Cavendish Update 1/15/21: News/Produce Box/Talk/Covid

CHS Cares Closet

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

If you are interested in running for a town elected position-selectmen, school board etc.- unlike in previous years, candidates do not need to collect signatures. Instead they need to complete a Candidate Consent Form and return to the Cavendish Town Clerk, Diane McNamara by 5:00 pm on January 25, 2021. See the Dish for open positions. For more information, call the town office at 802-226-7291.

1/15/21

1. Cavendish Info

2. Talk: Epidemics/Pandemics

3. Produce Boxes Available

4. Covid update

5. Events

1.    CAVENDISH INFO

• WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: In effect from 1 am Saturday (1/16) to 4 pm Sunday (1/17). Snow expected with a total accumulations of 6 to 8 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

• SCAM ALERT: Scammers are calling Green Mountain Power customers and claiming that they will cut off power immediately unless payment is made.  Hang up!  Do not provide payment or personal information.  If you have concerns about the legitimacy of a utility disconnection call, hang up and contact your utility company directly, using contact information you know to be valid.    Please help stop these scams by sharing the information with someone you know.  Learn more about this scam on the CAP Connection blog. If you have questions about this scam, or have lost money to this scam, please call the Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424.  

• Transfer Station Closed Early Sunday Due to Full Compactors: The Cavendish Transfer Station had to close on Sunday 1/10/21 at 3:30 because all the compactors were full. Reminder-if you don’t have a Cavendish Transfer Station sticker for your car, you can now pick them up at the Transfer Station.

• TRSU board approves 14% budget increase: The Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU) board unanimously approved a budget of $6.548 million, which taxpayers in the SU’s two districts will see as assessments in the district budgets for the 2021/22 school year. The spending plan included an overall increase of $807,764 — 14.07 percent — over last year’s budget of $5.74 million. While spending in some areas declined or only rose in small amounts, the vast majority of the increase – $644,060 – came in special education. Chester Telegraph

• CHS Cares Closet: Lots of new items, particularly in the craft, game, and puzzle chest. If you haven’t replaced your cloth mask in a while, please consider doing so as they are only good for up to 15 washings. Cloth and disposable masks are in the upper left hand shelf. The CHS Cares closet is located next to the steps of the Museum-open 24/7 and free.

• Independent school named Expeditionary School at Black River

2. TALK: EPIDEMICS/PANDEMICS: All of this has happened before and will happen again. As noted by Marcus Aurelius,—the same plot from beginning to end, the identical staging. However, when you are in the midst of a pandemic, it feels as if it’s never happened before  (it most likely hasn’t happened to you before) and it provokes fear, civil unrest, as well significant changes following the event.

Okemo Valley TV and the Cavendish Historical Society are jointly sponsoring a zoom talk on Jan. 27 (Wed) at 7 pm, which will cover the origins of pandemics/epidemics, their impact on history, including Vermont’s, common characteristics, and the lasting changes that have occurred with past events. Note that this will also be streamed live to the OVTV’s uTube page. To obtain the Zoom information, you will need to RSVP at the OVTV website.

3.PRODUCE BOXES AVAILABLE: Chester Helping Hands, in conjunction with Katsiroubas, offers a low-cost produce and fruit box, available on Saturdays via contactless drive thru in Chester. Available to the Cavendish Community, this is an order on line, pick up service, with payment due at pick up or when ordering.

How it Works:

-       Go to Katsiroubas Cares Box website and place your order. You must order by Wednesday midnight for Saturday delivery.

-       On Saturday, go to the Chester Andover Elementary School (72 Main St) and pick up your order by the first initial of your last name: A-L ( 8:30-9:30 am) M-Z (9:30-10:30 am)

In addition to the produce/fruit boxes, there is a Saturday “curbside market” that features local farms, restaurants etc. To take advantage of these services, you will be placing orders via “sign up genius.”

Vendors at the “Curbside Market” change weekly so the best way to take advantage of the market is to request membership at the Chester Helping Hands Facebook page.

4. COVID UPDATE: With a total of 9 cases, there was one new case in Cavendish the week ending Jan. 6.  Unfortunately, VT is experiencing a surge from the holidays and records are being set for hospitalizations as well as new cases. More important than actual numbers is the fact that Covid is wide spread throughout the state, including Cavendish, and a more easily transmitted variant strain is occurring in surrounding states. Bottom line please be vigilant in prevention protocols.

