Cavendish Update 7/7/17 News/Events

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7/7/17 Cavendish Update

1.Cavendish Related News

2. Concert Series-Sensible Shoes 7/12/17

3. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Table 19 Sold to Proctorsville Pair: Table 19 on Route 103 in Proctorsville will soon become Neal’s Restaurant and Bar. The new owners are Proctorsville residents Neal Baron and Elizabeth Leninsk. According to their Facebook Page, This has been a dream of Liz's and mine for years and we could not have found a better home. We look forward to serving our community for years to come. We are working hard to open our doors as soon as possible, hopefully by September 1st, but please be patient with us. Hope to see you soon! - Neal Baron and Elizabeth Leninski owners of the future "Neal's Restaurant and Bar"

Service Times Change at Calvary Church The following changes have been made to Sunday services at Calvary Church in Proctorsville (Route 103)- worship 10 am and a brand new service at 6 pm. For more info visit: www.CalvaryChurchVT.com

LPCTV Rebrands as Okemo Valley TV and is Looking for a New Logo: After a yearlong evaluation of their brand and planning long-term growth goals, LPCTV will begin operating as Okemo Valley TV in the fall. The new brand will need a new logo. Entries from community members will be accepted until August 31. For details contact Executive Director Patrick Cody via pcody@lpctv.org or call 228-8808.

2. CONCERT SERIES: SENSIBLE SHOES 7/12/17: The Town of Cavendish and the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association invite everyone to spend an evening listening to the sounds of Sensible Shoes on the Proctorsville Green on Wednesday, July 12th at 6:00 p.m. This is the second of several concerts that are held on consecutive Wednesday nights in July and August and is sponsored by the Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company.

Sensible Shoes is a returning regular to the Proctorsville Green and is always warmly welcomed to the gazebo.  The four members are drummer and singer Steve Drebber, lead guitarist and singer Tim Utt, bass guitar and vocalist Pooh Sprague, and Barbara Blaisdell on keyboard. Sensible Shoes has placed original music in several major motion pictures including “Philadelphia” and “The Manchurian Candidate.”

As always, the concerts are free and open to all. For more information please call Robin at 226-7736. In the event of rain postponement information will be reflected on the Cavendish Facebook page.

3. EVENTS

JULY 10 (MONDAY): Select Board meeting, 6:30 at the Cavendish Town Office. The agenda will be posted to The Dish as soon as it’s received.

 JULY 12 (WEDNESDAY): Summer Concert on the Proctorsville Green begin at 6 pm. This week features Sensible Shoes.

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

Cavendish Update 6/30/17 News/Plant Tag Sales/Fireworks/Jobs

SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS BY ATTENDING BBQ UNDER THE STARS ON JULY 15.

6/30/17 Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Related News

2. CHS Plant Sale-July 1

3. Town Wide Tag Sale

4. Where to See Fireworks

5. Job Openings

6. Community Connections-July 6

7. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

SB Meeting June 26: Monday night’s special SB meeting was called to follow up on the June 12 meeting, where the SB discussed a possible response to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) regarding an Act 250 permit for less than an acre mining operation, which is allowable under the Cavendish Town Plan. (See Cavendish Update 6/9/17 for information on this project). Strong feelings were expressed pro and con for the quarry. However, this was not the issue that needed to be decided by the SB. The town attorney had advised them to submit one of three choices to NRB-1) It’s their decision about whether an Act 250 is required; 2) No Act 250 is needed since it is in compliance with The Town Plan; or 3) The SB chooses to remain neutral and not take a stance. The board voted for option 1.

