Cavendish Streetscapes: Raise Our Flags!

Various members and organizations of the Cavendish community have joined together to create Cavendish Streetscapes, whose mission is To under take volunteer-led community initiatives to beatify our shared spaces and instill pride in our community.  

One of their first initiative is the Raise Our Flags project, which was begun the summer of 2018, when flags lined Main St. in the in Proctorsville. Through community support, both Cavendish and Proctorsville villages will have flags hanging by Memorial Day 2019. Not only does this help to showcase our villages, it also serves as a traffic calming measure.

Steering Committee: The steering committee for the project includes: Carolyn Solzhenitsyn, Rolf van Schaik, Julia Gignoux, Martha Mott., Mary Ormrod, Doris Eddy and other members and organizations in the Cavendish community.  

Costs: The largest expense associated with the project is the purchase and replacement of the approximately 90 flags, plus hardware, that are needed.

How You Can Help: If you would like to help with this project, you can send a check payable to Cavendish Streetscapes to:

Cavendish Streetscapes

PO Box 605

Cavendish VT 05142

For a minimum donation of $50, you can dedicate a flag to a community member, family, friend, neighbor or someone who has made a difference to the town.

Honor Flags: To date funds for flags have been donated for:

• Richard Edwin Bradley, Sr WWI veteran

• Richard Edwin Bradley, Jr WWII Veteran

• George F. Davis-Civil War Veteran

• Jeff Davis-For his many years of service to the Cavendish Volunteer Fire Dept

• Louis Dobblemann-Civil War Veteran

• Herbert and Florence Eddy

• Charles Gould-Civil War Veteran

• Carmine Guica-Cavendish historian and WWII veteran

• Jim Hasson: The Ewalds would like to dedicate a flag to the "Mayor of Knapp Pond." In addition to his service to our country-WWII Veteran who served right through the Vietnam War, Jim has been a wonderful friend and neighbor. Because of men and women like Jim we are able to Raise the Flags in Cavendish.

• Henry Hryckiewicz: “To the grandpa, thank you for your service.”

• Arthur Hill Jr - Korean War Veteran

• Donna Hiromura Saydek: Artist (Teruko Design) and friend to the community

• Alma Jaskey

• Al Leonard - WWII Veteran and neighbor extraordinaire

• Gloria Leven- Dedicated board member of the Cavendish Historical Society and the Cavendish Library as well as long term volunteer at the Cavendish Town Elementary School

• Harry and Mavis Lindberg

• Roger “Yogi” McNamara

• David J Montesi Sr-USMC

• David J Montesi Jr-Paramedic Evergreen, Co and one year cancer survivor

• Kevin Mott-Veteran

• Margaret S. Parke-Friend of the Cavendish Library and mother of Peggy Svec

• C.Andrew Odell Jr.-Veteran

• Vivienne-Granddaughter of Frank & Ariadne Van der Post

• Proctorsville Fire Department Present and Past Fire Fighters: The "thin red line flag," which is black and white except for one stripe of red hangs in front of the fire department.

• Frank Provance Sr.

• Deryl Stowell- Founding member and long time member of Cavendish Snow Fleas

• Richard Svec-Former Town Manager

• Yekaternia Svetlova- Aeronautical engineer, exiled from Russia, lived in Cavendish for almost 20 years

• Joyce Tiemann-Friend of the Cavendish Library

Cavendish Update 6/15/18 SB Meeting/News/Events

On Saturday, June 16, the dedication of the Proctorsville Green and the Celebration of Life for former town manager Rich Svec, begins at 2 pm.