For those who like knowing the numbers: as of 1/14/21, VT has had 9,573 cases, reaching the 9,000 cases mark on Monday 1/11/21, with 162 deaths total. There are currently 44 Vermonters in hospital, eight of whom are requiring ICU care.

Modeling: The state’s modeling, as of January 12 shows a17% increase in new Covid cases in the Northeast region. Note there was a significant increase in testing following the holidays, so it’s helpful to look at the positivity rate, which is declining regionally from about 11% down to 7%, which is still well above the 5% threshold. VT’s new cases has shot up, adding 1,000 new cases in just 6 days. VT saw more cases in five days than they did during the five months bridging spring, summer and autumn. The seven day test positivity rate is currently 2.9%. VT currently has the lowest positivity rate  and hospitalizations in the country, and ranks 2nd for cases and 3rd for fatalities. If trends continue, VT could start seeing more than 300 cases a day. However, it would take 14 straight days of close to 350 cases per day to exceed the state’s ICU capacity.

Vaccines: As of Tuesday about 24,800 people have now been vaccinated in Vermont (4% of those 16+) , including 1,781 who have received both doses. “When is it my turn to be vaccinated?” is a question many have. That will be the focus of today’s Governor’s press conference at 11 am. What’s been stated this week is that VT wants to continue to roll out a vaccination schedule in 5 year increments starting with those 75+ and/or with serious underlying conditions. VT is choosing this approach as they want to ensure that everyone who gets a first dose can get the second one. Federal health officials are urging states to vaccinate all Americans over age 65 and those ages 16 to 64 who have a documented underlying health condition.

VT teachers will not be prioritized, as teachers have a low rate of infection. Their positivity rate -- the percentage of those tested who are positive -- is one-tenth that of the statewide population

Please note that as soon as we know appointment scheduling, we will start posting that information to Facebook and the other Cavendish Connects venues.

Not Sure About the COVID-19 Vaccine? Get the Facts, Then Decide: There is a lot of misinformation out there about the vaccines. This blog post from The Michigan Health Lab (Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan) can help you sort fact from myth. If you have questions about the vaccine, please speak to your health provider and work with them in deciding what’s right for you.

VT AstraZeneca Vaccine Trail Leader Optimistic, Analysis Expected within a Month

The New U.K. Coronavirus Variant Is In The U.S. Here's How Fast It Could Spread

Local PSAs: Thanks Red Vault and dG Bodyworks for making public service announcements to help our community in staying safe.

• “We Hear You” VT Skiing PSA from Proctorsville Red Vault Productions

• DG Bodyworks: Straight talk, no shame, about Denise’s experience with Covid and how to do the right thing.

Local Resources: If you need to quarantine either from exposure or because you have Covid, local resources are available to help you: 

-       Cavendish Resource Guide:

-       CHS Cares Closet: Masks (cloth and disposable), books, toys, craft supplies. Open 24/7. All free. Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum.

5. UPCOMING EVENTS:

JANUARY 15 (FRIDAY): Municipal Utility Payment Due

JANUARY 18 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day Town office closed

JANUARY 27 (WEDNESDAY): Pandemic/Epidemic talk, 7 pm via Zoom, sponsored the Cavendish Historical Society and Okemo Valley TV. This will also be available at the OVTV UTube channel. RSVP to the OVTV website for Zoom information.

FEBURARY 3 (WEDNESDAY): The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library's Spoilers Club. will meet via zoom on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 to discuss the modern western "Yellowstone" starring Kevin Costner. All three seasons of which are available to borrow from the library. FMI: 226-7503

FEBRUARY 15 (MONDAY): President’s Day, Town Office Closed.

CA❤︎ENDSH-A SAFER SIX COMMUNITY

Covers mouth & nose
   Always masks in public & washes hands
     Vermonters keep each other safe
       Elbow coughs
         Never socializes with those outside their immediate household
          Disinfects common surfaces
            Is alert for symptoms
             Stays at least 6 feet apart from others
               Has respect for personal space

    IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

Open Positions for Cavendish Elected Positions

Below is a listing of the open positions for elected officials in Cavendish.

Due to Covid, unlike in previous years, candidates do not need to collect signatures. Instead they need to complete a Candidate Consent Form and return to the Cavendish Town Clerk, Diane McNamara by 5:00 pm on January 25, 2021.

