Cavendish Update 7/14/17 Lyme/Tag/Job/News/Events

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 7/14/17 Cavendish Update

1. Tax Rate Set at Select Board Meeting

2. Cavendish Related News

3. Concert Series-The Spiders

4. Job Opening

5. Town Wide Tag Sale-Accepting Photos

6. Events

1. TAX RATE SET AT SELECT BOARD MEETING: 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.  At Monday night’s meeting the tax rate was set for the year as follows:

Fire District # 1 (Proctorsville): • Resident 1.8282; • Non Resident 1.8394

Fire District # 2 (Cavendish): • Resident 1.8150; Non. Resident 1.8262

Other issues discussed at the meeting were as follows:

• Depot Street Bridge: Utility lines will be buried in the riverbed in 2018 with bridge replacement taking place in 2019.

• Town Garage: Asbestos will be removed by the end of the month, with an RFP (request for proposal) going out shortly. The goal is to have the town garage replaced before snow flies.

• Winter Sidewalk Plowing: Given the age of the equipment, and associated costs, the SB discussed other options for clearing sidewalks this coming winter. One option was to hire a private contractor for this service. No determination was made.

• Depot Street Dogs: Two dogs on Depot Street in Proctorsville, together or alone have bitten at least 4-6 people. The dogs have not been registered or vaccinated, and the most recent attack was witnessed by the town manager on July 3. The board voted to give the owner 10 days from July 3 to register, immunize and “lock up” the dogs or they will be removed.

2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Living with Lyme Disease in Cavendish: In 2015, Vermont had the highest rate of reported Lyme disease (LD) cases in the U.S. and Windsor County had the second highest incidence in the state. The black-legged tick is responsible for the infection, a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. Research has found that approximately half of the black-legged ticks collected in Vermont have tested positive for the bacterium. Consequently, It is not surprising various people in Cavendish have been treated for acute Lyme infections. However, there are a growing number of people who had no idea they had been bitten by a tick, and learn of the diagnosis only after being tested in an effort to understand symptoms such as pain and fatigue.

Having received requests for information, a special post has been designed for those people living with Lyme Disease (PLWLD)-sometimes referred to as chronic, persistent or post treatment- in Cavendish. To learn about preventing LD, go to the May 2017 post Take Ticks Seriously.

Walker Street Bridge Now Open: The bridge on Main St. In Ludlow is now open, though there may be periodic delays as construction is being completed.

 Uncovering VT’s Archeological Past with Help from CHS Volunteers: For the second summer, the Cavendish Historical Society has been involved with an archeological dig in W. Haven, VT. Through this contact, CTES’s 4th and 6th graders have visited and worked at the site and the archeologist Dr. Elly Molarity has come to Cavendish to speak to 5th and 6th grade students. Learn more about the dig at the VPR article If you are interested, volunteers from Cavendish go over weekly to help dig. E-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com if you would like to volunteer for a day.

Congratulations to Proctorsville’s Zach McNaughton: Zach McNaughton, audio video production teacher at River Valley Technical Center (RVTC), has taught many talented students who have competed nationally and gone on to study in top colleges. This year that tradition of success continues with students Elijah Pianka and Tanner Bischofberger winning top honors in statewide and national video production contests. Proud of his students and his program, McNaughton offered some advice to those contemplating a course of study at RVTC. “I would tell students to ignore the stigmas and stereotypes about career and technical education that they are constantly fed from their sending schools, peers, and worst of all, guidance counselors. The AVP program has represented Vermont at the SkillsUSA Conference for four consecutive years now and we have alumni students in prestigious universities studying film and media communications all around the country. Those students most likely would not have gotten into those colleges if it weren’t for the Technical Center and the connections that we have with college and industry. The AVP Program at RVTC is a fast track to college. VT Journal

VT Attorney General warns of utility scam: The office of the Vermont Attorney General is warning that callers claiming to be from the power company are threatening to disconnect electric service if money is not sent to them immediately. Some callers may ask where your power meter is located. According to the AG’s office, power companies do not make calls or threats like this. These calls are scams. If you get one of these calls, hang up the phone. Do not call back or speak with the scammers. The AG’s office urges people to call its office as well as the utility if you are concerned about your service. If you have lost money to this scam, contact the Attorney General’s office at 800-649-2424 (toll-free in Vermont) or dial 802-656-3183. Press Release

3. CONCERT SERIES: THE SPIDERS 7/19: The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association and the Town of Cavendish invite everyone to spend an evening having fun on the Proctorsville Green on Wednesday, July 19th, starting at 6:00 p.m. when the annual summer music series continues with the sounds of a well-known local favorite, The Spiders.

Featuring Cavendish’s own Mark Huntley on the drums, the band includes singer songwriter Guy Burlage on mandolin, pedal steel, electric, and acoustic guitar; Wayne Canney on vocals and guitar; and Rutland’s own Jerry Dubeau on keyboards. The Spiders have been playing together since the early 1980’s, although each of them can be found throughout the area entertaining as solo musicians or in other bands. This is their first appearance in Proctorsville as part of the summer music series.