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6/15/18 Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting

2. Cavendish Related News

3. Events

1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 6/11/18: Select board (SB) meetings are recorded by Okemo Valley TV and are available at their website  and on Comcast Television.  Written minutes are available at the town’s website.  The following was discussed/action taken at Monday night’s meeting:

Zoning & Ordinances: Two issues were brought before the select board, which triggered a discussion about zoning and the use of ordinances.  A Brook Rd resident wants the town to require a new homeowner on Brook Rd to bury 1,600 feet of utility wires for esthetic purposes. The residents of Tierney Rd, in an effort to stop a property owner from quarrying on his land, are proposing that the town adopt a Civil Ordinance Requiring Approval For Residential Business Operations. The state has informed the town manager that such an ordinance doesn’t hold water as the town doesn’t have zoning. Over 10 years ago the town soundly defeated zoning. Cavendish is only one of two towns in the area, the other being Mt. Holly, that does not have zoning.  Tim Calabrese, of the Planning Commission,  spoke to the major hurdles for small towns with such laws. It requires significant detail to be enforceable and can be cost prohibitive. Members of the audience thought it was time that this issue be voted on again as times have changed.

Approved:

• Health officer Doris Eddy contacting the mortgage company for the foreclosed property at 186 Knapp Pond, which is being used by squatters and has mounds of trash around it. It will be the mortgage company’s responsibility to clean the property.

• Beginning the process of fining a property owner on 131 in Proctorsville, whose property is a source of rats and poses a health risk to neighbors. The owner has been warned numerous times to clean up their property.

• Beginning the process outlined in the town’s Dangerous and/or Derelict Building Ordinance for 53 Depot St. in Proctorsville. An independent engineering evaluation shows the building to be a health hazard as well as structural unsound and beyond repair.

• Liquor permits for Brook Farm Vineyards LLC, Neal’s LLC, and LaPizza Lupo event on July 20 next to Singletons.

• Use of the Proctorsville Green for an Overnight Camp Out with the CTES 1st grade.

• To accept the lowest bid from Infrastructure construction, depending on negotiations to bring the project into budget, for the replacement of the town’s Waste Water Treatment Aeration System. The bond vote for this project was March 2017. The cost difference between the engineer’s estimate and the lowest bid received was around $10,000. 

• Considering moving the town’s polling place to the Town Office, with the Proctorsville Fire Department as an interim placement. This is being recommended for security purposes. A town vote will be needed to approve this change.

Town Project Updates

Town Garage: The switch of locations for the town garage is requiring a lot more time than first estimated. However, the steel building is in production and the plan is to have it ready for occupancy this fall.

Depot Street Bridge: Bids have gone out for to bury the utility lines that currently span the bridge to the river below.

2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

CTES Has a New Principal: The Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) has hired Debra Deaupre as the new principal for Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES). Deaupre is assistant principal in the North Country Supervisory Union and has worked for more than two decades in elementary education, including as a Title I reading teacher. Her job begins in July, while current principal George Thomson leaves at the end of June. As we say goodbye to George, and wish him the best on his retirement, we extend a warm welcome to Debra Deaupre to our school and community.

Mack Molding Invests $5 Million to Upgrade Facilities: Mack Molding recently announced that it is investing more than $5 million to increase its manufacturing capabilities in its North Carolina and Vermont facilities. In Cavendish, the company has increased its day to day operations by including a new automated work cell, resin drying system, fork life and crane upgrades. With the investments in the Mack’s Vermont facilities, -Cavendish, Arlington and East Arlington, the company is expected to add another 50 employees through the course of the year. Medical Design & Outsourcing

TRSU Exec Committee Holds Last Meeting: At its last meeting before disbanding, the Two Rivers Supervisory Union Executive Committee on Thursday declined to approve a number of administration requests including TRSU job descriptions, a curriculum management program and other purchases totaling $130,000 – one of which had been removed from the SU budget this spring. With the merger that created these districts taking effect on July 1, the eight-member Executive Committee and the 22-member full SU board will be replaced by a single six-member panel beginning next month. Committee members questioned many of the expenditures for which Superintendent Meg Powden proposed to use $130,000 of the Transition Facilitation Grant-a 3 day leadership retreat at the Killington Mountain Resort ($7,650); TRSU board retreat ($3,500) and purchase of 130 to 140 copies of Leaders of Their Own Learning ($6,000), Chester Telegraph