OPEN POSITIONS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS

POSITION                             TERM                         CURRENT OFFICE HOLDER

Town Moderator                             1 year                        Michael J. Ripley   

Town Agent                                     1 year                        Vacant

Auditor                                              1 year                        Peter J. Labelle

Auditor                                              1 year                         Kem Phillips   (remainder of 2 yr term)

Auditor                                              3 years                      Vacant

Select Board                                   1 year                        Sandra Russo

Select Board                                   1 year                        Stephen Plunkard

Select Board                                   3 years                      Michael J. Ripley

Town Grand Juror                         1 year                        Theresa H. McNamara

Library Trustee                               5 years                      John White 

Library Trustee                               3 years                      David Gallagher (remainder of 5 yr term)  

Library Trustee                               4 years                      Sandra Russo (remainder of 5 yr term)

Trustee of Public Funds              3 years                      Jane Pixley

Trustee of Public Funds              2 years                      Vacant  (remainder of 3 yr term)      

GMUSD Director                             3 years                      Vacant

GMUSD Director                             2 years                      Vacant   (remainder of 3 yr term)     

GMUSD Director                             1 year                        Dennis Reilly  (remainder of 3 yr term)

Cavendish Update 1/8/21: Calendar Contest/Covid/History of Capital Violence

Photo from 2008 CCCA Calendar

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

1/8/21

1. Cavendish Info

2. Has the U.S. Capital Been attacked/stormed before?

3. Covid update

4. Events

1. CAVENDISH INFO

• Cavendish Village PO Repair: Repairs were being made to the driveway and parking area of the Cavendish Village post office on Thursday. While long overdue, it’s hoped that more extensive renovations will be made this summer when 131 is repaved.

• Cavendish set to go live with their EV Charging Station: Cavendish’s new Electric Vehicle Charging Station is expected to be up and running by the end of the week, marking the successful achievement of a five-year goal and offering free electric vehicle charging for at least the first year. The EV charging station, a Level 2 240-volt unit, is installed next to a single designated parking space along the Proctorsville Green on Depot Street and is the pride of the town’s Energy Committee, which includes Board Chair Peter LaBelle, Mary Ormrod, and the late Dan Sullivan. VT Journal

• Cavendish Calendars Looking for Photos: Once again it’s time for the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association calendar contest. The theme for 2022 is Bees and Beekeepers in Cavendish. If you have a photo you would like to submit relating to bees and that was taken in Cavendish, and you are a resident, (and that includes second homeowners) there are several ways to submit it to CCCA. You can use snail mail by sending it to P.O. Box 605, Cavendish VT 05142, or you can drop it off at Crows Bakery on Depot St. in Proctorsville. Alternatively you can email it as an attachment to cavendishcommunityconservation@gmail.com.  Submission deadline is April 1, 2021. All photos must be in landscape format. Print photos should be on 8”x10” non-glossy finish paper, digital photos should be minimum 3MB. All photos become the property of CCCA upon submission. All pictures received will be considered for publication. Actual photos may not be returned and all photos may be used in products created by the CCCA. For more information, please call Robin at 802-226-7736 or email cavendishcommunityconservation@gmail.com.

• New Vermont Laws in 2021: Abenaki hunting licenses, state parks signs, higher minimum wage.

• Gov. Phil Scott’s Inaugural Address: In his third inaugural address Thursday evening, Gov. Phil Scott (R) pledged to focus this legislative session on “weathering the remaining storm” of the Covid-19 pandemic and “laying a foundation” to rebuild the state’s economy. Scott’s speech came one day after supporters of President Donald Trump descended on the U.S. Capitol and participated in violent riots that sparked national unrest. In response to the chaos in Washington, D.C., Scott called Wednesday for Trump to resign or be removed from office. VT Digger

2. HAS THE US CAPITAL BEEN ATTACKED/STORMED BEFORE?: Wednesday’s storming of the U.S. Capital building by extremist Trump supporters was a horrifying sight to witness, with some comparing it to 9/11, and many questioning whether anything like this has ever happened before.

In its 220 year history, this is not the first time the Capital building has been scarred by violence.

 In 1814, the British occupied, looted and burned the U.S. Capital, though it wasn’t fully destroyed thanks to a sudden rain storm. Since then, the following attacks have taken place:

• July 4, 1915: Erich Muenter, former professor of German at Harvard University, exploded three sticks of dynamite in the Senate reception room. There was building damage but no one died. Muenter said his attack was in response to American financiers aiding Britain against Germany in World War I.

• March 1, 1954, a group of armed Puerto Rican nationalists fired onto the House Floor from the public galleries wounding five U.S. Representatives. Within a matter of moments, normal House proceedings were thrown into chaos creating a scene etched into the memories of Members, staff, and Pages.