The Cavendish summer concerts are held on consecutive Wednesday nights in July and August. For a listing of all 2017 concerts please go to the Upcoming Events page at http://www.CavendishCCCA.org.

As always, the concerts are free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, please check the Cavendish Facebook page. For more information please call Robin at 226-7736.

4. JOB OPENING: Crows Bakery in Proctorsville is looking for a bread baker! This is a part time position, some experience helps and we will train. Contact George at 226-7007.

5. TOWN WIDE TAG SALE: It’s two 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.

We are now accepting photographs of items vendors have for sale, which will be turned into Facebook albums and posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page. 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.

6. EVENTS

JULY 17 -19 ( MONDAY-WEDNESDAY): Vacation Bible School at the Cavendish Baptist Church.

JULY 19 (WEDNESDAY): Summer Concert on the Proctorsville Green begins at 6 pm. This week features

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

Living with Lyme Disease in Cavendish

 In 2015, Vermont had the highest rate of reported Lyme disease (LD) cases in the U.S. and Windsor County had the second highest incidence in the state. The black-legged tick is responsible for the infection, a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. Research has found that approximately half of the black-legged ticks collected in Vermont have tested positive for the bacterium. Consequently, It is not surprising various people in Cavendish have been treated for acute Lyme infections. However, there are a growing number of people who had no idea they had been bitten by a tick, and learn of the diagnosis only after being tested in an effort to understand symptoms such as pain and fatigue.

Having received requests for information, the following special post has been designed for those people living with Lyme Disease (PLWLD)-sometimes referred to as chronic, persistent or post treatment- in Cavendish. To learn about preventing LD, go to the May 2017 post Take Ticks Seriously.

Though there is evidence that LD has been around for thousands of years in the US, it was“discovered” 40 years ago. It is a complex and puzzling health condition for multiple reasons:

•  The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) — the two medical associations associated with LD, have issued competing and controversial care guidelines for Lyme There is a growing group of LD “literate” providers who are outside IDSA and ILAD. While some are doing outstanding work, others are taking advantage of patients who are desperate for relief. 

•  LD is often called the “great imitator” because of the broad range of symptoms, such as digestive problems, joint conditions and cognitive issues. Some people develop lingering symptoms after initial treatment and there are others that haven’t felt well for a long period of time and are surprised to learn they are infected. It’s important to note that 25% of those with LD don’t recall a tick bite.

• Ticks are known to carry many pathogens and will often pass on more than one co-infection with a single bite. These co-infections can increase the severity of the Lyme symptoms or cause entirely different symptoms. They also do not all respond to antibiotics, complicating diagnosis, treatment, and management of symptoms.

• Testing, while available is not always accurate.

For more on this topic read US News May 20, 2017 article Lyme Disease on Rise Amid Diagnosis, Treatment and Controversy.

Both the VT Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have extensive websites on LD, which you should check for more information.

THE BASICS

Symptoms of early Lyme disease: Can be flu-like (fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea and joint pain) and may be accompanied by a rash (bull’s eye or other types) or facial drooping. If you develop a rash, take a photo, and see a doctor immediately. Ludlow Health Center offers urgent care sevens days a week. At this stage of infection, the Lyme test can be negative so treatment should not be delayed if there is suspicion of LD (tick bite, rash, fever etc.). Please note that LD isn’t the only condition you can get from a tick bite and locally at least one person has contracted anaplasmosis from a tick bite.

Symptoms of PLWLD: People who have unresolved LD, whether they’ve been treated or not, experience symptoms such as fatigue, restless sleep, pain, aching joints or muscles, pain or swelling in the knees, shoulders, elbows and other large joints, decrease short-term memory or ability to concentrate and/or speech problems.

Use the Lyme Disease Symptom Checker to help you understand your possible risk for LD. Share results with your medical provider.

Testing: The most common diagnostic tests for Lyme disease are indirect ones. They measure the patient’s antibody response to the infection, not the infection itself. The two most-used antibody tests are the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Western blot. The CDC recommends that doctors first order an ELISA to screen for the disease and then confirm the disease with a Western blot. As noted above, testing within the first four-6 weeks of Lyme infection is unreliable as the person will not have developed the antibody response. You can receive a LD test at the Ludlow Health Center.

TREATMENT: The earlier you are treated, the better the outcome. Depending on your doctor and presenting symptoms will dictate length of antibiotic treatment. Some people’s symptoms do not resolve after six months and develop what is called Post Treatment LD.

The ideal antibiotics, route of administration and duration of treatment for persistent Lyme disease are not established. No single antibiotic or combination of antibiotics appears to be capable of completely eradicating the infection, and treatment failures or relapses are reported with all current regimens, although they are less common with early aggressive treatment.

