Cavendish Update 6/26/26: Farmer's Market/Education/Events/News
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LINKS TO CAVENDISH CONNECTS: Facebook Blue Sky or Website
FIRE CHIEF ROBERT GLIDDEN RETIREMENT PARTY: On Tuesday, June 30, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., the public is invited to the Proctorsville Firehouse, 513 Main Street, to honor retiring Fire Chief Robert W. Glidden for his 56 years of service with the Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD), 33 years as chief. At 6:30 p.m., Chief Glidden will take part in the time-honored tradition of the “drive home,” and will enjoy his ride home on Engine 2.
HONEY FEST SEPT 5-PROCTORSVILLE FARMER’S MARKET CANCELLED FOR 2026
CAVENDISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECIPIENT OF SHAWS GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS FOR JULY: Starting July 1, you can help support the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) by purchasing one of the Ludlow Shaw’s reusable bags.
SATURDAY (6/29): American Heart Association HeartSaver CPR and First Aid at the Cavendish Fire Station 9-2. Free to Cavendish residents. To register call 802-226-7790, e-mail puba0111@mail.com or stop by the station today.
BLACK RIVER WATER SAMPLING: While water tested very well this week, after last night’s and this morning’s downpours, these numbers are likely to be much higher. The VT Department of Health recommends the following: After heavy rains, stay out of any body of water for at least 48 hours to avoid the risk
of getting sick from contaminated water.
Swimming areas regularly tested : Buttermilk Falls; Cavendish Gorge; Lakes Rescue & Pauline; Tolles Power Dam; Twenty Foot Hole;
6/26/26
1. Do you have a Tornado plan?
2. Reading of the Declaration of Independence
3. Cavendish Related News
4. Events Calendar
1. TORNADO PLAN: According to a report from WCAX, while Vermont averages one tornado a year, three have already been experienced, one in Williamstown on April 16 and two on June 18th in Woodstock and Lincoln.
Cavendish has experienced tornadoes with the most recent being in 2023. While we hope we don’t have one any time soon, it’s important to be prepared. Following are guidelines from the National Weather Association’s “ What to do During a Tornado” which can protect you and your family.
Acting quickly is key to staying safe and minimizing impacts.
Stay Weather-Ready: Continue to listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about tornado watches and warnings. Register for VT Alert to stay informed and check the Cavendish VT Facebook page for updates.
At Your House: If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don't forget pets if time allows.
At Your Workplace or School: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Neither is a mobile home or tent. If you have time, get to a safe building.
In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.
In the event of such an emergency, check the Cavendish VT Facebook page for current information. The Cavendish Baptist Church is the town’s emergency shelter.
2. HEAR THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: Two hundred and fifty years ago, many colonists learned about the Declaration of Independence by hearing it read at their local coffee houses. One of the earliest readings took place at the Merchant Coffee House in Philadelphia. People of all socio-economic statuses went to these houses for their favorite beverage, food and most importantly, the news of the day. The seeds of Revolution were planted in the coffee houses of the day.
The Cavendish Historical Society (CHS), in conjunction with Super Roasted, located at 73 Depot Street-the coffee house in Proctorsville, will be re-enacting how many would have first heard about the Declaration. A special reading will take place at 9 am on July 4th at SuperRoasted. A great way to kick off the nation’s 250th birthday.
Continuing the 250th birthday, CHS, with the help of community members Becky Plunkard, Shirley Clark and CTES 6th graders, have been placing painted rocks throughout the town. You'll find them in the cemeteries, graves of Revolutionary soldiers, town parks, and various historic locations. The search begins July 3 and goes throughout the summer. Please take all the pics you want, but leave the rocks until the fall.
All the rocks are painted red, white and blue with the exception of three. Honoring both the flag of the Green Mountain Boys and Vermont’s first flag as an independent republic, it is now the official flag of the VT Army and Air National Guard. The flag is green with a canton (the rectangular emblem in the upper left corner) of blue with 13 white stars. See if you can find all three.
For more information call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com
3. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
• Fire Chief Glidden passes the baton to Deputy Chief Glidden: VT Journal
• Spree of sudden closures highlights vulnerability of Vermont’s independent pharmacies: Three independently owned pharmacies abruptly shut down last month and a fourth is soon to follow, according to the company director Jeff Hochberg of Smilin’ Steve’s. The closures are just the latest hit to Vermont’s rural pharmacy infrastructure. Over the past 17 years, the state has lost about a third of its pharmacies, according to data from the Office of Professional Regulation. The most recent casualties — in Ludlow, Springfield and Quechee — were owned by Smilin’ Steve Pharmacy.