• Nov. 7, 1983: an explosion ripped through the second floor of the Senate. Just minutes before the explosion, someone claiming to be from a group named the Armed Resistance Unit called a Capitol switchboard warning of a pending attack, saying it was in retaliation for US military actions in Grenada and Lebanon.

• 1998: A mentally ill man fired at a checkpoint and killed two Capitol Police officers. A nearby statue of Vice President John C. Calhoun still bears a bullet mark from the incident.

As troubling as these current events are, particularly since the last time such a large scale attack happened was over 200 years ago and then it was by a foreign power, the Capital Building and the American people have weathered through and will do so again.

3. COVID UPDATE: While much is competing for our attention, please take note that the new variant strain of Covid has been detected in Saratoga Springs, just a hop, skip and a jump from VT. On Wednesday University of VT Medical President Stephen Leffler, said, “We should assume it’s already in Vermont.”

New Covid Strain: This strain is at least 50% more transmissible, though mortality and morbidity are the same and the vaccines currently being administered are believed to be effective against it. A new report from Imperial College London found that a greater proportion of children were infected with the new strain compared to the older version of the virus. It's not clear yet if its mutations make it better at infecting children, or if younger people were just more likely to be exposed to it.

Viruses like to self-replicate in order to increase their transmission rate, so a new variant isn’t surprising and in fact, there are now a lot of variant strains of Covid. This one grabs our attention because: it spreads quickly; has a higher “secondary attack rate,” which means each case infects more people; and those infected appear to have a higher viral load, carrying perhaps 10-100 times more virus in their nose and throat.

The prevention message hasn’t changed. By following the Covid 3-mask on faces, 6 faces, avoid crowded spaces along with the state’s requirement of no social gatherings, and avoiding any non-essential travel, you will significantly reduce your risks and help to slow the spread.

Covid in Cavendish: On January 2, dGBody Works in Proctorsville posted that they would be Closing for two weeks. COVID positive for Denise. All clients and close contacts were notified immediately and Denise choose to make her status known in order to help reduce the shame that so often accompanies such a diagnosis. On Dec. 24, Cavendish appeared for the first time on the state’s table of towns with 6 or more cases. The majority of these cases occurred in the prior two weeks. As of Dec. 30, Cavendish is registering 8 cases, which means in the last week alone, two more residents tested positive for the virus. Incidence by town is published on Friday afternoons, and will be posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page as soon as it’s available.

Covid in Windsor County/Statewide: Southern VT is becoming a bit of a hotspot and Windsor County is now among the top 3 counties in the daily reports. The state’s seven day positivity rate is 2.7%. This means that 2.7% of all tests are coming back positive. While higher than previous months, it hasn’t reached the state’s threshold of 5%. As of yesterday, there have been 8,403 cases in VT and 155 deaths. There are 36 patients in VT hospitals, with 8 in the ICU.

Modeling: The state’s modeling, as of January 5 shows a 20% increase in new Covid cases in the Northeast region. Note that there was a drop off in testing during the holidays, so the data is a bit skewed. While travel was down by 50% by Vermonters, there were more out of state visitors during the recent holiday period than at any point during the pandemic.  

"When can I get my Covid vaccine?" : If you are a front line health care worker, or a resident of a long term care facility (i.e. nursing home), you are part of Group 1A and vaccinations of this group should be completed by the end of January. There is no longer a "group B." Instead, VT is going with an "age band" system whereby the first group will be those aged 75+ and/or who have a serious underlying health condition(s), e.g. heart disease, cancer, COPD etc. The state will be issuing a list of who qualifies as having a pre-existing condition shortly.

The VT Dept. of Health (VDH) has asked that people not call their primary care provider, hospital of health department, as "when it's your turn" you will be notified. There is no "list" that you can get your name on.

Currently, the state is using both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Health Commissioner Levine noted Tuesday that both the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are rapidly approaching approval, which will significantly increase availability.

Vaccines will be distributed via health centers, health departments, hospitals and designated vaccine sites. For more information, see VDH’s Vaccine page.

Note that VT has been significantly hampered in distributing the vaccine due to reduced doses from the federal government and inconsistencies on deliveries. None the less, VT has one of the highest vaccine rates in the country and as of Tuesday has given a first dose to 3.1% (close to 18,000) of the population over 16 years of age.