There are medical providers that are now specializing in LD and are trying a variety of treatments, some of which are controversial. However, some are trying treatments that have been approved for other conditions, not LD. These are referred to as “off label” use. One such “off label” is hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT).  An approved therapy for 14 different conditions, there has been at least one study that has shown its efficacy for PLWLDs. In May, Seven Days ran a story Is Hyperbaric Oxygen a Miracle Cure?, which describes how a VT chiropractor is using HBOT for PLWLD.

 WHAT ABOUT A VACCINE?: In 1998, the FDA approved a Lyme vaccine, LYMErix, which reduced new cases of the disease by nearly 80 percent. Yet, in 2001, manufacturer SmithKline Beecham voluntarily withdrew LYMErix from the market amidst problems with sales and reports by some who were vaccinated that as a result, they developed musculoskeletal ailments including arthritis. A class-action suit was brought against the company, even though data gathered did not support that claim. While there is interest in a vaccine, given the experience of SmithKline Beecham, it’s unlikely to expect one in the near future. However, there is a vaccine for dogs, which is administered yearly via an injection.

LIVING WITH LYME DISEASE: While the physical symptoms of LD are bad enough, the disease can cause emotional, financial, logistical and work difficulties. Because there are no clear treatment guidelines, let alone a cure, PLWLDs are subject to scams and it’s not uncommon to rack up enormous bills for treatments and tests that lead nowhere.  Therefore it’s important to find a medical provider that you can work with, as well as connect with other PLWLDs.

VT Resources: Unfortunately, at this juncture the LD resources in VT appear to be limited. VTLyme.com has a website but it’s not clear who runs it or how frequently it’s being updated. They also offer a Facebook page.

• Both Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and University of Vermont Medical Center have Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine Departments, which are the two medical specialties that treat LD.

• Cavendish Connects includes local versions of Health & Seniors Resource Guide as well as Getting What You need Checklist, a resource guide for those dealing with chronic and life threatening conditions.

Learn about your condition: Knowledge is power. Using the links in the Resource Section below, keep tabs on the latest research. Be careful of the sites you use-those sites that end in org, edu and gov are generally going to be more reliable. Be wary of sites trying to sell you a product.

 Share your data: Incredible strides are being made in all fields of medicine as people are now sharing their data thanks to the Internet. Some sites, such as Patients Like Me, are running clinical trials to help find out what works and what doesn’t. Sites to consider

• Patients Like Me

• MyLymeData

Connect with Others: According to the VT Health Department, there is only one support group in VT, which is in Chittenden County. However, there are various on-line groups you can join.

• VT Lyme.com

• Lyme Disease Support Network

• Tired of Lyme

• Top 25 Websites & Blogs for People with Lyme Disease

Check out Healing the Whole Person: Ways to Increase Well-Being When Living with a Chronic Condition

RESOURCES

• American Lyme Disease Foundation

 • Bay Area Lyme Association: Currently funding the development of therapies for later stage Lyme with enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects relative to antibiotics.  

 • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 • Children’s Lyme Disease Network

 • Lyme Disease Association: Offers a Doctor Referral site.

• Lyme and Tick Borne Diseases Research from Columbia University Medical Center

• VT Health Department

Tax Rate Set at SB Meeting

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.  At Monday night’s meeting the tax rate was set for the year as follows:

Fire District # 1 (Proctorsville)

• Resident 1.8282

• Non Resident 1.8394

Fire District # 2 (Cavendish)

• Resident 1.8150

• N. Resident 1.8262

Other issues discussed at the meeting were as follows:

• Depot Street Bridge: Utility lines will be buried in the riverbed in 2018 with bridge replacement taking place in 2019.

• Town Garage: Asbestos will be removed by the end of the month, with an RFP going out shortly. The goal is to have town garage replaced before snow flies.

• Winter Sidewalk Plowing: Given the age of the equipment, and associated costs, the SB discussed other options for clearing sidewalks this coming winter. One option was to hire a private contractor for this service. No determination was made.

Select Board Agenda 7/10/17

The Select Board Meeting, Monday, July 10th, in the Cavendish Town Office Meeting Room
at 6:30 pm
................................................................ AGENDA ................................................................
1. Call the meeting to order
2. Act upon minutes of the meetings of June 12th and June 26th , 2017.
3. Sign Orders
4. Adjust agenda
5. Hear Citizens
6. Diane McNamara, Town Treasurer, has a grant revenue anticipation note, a delinquent tax note, a solar bond anticipation note and a tax anticipation note for review and approval by the Board of Selectmen.
7. Review FY 2017-2018 Tax Rate Calculations with the Town Manager and Town Treasurer and
set the FY 2017-2018 Tax Rate.
8. Mike Smith of Weston and Sampson to give update on Aeration System Replacement.
9. Town Manager to give update on Bridge #58. (Mike Smith will be present for discussion)
10. Update and discussion regarding Town Garage Replacement.
11. Town Manger to update Select Board on Dog Incident, discussion to follow.
12. Asst. Town Manager to discuss possible winter sidewalk plowing proposal with Select Board.
13. Town Manger to update Select Board on various Town projects.
14. Other business
15. Adjourn