Affordable Housing out of reach for many Vermonters: A Vermonter making minimum wage would need to work 1.7 jobs to afford a one-bedroom rental home or apartment, according to a report released Wednesday. Vermont has a housing wage of $22.40 — the 13th highest in the country. The state also has the fifth largest gap between the average hourly wage renters make, $12.85, and housing wage. Erhard Mahnke, coordinator of the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition, said that those statistics show that although unemployment in Vermont has decreased in the past few years, most of the jobs created have been “lower wage, service sector jobs.” “We thrive on tourism, but those jobs don’t pay the way old style manufacturing jobs did, where you could earn $60,000 a year with a high school education,” said Mahnke. VT Digger

3. EVENTS

JUNE 15 (FRIDAY): Last day to pay property taxes before 8% delinquency fee is attached

JUNE 16 (SATURDAY): Rich Svec Celebration of Life and Dedication of the Proctorsville Green, 2pm at the Proctorsville Green.

JUNE 22 (FRIDAY): George Thomson’s retirement party, 6-8 pm, Proctorsville Green. Potluck dinner-please bring a dish, other than dessert, to share. Two bands

JUNE 27 (WEDNESDAY): Grievance Day, Cavendish Town Office.  Call the Town Office at (802)226-7291 or 226-7292 if you would like to schedule an appointment to grieve property assessments.

For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.  

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Cavendish Select Board Mtg Agenda 6/11/18

Below is the Agenda for the June 11 (Monday) Select Board meeting, which takes place at 6:30 at the Cavendish Town Office.

1. Call the meeting to order
2. Act upon minutes of May 14th, 2018.
3. Adjust Agenda
4. Hear Citizens
5. Board to hear presentation from residents of Tierney Road regarding a proposal of a Civil Ordinance Requiring Approval For Residential Business Operations.
6. Select Board acting in Capacity as Board of Health to discuss ongoing health concerns with properties on Main Street in Proctorsville and Knapp Pond Rd.
7. Select Board to discuss possible purchase replacement Town Utility Truck.
8. As Board of Liquor Control, Select Board to consider outside consumption permits for Brook Farm Vineyards LLC and Neal’s LLC. Board to also consider request to cater malt, vinous and/or spiritous liquors permit for La Pizza Lupo.
9. Town Manager to discuss WWTF Aeration System Replacement bids and current project status.
10. Board to consider request from Chris Marks for Overnight Camp Out with the CTES 1st grade on the Proctorsville Village Green on June 18th, 2018.
11. Continued discussion regarding Dangerous and/or Derelict Building Ordinance as it pertains to the property at 53 Depot Street.
12. Town Manger to review various ongoing town projects.
13. Other business
14. Adjourn

Cavendish Update: 6/8/18 Okemo/CTES/Concerts

CHECK THE CAVENDISH VT FACEBOOK PAGE DAILY FOR THE LATEST NEWS You don’t have to be a Facebook subscriber to see this page.

6/8/18 Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Related News

2. Vail Resorts to purchase Okemo

3. CTES Principal Forum June 11

4. Cavendish Announces 2018 Summer Concert Series

5. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

New All Breed Grooming Salon Opens in Proctorsville: The Happy Hound Dog Salon opened its doors June 1, specializing in senior dogs, dogs with anxiety, rescues, and many other special needs of the doggy kind. We work in a quiet, one-on-one environment to create the least amount of stress for your pet. We offer a puppy intro program, breed cuts, Splash-n-Dash, pawdicures, and so much more! By appointment only; some weekends and evening appointments available. Call 802-226-7118.

Congratulations to Two Former CTES Students: The 2018 Ludlow Rotary Scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors from Black River High School (BRHS) and Green Mountain Union High School (GMUHS). This year, two former Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) students, and current GMUHS seniors have received scholarships: $2,000 Daniel E. Kesman Memorial Scholarship (emphasis on academic performance) to Sadie Wood; and $1,000 traditional scholarship to Isabelle Cameron. Best of luck to all our graduates. 