Local Resources: If you need to quarantine either from exposure or because you have Covid, local resources are available to help you: 

-       Cavendish Resource Guide

-       CHS Cares Closet: Masks (cloth and disposable), books, toys, craft supplies. Open 24/7. All free. Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum.

3. UPCOMING EVENTS:

JANUARY 11 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board meeting via Zoom

JANUARY 15 (FRIDAY): Municipal Utility Payment Due

JANUARY 18 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day Town office closed

FEBURARY 3 (WEDNESDAY): The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library's Spoilers Club. will meet via zoom on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 to discuss the modern western "Yellowstone" starring Kevin Costner. All three seasons of which are available to borrow from the library. FMI: 226-7503

FEBRUARY 15 (MONDAY): President’s Day, Town Office Closed.

Cavendish Update 1/1/21: Happy New Year/News/Covid/Events

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Cavendish Connects wishes you and yours a healthy, safe and joyous New Year.

1/1/21

1. Cavendish Info

2. Covid Update

3. Events

1. CAVENDISH INFO

• Thank you Cavendish Town Crew: Between 4 feet of snow on Dec. 17 and close to three inches of rain on Christmas, all sorts of records have been set. Unfortunately, the heavy snow and flooding has required the town crew to be working long hours in harsh conditions. They’ve managed to keep roads open and passable. Our thanks to them and town manager Brendan McNamara for a job well done. 

• 3 GM board members eschew re-election, annual meeting in flux: All three positions from Cavendish to the GMUSD board are open. Both Fred Marin and Kate Lamphere have stated they will not run again. Unlike previous years, you do not need to collect signatures to be on the March ballot. Please call the town clerk, Diane McNamara, 226-7291 If you are interested in running for the GMUSD board. Chester Telegraph

• GMUSD Board Decides to Hold Annual Meeting in Person: During a special meeting Monday, Dec. 28, the Green Mountain Unified School District Board determined that they would hold their upcoming annual meeting in person at the Green Mountain High School auditorium, adhering to all Covid-19 health and safety protocols including social distancing and mandatory mask usage.

• Recycling Christmas Cavendish Style: Your holiday greens (trees, wreaths, swags etc.) can be recycled at the Cavendish Transfer Station, cut up and used for mulch in a garden, placed in the yard for the birds to enjoy, or cut up and saved for an outdoor fire pit. DO NOT BURN IN A FIREPLACE OR WOOD STOVE. Pines, firs and other evergreens have a high content of flammable turpentine oils.  Burning may contribute to creosote buildup and risk a chimney fire. Learn more ways about recycling items, including food compost at The Dish.

• Cavendish Library’s Spoiler’s Club: Do you love to read books, watch movies and binge on TV series? Are you dying to talk about them? This is for you. The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library's Spoilers Club will meet via zoom on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 to discuss the modern western "Yellowstone" starring Kevin Costner. All three seasons of which are available to borrow from the library. Once you start watching you can't stop. Once you finish it you will want to talk about it. Contact the library at 226-7503 to borrow the series or for a link to the Zoom meeting.

• Stimulus will support vaccination, broadband, performing arts in Vermont: Vermonters will see changes to broadband investment and to higher education funding as a result of the $900 billion in Covid-19 relief coming its way next year. VT Digger

• VT’s Minimum Wage increased on New Year’s Day: Starting on Jan. 1, 2021, the minimum wage in Vermont is set to go up $.79, from $10.96 to $11.75 an hour. "Tipped employees" minimum wage is also increasing to $5.88.

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance extension goes into effect Jan. 2

2. COVID UPDATE: Yesterday’s Governor’s press conference marked the 100th media briefing since the start of the pandemic. The lead off message wasn’t what anyone wanted to hear-the government is sending less vaccine than originally allocated. Expecting 5,850 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the allotment was cut to 3,900 for next week and the Moderna vaccine from 4,000 to 3,900. As of Thursday, 14,000 Vermonters have been vaccinated. This includes 21 of the state’s 37 long-term care facilities. The plan is to have all facilities vaccinated with the first dose by January 8 and the second by the end of January.

December was the deadliest month on record from the pandemic. Almost 70% of those who died were in long term care settings.

Town Map: For the first time, on Dec. 24, Cavendish appeared on the state’s table of towns with 6 or more cases, the majority of those cases occurred in the prior two weeks. As of Dec. 31, Cavendish is registering 8 cases, which means in the last week alone, two more residents tested positive for the virus.