Black River Water Testing for 6/28/17: The sites on the Black River in Cavendish all tested clean for swimming and boating on June 28 (Wednesday). These sites include Greven Field (63 CFU) and the Cavendish Gorge (100 CFU). Nearby sites also testing fine for recreational use include  Buttermilk Falls (46 CFU), Little Ascutney Rd (55 CFU), Tolles Dam &3 CFU), and Downers Covered Bridge on Upper Falls Rd (32 CFU). Please note that it is recommended  to stay out of the rivers and lakes within 24 hours of a heavy rain, or anytime the water looks cloudy, as Ecoli levels can be a lot higher at these times. The EPA’s upper limit for swimming is 235 CFU. Thank you BRAT and Okemo for providing us with this invaluable service. To check other sites that are tested on the Connecticut River watershed, go to http://connecticutriver.us/site/content/sites-list

Congratulations to Proctorsville Resident Zachary McNaughton: Once again McNaughton advised an award winner at the 53rd Annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky. His student’s video “One Mistake Could Be Your Last” took third place in the 2016-2017 National Youth Safety Video Contest. McNaughton is the audio-visual production teacher at River Valley Technical Center in Springfield.  VT Journal

Annual Cavendish Calendar Photo Competition Extended: The CCCA has extended the deadline for submitting photographs for the annual photography exhibit until July15. Please download the application form from the CCCA website.

Community Luncheons Will Resume in September: The cooks are taking a break. The monthly community luncheons at Gethsemane Church will resume in September.

Free Summer Meal Program: Two Rivers Supervisory Union is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided on a first come, first serve basis at Cavendish Elementary School from 8 – 9 p.m. and noon to 1 p.m.; August 14 to August 25 and at Ludlow Community Center from 8- 9 a.m. and noon – 1 p.m.; June 26 to August 11. Other times and locations are available on-line.

Fletcher Farm Arts & Crafts School Turns 70: The Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts, located on Rte. 103 between Ludlow and Proctorsville, will celebrate its 70th anniversary on July 1, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. That weekend will also host the 34th annual Arts Festival with over 60 vendors, live demonstrations by well-known teachers of woodworking, painting, quilting, basketry, and metalworking, and live music by Uncle Hal’s Famous Crab Grass Band. the Craft Shop will be open during the festival and celebration for shoppers and artists. The Foundation takes pride in its ability to display, advertise, and sell the work of local artisans and craftsmen. VT Journal

Claremont Sears Moving to Newport: Sears Hometown on Washington Street in Claremont will move to Newport in August. Eagle Times

Fireworks Recalled Sold in VT: TNT Red, White, & Blue Smoke fireworks are supposed to emit colorful smoke. They are not supposed to explode. The popular fireworks maker voluntarily recalled 36,100 units of the product in four states Tuesday after receiving multiple reports that some of the devices exploded when lit, a US Consumer Product Safety Commission recall report said. The fireworks were being sold at various vendors, including Walmart in VT. CNN

VT Scam Alerts: Vermont Emergency Management and the Vermont Attorney General are announcing a partnership on the use of Vermont Alert for financial scam alerts. To receive "VT Scam Alerts" register for VT-Alert or add scam alerts to your existing account at www.vtalert.gov.

Health Care Leaders in VT Sound Alarm Over Senate Bill: Key health care officials across Vermont say efforts in Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act could saddle the state’s medical system with new and expensive problems. Of specific concern are proposed reductions to a federal Medicaid program that now provides insurance to nearly a third of Vermont residents. If a portion of those patients end up losing coverage, as the independent Congressional Budget Office has projected, then Vermont’s grand payment reform plans may have to be suddenly curtailed. VPR

 2. CAVENDISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY PLANT SALE: No one seems to remember the exact date, but more than 35 years ago, Craig Rankin started a plant sale to raise money for the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS). Craig was to hosta as Johnny Appleseed was to the apple trees-everyone needed to have one. As a result, CHS offers the best prices and variety of hostas around-$5 a pot, which come with the best soil you can find thanks to Moonlite Meadows farm in Cavendish.

The CHS also offers “patio” or container tomato plants, making it easy to bring them in doors on those September frosty nights, thereby extending the growing season. For the first time ever American Chestnuts trees will be available for sale along with ground cover plants and more. For a sneak peak at what’s for sale go to the CHS Blog.

Copies of CHS’s publication Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: The Writer Who Changed History will also be for sale and can be signed.

The sale is July 1 (Saturday) at the CHS Museum in Cavendish-1951 Main St. (route 131) from 9-2. Please note that because of the rain forecast, we will be offering a pre buy opportunity at 6 pm on Friday evening and suggest early shopping on Saturday as the worst of the storms will start after 11 am. The wet and rainy weather is a great time for planting, so take advantage of the sale and weather this weekend. FMI: 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com

3. TOWN WIDE TAG SALE-JULY 29TH: It’s four weeks until the Annual Town Wide Tag Sale, which takes place on July 29 (Saturday) from 9-2. Sponsored by Cavendish Connects, if you wish to register for space at either of theVillage Greens, or have your site listed, send an e-mail to cavendishconnects@gmail.com or call 802-226-7807. Please note that the more information on sale items you provide, the more shoppers you will attract.

Three weeks from now we will start making albums and posting to the Cavendish Facebook page of what various vendors have for sale. This was very successful last year. We will only post one album per vendor. Pictures should be e-mailed to cavendishconnects@gmail.com

For more information and to see who has already registered, go to 7th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale page of The Dish.

4. WHERE TO SEE FIREWORKS

CLAREMONT, N.H. – Celebration begins at 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 4 at the Monadnock Park with local vendors selling food, drinks and other items. Fireworks will be at dusk.

GRAFTON, Vt.- During the Grafton Summer Carnival at the Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center located on 783 Townshend Road, Grafton. Fireworks will be happening on July 3. The Vermont Symphony Orchestra will also be performing at 7:30 p.m. with fireworks following. For more information call 802-843-2252.

LUDLOW, Vt. – Fireworks are Sunday, July 2 at 9:30 p.m. Fire works can be viewed from West Hill Recreation area – no parking allowed in this location. Shuttle buss will begin from the Okemo Blue parking lot starting at 5:30 p.m. over to West Hill. Vermont Symphony Orchestra will be on Friday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. held at Jackson Gore countryside

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – Saturday, July 1 at the Crown Point Country Club located at 920 Brook Road. Celebrations are from 5 – 10 p.m.

5. JOB OPENINGS: Cavendish Town Elementary School has the following positions:

• Bus driver (averages 20 hours per week), school year.  

• Evening custodian for 4 hrs per day, five days per week, school year.

• 2 special education paraprofessionals.  Candidates must have a 2-year degree or equivalent (does not have to be in education) or be willing to take a examination.   This position is school year only and is for 7 hours per day.

To apply, please e-mail george.thomson@trsu.org or call 875-7758.

6. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS-July 6: Read a good book lately? Have a movie that you think is a must see? Wondering about some aspect of town life? Come to Crows Bakery and Cafe on July 6, 2 pm to help launch an ongoing“open discussion group.” Meet at the “round table.”  This is a good way to meet new people and strengthen community connections.

7. EVENTS

JUNE 30 (FRIDAY):  Pre-Buy at the Cavendish Historical Society Plant Sale, 6 pm in front of the Museum. Rain or shine.

 JULY 1 (SATURDAY):  Cavendish Historical Society Plant Sale 9-2 in front of the Museum in Cavendish. Rain or shine. For plant previews, go to the CHS blog.

• Fletcher Farm Anniversary Craft Fair 10-4 at Fletcher Farms on route 103 between Cavendish and Ludlow. Features vendors, demonstrations, food and more

 JULY 2 (SUNDAY): Pickleball 10 AM at CTES.

• Cavendish Historical Society Museum Open 2-4. If there are any plants left, you can purchase them at this time.

• Fireworks in Ludlow.

JULY 4 (TUESDAY): HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! Town office and many area businesses closed.

JULY 5 (WEDNESDAY): Summer Concerts on the Proctorsville Green begin with Gypsy Reel at 6 pm.

JULY 6 (THURSDAY): Open discussion group at Crows Bakery and Cafe. Depot St. Proctorsville 2 pm. Everyone invited.

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

Immediate Job Openings-CTES

Cavendish Town Elementary School has the following positions:

• Bus driver (averages 20 hours per week), school year.  

• Evening custodian for 4 hrs per day, five days per week, school year.

• 2 special education paraprofessionals.  Candidates must have a 2 year degree or equivalent (does not have to be in education) or be willing to take a examination.   This position is school year only and is for 7 hours per day.