Kohl’s Kids Bike Smart Program Visits CTES: Students of Cavendish Town Elementary School were given the opportunity May 30 and 31 to learn about bike safety and skills in riding bicycles. The seven-year-old Kids Bike Smart program sent bicycles to the school through a grant made available by Kohl’s Department Stores. The program was brought to the area through Local Motion, an advocacy group who shares in the goal of providing safe walking and biking for surrounding areas. VT Journal

Vermont Contributes to the Greater Music World: This week’s cover story on New York Philharmonic cellist and Marlboro native Eric Bartlett brings up a serious question: Can Vermonters, coming from a rural state without the tradition of the intense competitive music education of urban areas, turn out musicians who will be successful on the world stage? The answer is yes, with one of them being Cavendish’s own Ignat Solzhenitsyn. Rutland Herald

Marji Graf Leaving Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce: The CEO of the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, Marji Graf is leaving to take a job as CEO of the Rockville, MD Chamber of Commerce effective July2. VT Journal

Ludlow Select Board Chairman, Howard Barton, Dies: The longtime chairman of the Ludlow Select Board died Saturday afternoon while mountain biking near his home. Howard Barton Jr., 55, had been chairman for the past 15 years, and had served even longer on the board. He worked as a lineman and assistant superintendent for the Village of Ludlow Electric Light Department for over 35 years. He was an alternate member of Vermont Public Power Supply Authority. Friends and family can pay their respects at the celebration of life, officiated by Reverent Thomas Mosher at 7 Depot Street, Saturday, June 9 at 2 p.m. at the Church of Annunciation in Ludlow, Vt. VT Journal

Become a VT Invasive Patroller: Join VT Dept. of Environmental Conservation Lakes & Ponds staff at a Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) workshop to learn how to monitor lakes, ponds and rivers for aquatic invasive species, survey healthy native plant populations, and reduce the threat of aquatic invasive species introductions. Learn the differences between native, exotic, nuisance and invasive species; how invasive species are introduced and established; how to differentiate invasive aquatic plants and animals from native lookalikes (plants will be emphasized); and how to conduct surveys for aquatic invasive plants in water bodies. Interested participants are encouraged to join the statewide network of volunteers who survey for aquatic invasive species in their favorite lake, pond or river. A 4-hour VIP workshop will include classroom time and an on-the-water aquatic plant survey session at Echo Lake at Plymouth State Park. The workshop is June 23, 10-2 at the Fletcher Memorial Library in Ludlow. Please pre register by contacting Kim Jensen at Kimberly.jensen@vermont.gov or 802-490-6120 Bring your lunch and canoe or kayak.

2. VAIL RESORTS TO PURCHASE OKEMO: On Monday, June 4, many in Cavendish with ties to Okemo Mountain, received an e-mail from the Muellers stating, To Our Mountain Family, It is with a great deal of mixed emotions, yet, with tremendous hope for the future that we announce we are selling Triple Peaks LLC, which includes Okemo Mountain, Mount Sunapee and Crested Butte Mountain. First and foremost, we want you to know that this was the hardest decision we have ever made, especially as we begin to transition through this deal and say goodbye to each of you. Recently, Vail Resorts approached us to buy out our leases and the operating companies for all three mountains. They recognized the distinct locations of our mountains, the incredible knowledge and passion each of you have, and the remarkable service you all have provided to millions of guests.... We were not naïve in realizing this would mean changes as the future unfolds. We spent a lot of time contemplating all of this, and decided that moving forward with the sale was in the best interest for the future of the mountains, our employees, communities and our loyal guests. As we look 10, 20, 30 years down the road, we ultimately decided that now would be the right time.

Triple Peaks is being sold for $82 million and Vail will invest $35 million in the properties.

Okemo has been run in a very different manner than other mountains, offering many an opportunity to ski and ride at nominal costs. For those who work at the mountain, there are questions about future employment, benefits etc. For riders and skiers, there are lots of questions about Vail’s Epic Pass, which is good at up to 64 mountains across 11 states and provinces and eight countries.

The Epic Pass, which now includes Okemo, is significantly cheaper than the Okemo pass. What if you’ve already bought your Okemo pass? Can you get a refund? At this juncture, Okemo’s Resort Services have few answers and are telling people to wait until the sale goes through. Some questions may be answered at the Epic Pass website-Okemo, Mount Sunapee, Crested Butte and Stevens Pass Season Pass Frequently Asked Questions.