Modeling: The state’s modeling, presented on Dec.28 shows that for the second straight week, Vermont's case growth and positivity rate are dropping and there's a slight decline in regional case growth. However,  it’s too early to see the impact of holiday travel and gatherings. Air travel was significantly down through Christmas Eve, but cellphone data indicates that visitors to VT increased. Dah, as if we didn’t know that, particularly since Shaw’s has had a line around the block through the holiday season.

Vaccinations: The VT Department of Health (VDH) launched a new Vaccine Dashboard, which is updated on Wednesdays. 

While both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations require two shots given three weeks a part, the research shows that strong protection occurs as early as 12 to 13 days following the first dose. However, to ensure longer term immunity the second dose is required. The efficacy of the two shot regiment is 95% for Pfizer and 94.1% for the Moderna vaccine. Both vaccines are now being given in VT.

As the state nudges closer to completing phase 1A, the second phase will be implemented based on age groups, with anyone, regardless of age, having a pre- existing/chronic condition going to the head of the line. The state is in the process of defining who will qualify as having underlying health conditions, e.g. people with transplants and COPD. The CDC has issued guidelines for “People who have Weakened Immune Systems.

With the availability of sufficient vaccine, distribution will occur at primary care offices, pharmacies, the state’s 12 health department sites, and mass vaccine sites. The notification system is still being developed, but it will most likely be by the media, social media, and the state’s website. Note: The Ludlow Health Center keeps Cavendish Connects informed about various community health issues. We will make this available via our various outlets-Facebook, update, website-as soon as we receive it.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health recently released a “School House Rock” style cartoon “I’m a Vaccine,” to help explain how a vaccine goes from an idea to reality.

Schools: Cavendish students don’t return to school until Jan. 11. However, at Friday’s press conference the Governor went over the protocols:

1. Winter sports teams may begin practicing as long as they follow the guidance, and we’ll continue to watch the data with hopes of restarting games as soon as possible.

2. Schools do not have to include a question about multi-household gatherings on daily health checkers.

3. Regular testing of school employees continues, with almost every staff member having the opportunity to get tested each month. Since this program launched, a 0.26% positivity rate (for comparison, the general population is about 10 times that rate at 2-2.5%). This shows that the risk of transmission is lower in schools than the general community, school-based cases are not driving outbreaks.

Mutating virus: A mutant strain of Covid has now occurred in three states (Florida, California and Colorado) and is expected to spread throughout the country in the coming weeks. VT’s Health Commissioner Dr. Levine noted that while B117 is more contagious, and will continue to spread, symptoms and severity appear to be about the same. Indications are that the current vaccines will be effective against the new strain.

Disinfecting: The risk of getting infected from touching a surface contaminated by the virus is low. "In hospitals, surfaces have been tested near COVID-19 patients, and no infectious virus can be identified.” What’s found is viral RNA which is akin to the “corpse of the virus”- what’s left over after the virus dies. "They don't find infectious virus, and that's because the virus is very fragile in the environment — it decays very quickly… all the evidence points toward breathing in the virus from the air as being the most important route of transmission." Bottom line: To avoid infection, follow the VDH recommendation of 6 foot spaces, masks on faces and avoid crowded spaces. Only “swap air” with members of your immediate household.  Note: There are other diseases you can get from surfaces such as norovirus. Frequent hand washing is important, spraying down your groceries, not so much. Read more.

Local Resources: If you need to quarantine either from exposure or because you have Covid, local resources are available to help you:  

-       Cavendish Resource Guide:

-       CHS Cares Closet: Masks (cloth and disposable), books, toys, craft supplies. Open 24/7. All free. Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum.

3. UPCOMING EVENTS:

JANUARY 1 (FRIDAY): HAPPY NEW YEAR-Town office closed

JANUARY 11 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board meeting via Zoom

JANUARY 15 (FRIDAY): Municipal Utility Payment Due

JANUARY 18 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day Town office closed

FEBURARY 3 (WEDNESDAY): The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library's Spoilers Club. will meet via zoom on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 to discuss the modern western "Yellowstone" starring Kevin Costner. All three seasons of which are available to borrow from the library. FMI: 226-7503

FEBRUARY 15 (MONDAY): President’s Day, Town Office Closed.  

CA❤︎ENDSH-A SAFER SIX COMMUNITY

Covers mouth & nose
   Always masks in public & washes hands
     Vermonters keep each other safe
       Elbow coughs
         Never socializes with those outside their immediate household
          Disinfects common surfaces
            Is alert for symptoms
             Stays at least 6 feet apart from others
               Has respect for personal space 

    IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS