only available 9-2 today.
Cold Weather Advisory in effect from Saturday 6 pm to Sunday 1 pm
2/6/26
1. Warnings for Town, GMUSD and RVTC
2. Slate of Candidates Running for Cavendish Elected Positions
3. VT routes 103 & 131 Intersection Railroad Projects
4. Town Water Update 1/30/26
5. Cavendish Related News
6. Events Calendar
1. WARNINGS FOR TOWN, GMUSD AND RVTC
Cavendish Town Meeting: The Warning for Town Meeting is available by clicking here. Town Meeting, which is an informational meeting, takes places on Saturday, February 28th at Cavendish Town Elementary School in Proctorsville at 10 am. Voting on all articles is by Australian Ballot on Tuesday, March 3, from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Station.
Articles 1-3 are similar to previous years-election of town officers (article 1); collection of taxes (article 2) and voting of the FY 2025-2026 Town Budget of $2,724,654 (article3). Additional articles are as follows:
Article 4: Shall the Cavendish voters adopt Subdivision Regulations
Article 5: Shall the Cavendish voters appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 to Okemo Valley Technical Rescue to support their operations.
Article 6: Shall the Cavendish voters appropriate the sum of $500 to. Vermont Red Cross to support their operations.
Article 7: Shall the Cavendish voters appropriate the sum of $3,000 to the Black River Senior Center to support their operations
Article 8: Shall the Cavendish voters appropriate the sum of $100 to the Vermont Center for Independent Living to support their operations.
Article 9: To discuss any other business deemed appropriate when met
GMUSD: The Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) Annual School District Meeting will be held on Feb. 26h at 6 pm at Green Mountain Union High School. The Warning is available by clicking here
The Warning for the GMUSD voting, which will be done by Australian Ballot on March 3 (Tuesday) from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Station, is available by clicking here. Article 1: Approval of the School Board to expend $19,341,997.00 with an estimated per pupil cost of $16,060.66, which is 9,98% higher than per pupil education spending for the current year.
River Valley Technical Center: The warning for the annual meeting and informational meeting, taking place on Feb. 26 (Thursday) at the RVTC Café Rum. B106 at the Howard Dean Education Center, Springfield at 7 pm is available by clicking here.
Article I: Shall the voters of the River Valley Technical Center School District approve the sum of three million, five hundred thirty-seven thousand, two hundred thirty-eight dollars ($3,537,238) to defray current expenses for the ensuing fiscal year to pay outstanding orders and obligations?
To be voted by Australian on March 3 (Tuesday) 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Station is the budget of $3,480,129.
2. SLATE OF CAVENDISH CANDIDATES FOR TOWN MEETING DAY: The following candidates are running for elected town positions. Voting is March 3 (Tuesday), 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Dept. Note that all candidates are running unopposed.
Moderator: Michael J Ripley
Select Board 1 year terms, select two Shannon Devereaux; David Norton
Select Board 3 year term, Robert Glidden
Grand Juror – Theresa McNamara
Town Clerk – One 3-year term – No candidate
Town Treasurer – One 3-year term – No candidate
Auditor – No candidate
Auditor – No candidate
Auditor One – No candidate
Trustee of Public Funds – No candidate
Trustee of Public Funds — No candidate
Library Trustee — One position 5 year term – No candidate
Green Mountain Unified School District Director – One position 3-year term – Michael J. Ripley
Green Mountain Unified School District Director – One position 2 -year of an unexpired 3-year term – Donovan Nichols
In the event a town clerk and town treasurer are not elected on town meeting by write in ballots, the Select Board can appoint someone to these positions.
3. VT ROUTES 103 & 131 INTERSECTION RAILROAD PROJECT: This active project is for the replacement of the center pier on Bridge #132 on the Green Mountain Railroad. Work began in mid-January and will continue through the summer. The contractual completion date is October 23, 2026.
The contractor, ECI, has the following tentative schedule (subject to change):
• From mid-January to mid-April, work will include building the causeway, driving production piles, installing the cofferdams, installing shoring towers, constructing the pier footings, and constructing the piers.
• From mid-April to early July, work will include shoring the superstructure, constructing the new pier cap, lowering the superstructure back down onto the existing bearings on new pedestals, and removing the shoring towers
• From July until August, the contractor plans to restore the site and mobilize out.
This work is expected to have little to no impact on Vermont Route 103. The majority of the access will be from Greven Road Extension via an easement. Rick Chambers, Town Manager Cavendish VT 802-226-7291
4. TOWN WATER UPDATE 1/30/26: The following is from Cavendish Town Manager Rick Chambers: I am reposting last week’s notice https://www.cavendishvt.com/news/town-water-update-1302026 as all the information still pertains to today. I know this is very frustrating and I do apologize and I wish there was some operational change that could have been made to resolve this quicker. We have an organization coming Monday to begin checking for subsurface leaks. This is something I feel is important to check for even though we have no indication a leak exists. It is possible, and it could be part of the demand we are seeing. If a leak is found, we will be able to replenish our reservoirs gradually while also meeting the daily usage. I have also begun contacting engineers to begin work on a long term solution.
5. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
• Respiratory Weekly Report: The health department’s Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont reports Covid as “low” and flu “very low” concentrations in Ludlow waste water, for the week of 1/25/26-1/31/26. Statewide Covid and flu are rated as “high,” Masks and hand sanitizer are available at the Cavendish Cares closet next to the Museum steps.
• Proctorsville woman dies in snowmobile crash in Brighton: WCAX
• CHS February Briefs: The Cavendish Historical list of upcoming events and other activities is now available on line.
• State Suspends Windsor County Sheriff’s law enforcement credentials: Vermont Public
• Peru Fair ends but warm memories will live on: Chester Telegraph
6. EVENTS
FEBRUARY 7 (SATURDAY): CHS free workshop: Write an 18th Century Valentine. The workshop will include: writing with a “quill pen,” examples of letters written for Valentine’s Day, folding the letter and sealing it with wax (letter locking). 1-2:30 at the Cavendish Library, 573 Main St., Proctorsville. Recommended for those 12 and up. FMI 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com
FEBRUARY 9 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm Cavendish Town Hall. Agenda will be posted
FEBRUARY 14 (SATURDAY): Happy Valentine’s Day
FEBRUARY 15 (SUNDAY): Cavendish 3rd quarter taxes due. Note, you have until Monday Feb. 16 to make payments.
FEBRUARY 16 (MONDAY): President’s Day, Legal Holiday
FEBRUARY 28 (SATURDAY): CHS Workshop: In keeping with Black History Month, this workshop will include screening portions of Ken Burns’ American Revolution series on the role of black patriots, the Ethiopian Army, and two Cavendish patriots-Peter Tumbo and Prince Robinson-who had been enslaved and made their way to Cavendish after the war. 1-2:30 pm at the Cavendish Library. Recommended for those 12 and up.
- Town Meeting Day (Informational Meeting) 10 am at Cavendish Town Elementary School. All articles are now voted on by Australian Ballot.
MARCH (TUESDAY): VOTE on town and school budgets as well as elected Cavendish positions. Proctorsville Fire Dept., 10-7
MARCH 14 (SATURDAY): CHS Workshop- Celebrating Women’s History month, this workshop will discuss the role of women in the American Revolution and will include screening segments of the American Revolution series. This workshop will include a “taste of history,” where “Liberty Tea” will be served.