To apply, please e-mail george.thomson@trsu.org or call 875-7758.

SB Meeting-June 26, 2017

Select board (SB) meetings are recorded by LPC-TV and are available at their website and on Comcast Television.  Written minutes are available at the town’s website.  

Monday night’s special SB meeting was called to follow up on the June 12 meeting, where the SB discussed a possible response to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) regarding the need for an Act 250 permit for less than an acre mining operation, which is allowable under the Cavendish Town Plan. (See Cavendish Update 6/9/17 for information on this project).

Similarly to the previous meeting, there were residents of Tierney Rd strongly opposed to any type of quarrying for fear that it would create noise as well as devalue the property. However, several residents had no objection to the quarry.

John (Jack) Smart whose land on the Cavendish Gulf Rd has been quarried for years by Snow was very clear of the “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) mentality and in fact stated that he was glad to have the quarry in his backyard. Not only did he say there was no noise to speak of, as well as no dust from the trucks hauling stone, he invited the Tierney Rd. residents to visit his property to see how it looked now that the quarrying was completed. Smart also noted that Snow was an incredible help to the town following Irene providing the much needed stone to rebuild embankments and roadways. “He didn’t have to do this,” which speaks to his character and his concern for the community.

Doris Eddy, whose home is the closest to the quarry of any landowner on Tierney Rd, also voiced a lack of concern for the project, noting the fact that the owner of the land, Justin Savage, was building his home above the quarry site. “Would he really be building there if he thought there was going to be so much noise ?”  She has known Savage and his family for many years, found them to be trustworthy and believes he should be given the chance to work his land.

While Justin Savage has organized meetings with the landowners to discuss his plans, he did not make any comments at the meeting, and did not provide any written information about the scope of the project.

Ultimately the biggest concern is that the project is coming in just under the limit identified in the Town Plan and so is this going to be a case of slow expansion, one acre at a time? Robin Timko of Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA), again stated their position that this isn’t the McLean project, the reason CCCA was formed in the first place. Their recommendation is that Tierney Rd residents and the quarry owners sit down and work out a binding agreement. Timko has stated that the Act 250 process is a good one and it’s one way to work out such an agreement. However, the decision for whether an Act 250 permit is needed rests with ANR not the SB.

Etienne Ting, head of the Cavendish Planning Commission, pointed out that Cavendish does not have zoning and the Town Plan is just that. It’s not a zoning ordinance.

The NIMBY effect that Smart spoke of is very real. Rural areas are the locations of natural deposits for stone and lumber. One of the Tierney Rd residents said that because there is such a large vein of stone in Cavendish, he should go elsewhere to mine and leave them alone. However, as rural towns expand with residential and second home properties, more and more conflicts arise throughout Vermont, while at the same time, the demand for stone and lumber increases.

A Tierney Rd. resident noted at the June 12th meeting and again Monday night that Cavendish should develop jobs in areas other than mining. However, they offered no suggestions about what these jobs might be.

While the fastest growing areas of employment in the United States are home businesses and telecommuters, a large part of the town can’t participate because of a lack of sufficient telecommunications. The problem has become so bad, it’s forcing residents with home-based businesses to move or consider doing so.

Unfortunately, selling a property with limited Internet access and no cell service to speak of is difficult, particularly as abutting towns like Chester and Springfield offer scenic views and fiber wired to the home. TDS has stated that they will not be upgrading services until 2018 and then it will only be over a copper based system. This will only offer 10 Mbgs, which is insufficient to run many home based businesses. The Cavendish Telecommunications Committee is working with the state to secure a grant to help Comcast expand its services in Cavendish.

Ultimately, the discussion of a quarry has brought up a number of issues that are continually bubbling just below the surface- employment, retention of residents and how to use natural resources effectively and sustainably.

Strong feelings were expressed pro and con for the quarry. However, this was not the issue that needed to be decided by the SB. The town attorney had advised them to submit one of three choices to ANR-1) It’s ANR’s decision about whether an Act 250 is required; 2) No Act 250 is needed since it is in compliance with The Town Plan; or 3) The SB remains neutral and not take a stance. The board voted for option 1.