• Questions raised over reach of Vermont emergency alert system: Cavendish is part of VT Alert. People can sign up for VT-ALERT online for warnings about floods, fires, traffic impacts and more. The system is voluntary, and some worry that more rural parts of the state do not have access. VT Alert is used by state and local responders to notify the public of emergencies. Those include, but are not limited to, evacuation information, chemical spills, shelter-in-place alerts, severe weather advisories, boil water advisories, and roadway interruptions. Residents can tailor alerts to specific locations, types, and devices on which they receive notifications. WCAX
• ‘Act 46 all over again’: Gov. Phil Scott signs education reform bill, kick-starting a familiar process for voluntary school mergers: Twenty groups of school districts will start mulling over voluntary mergers come Oct. 15. Vermont’s decades-long effort to consolidate school districts moves ever forward. School boards and administrators beginning this fall will have a year to explore new voluntary district configurations before a vote is teed up for participating school districts on Town Meeting Day 2028. Under H.955, the state’s 119 districts are organized into 20 groupings. Each school district will send a current board member to participate in their assigned merger committee group by Sept. 15. The study committees will be led by an outside facilitator, who will be tasked with creating contiguous school districts with a minimum of 2,000 students. Each committee is expected to begin its work by Oct. 15. A final report is due by September 2027 from each merger committee, with recommendations as to whether it is “advisable or inadvisable” to form a new school district. Cavendish is in group 7, which includes the towns in the TRSU (Cavendish, Ludlow, Chester, Andover, Baltimore and Mt Holly) plus Springfield. H.955 directs the facilitators to consider new districts that emphasize local elementary schools and regional middle and high schools, and that provide each student with universal access to career technical education. VT Digger
• Policy governance wheels still spinning at GM board Act 170 merger talks begin by Oct. 15: The Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) Board spent a fair amount of time at its Thursday, June 18 meeting grappling with whether to continue with “policy governance” in a district that may not exist in a few years. The board also selected representatives to a school merger committee under the new Act 170. The committees will work with facilitators to study possible mergers with other nearby districts to create a unified union district with 2,000 or more students. Representing GMUSD will be: Lisa Sanders (Cavendish rep and board chair), Lois Perlah and Jerry Ucci (alternate). Chester Telegraph
• Nine tips for keeping cool without AC: From Efficiency Vermont
4. EVENTS
JUNE 27 (SATURDAY): American Heart Association HeartSaver CPR and First Aid at the Cavendish Fire Station. Free to Cavendish residents. To register call 802-226-7790, e-mail puba0111@mail.com or stop by the station.
JUNE 30 (TUESDAY): Chief Bob Glidden’s last day as chief of Proctorsville Fire Dept. Stop by the fire house from 4:30-6:30 to share stories and thank Bob for 56 years of service. Bob will be ridden home at 6:30 on Engine 2.
JULY3 (FRIDAY): 250 ROCKS! Hunt begins. See Item I above for more information.
JULY 4 (SATURDAY): 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
- Reading of the Declaration of Independence, 9 am at SuperRoasted, 73 Depot Street, Proctorsville
- Ludlow Parade 10 am, Fireworks @ dusk.
Check the VT Journal’s list of activities planned for July 4th.
JULY 7 (TUESDAY): 6 pm at the Cavendish Library, 573 Main St. Mystery Artifacts: How Museums Help Share the Past. Free and open to the public. Includes a free family pass to the VT History Museum in Montpelier. FMI: 802-226-7503
JULY 8 (WEDNESDAY); Cavendish Concerts on the Proctorsville Green, 6 pm- Gypsy Reel
JULY 15 (WEDNESDAY): Cavendish Concerts on the Proctorsville Green, 6 pm. East Bay Jazz
JULY 22 (WEDNESDAY): Cavendish Concerts on the Proctorsville Green, 6 pm-Bow Thayer & Krishna Guthrie
JULY 25 (SATURDAY): 16TH ANNUAL CAVENDISH TOWN WIDE TAG SALE.
JULY 29 (WEDNESDAY): Cavendish Concerts on the Proctorsville Green, 6 pm. Deb Brisson & Friends
AUGUST 5 (WEDNESDAY): Cavendish Concerts on the Proctorsville Green, 6 pm Rick Redington & Tough Luv
SEPTEMBER 5 (SATURDAY): HONEY FEST Proctorsville Green