So what’s been the impact of Vail taking over other Vermont resorts? Last year, Vail bought Stowe. At the end of the 2017/2018 seasons, Stowe reported “a great winter season,” both for skier visits as well as general sales in the town. Many were thrilled with the additional parking Vail added, though some are concerned that eventually they’ll charge for parking, which is common at other Vail resorts. Those involved in real estate report that “the market took off  and is still pretty incredible.” The one thing everyone could agree on was the value of the Vail Epic Pass, as it’s less than half the price of Stowe’s old season pass.

3. CTES Principal Forum June 11: To replace retiring principal George Thomson, the Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) Search Committee has selected two finalists to meet with community members and the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) Board.

Seventeen candidates applied for the principal’s position with thirteen meeting position qualifications. Of this group, the Search Committee interviewed three candidates and selected two for a school visit-Debra Beaupre of Meriden, New Hampshire and Adam Rosen of Montpelier, Vermont.

• Mrs. Beaupre currently works as an assistant principal at the Newport City Elementary School in Newport, Vermont. Prior to becoming an assistant principal, Mrs. Beaupre taught for many years in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades as well as working as a Title 1 reading teacher. Beaupre is a commentator for VPR. http://digital.vpr.net/people/deb-beaupre#stream/0.

• Mr. Rosen currently works as an early educator at the Waterbury Children’s Early Learning Space and prior to this position served as the principal of the Rumney Memorial School in Middlesex, Vermont

The candidates met with CTES students, faculty and staff on June 6,  the community will have a chance to interview them at the principal forum on Monday, June 11 at 6:30 pm at the school. Community will meet with each candidate for twenty-five minutes, after which they will be asked to complete a short feedback form. This information will be forwarded to the GMUSD board for their use in selecting the principal on June 12. Childcare will be provided at the community forum.

3. CAVENDISH 2018 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: The Town of Cavendish will present its annual summer music series for 2018 on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 on the Proctorsville Green. The lineup will be as follows:

July 11- Davis Brother’s Garage Band sponsored by dgBodyworks

July 18- The Gully Boys sponsored by Neal’s Restaurant

July 25- Rick Redington and the Luv sponsored by The Pointe at Castle Hill

Aug 1- Yankee Chank, sponsored by Murdock’s Restaurant.

Aug 8-Jason Cann sponsored by Okemo Mountain Resort

Aug.15-Sensible Shoes sponsored by Outer Limits Brewery

The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA) will again coordinate the series. All concerts are free and open to the public, so grab your lawn chair, a picnic and a cold drink, and join your friends and neighbors to enjoy plenty of rollicking good music from the gazebo. Goodman’s American Pie has promised to bring the pizza wagon, so bring an appetite too.

Concerts will be held unless severe weather threatens. In case of rain, alternative plans will be announced on the Cavendish VT Facebook page. To volunteer to help with the series, or for more information, call Robin at 226-7736.

4. EVENTS

JUNE 8-9 (FRIDAY-SATURDAY): GMUHS Alumni Weekend. Social hour at the Chester American Legion on Friday. Parade is at 11, with parade line up on Elm St at 10. BBQ following the parade at the Chester American Legion field. Annual meeting will be at 2:30.

JUNE 11 (MONDAY): Community forum to meet the candidates for CTES’s principal position, 6:30 pm at the school.

• Select Board meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office

JUNE 13 (WEDNESDAY): Town Energy Committee Meeting 12-1 Cavendish Town Office

• Planning Commission Meeting 6:30-8 pm at the Cavendish Town Office

JUNE 15 (FRIDAY): Last day to pay property taxes before 8% delinquency fee is attached

JUNE 16 (SATURDAY): Rich Svec Celebration of Life and Dedication of the Proctorsville Green, 2pm at the Proctorsville Green.

JUNE 22 (FRIDAY): George Thomson’s retirement party, 6-8 pm, Proctorsville Green. Potluck dinner-please bring a dish, other than dessert, to share. Two bands

JUNE 27 (WEDNESDAY): Grievance Day, Cavendish Town Office.

For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.  

IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS