Cavendish Update 6/10/22: Juneteenth/Ghost Walk/News/Events

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6/10/22

1.    Cavendish Info

2.    Juneteenth

3.    Cavendish Village Ghost Walk

4.    Covid update

5.    Events

 

1. CAVENDISH INFO

• Black River Water Testing: Once again Black River Action Team (BRAT) is testing the water at popular recreational spots. Please note that what e-coli levels were on Wednesday, June 8, will be quite a bit higher this weekend due to the heavy rains. Samples are collected Wednesday morning all summer by a trained BRAT volunteer. Testing for bacteria is done by Endyne Labs in Lebanon NH; results are posted in time for the weekend, and represent a snapshot of water quality at the moment of sample collection. It is recommended to stay out of the water when it appears cloudy and within 24 hours of a heavy rain. The EPA’s limit for safe swimming is 235 CFU. All spots tested were well below the EPA’s limit on Wednesday: Cavendish Gorge 62; Greven Field 102; Buttermilk Falls 17; Tolles Power Dam Perkinsville 93; Twenty Foot Hole Reading 11; West Hill Road Rec Pond, Ludlow 5. Thank you BRAT for taking care of us and the river.

Local Collaboration Hopes to Help Ukrainian Children: Dr. Linda Thomson is not just a nurse practitioner & clinical hypnotherapist; she’s also a children’s book author. Her ongoing series “Harry the Hypnopotamus” is a collection of stories aimed at helping kids cope with anxiety & stress. Together with illustrator Jane Hart, a Cavendish 2nd home owner and the mother of Chris Marks of Proctorsville, she has now completed her latest book in the series. This special edition of "Harry Goes to Save the Children" is aimed at helping children in Ukraine, and was brought into the Okemo Valley TV studio to create a multi-media version, which is being distributed overseas in a time of great need. Read in Ukrainian by Cavendish resident, Svetlana Phillips, with English text. Linda Thomson is the wife of former CTES principal George Thomson.

• Sharon Huntley has “left the building:” Sharon has recently moved from Cavendish to Maine. While we wish her the best, we’re going to miss her weekly news columns in the Vermont Journal. Read her letter to “Dear Faithful Readers.”

• If you bank at Berkshire: Vermont Berkshire Banks are experiencing staffing problems statewide. In order for the lobby and drive thru to be open, they need three employees at the Ludlow branch. For drive thru only, they need two and if there is only one employee available they will be closed. Efforts are being made to keep the drive thru open as much as possible. Expect a wait when you go.

Morrow Announces Candidacy for Windsor Senate Seat

• Update on Suspicious Death in Springfield: An autopsy was performed Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington on the adult man found deceased Monday on Greeley Road in Springfield. The Vermont State Police has completed notification of next of kin and is able to identify the victim in this incident as Justin Gilliam, 38, of Springfield, Vt. The autopsy determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death is a homicide. The investigation into this homicide remains active and ongoing. Police encourage anyone with information about this incident to call the Vermont State Police in Westminster at 802-722-4600, or submit a tip anonymously online .

• June Pride Events: Go to the June Pride Month Events blog post for events in VT and bordering towns.

• Strawberries! Sunday June 12th is opening day for strawberries at Wellwood Orchards in Perkinsville. Hours are 8 am until 6pm, 7 days a week. Cost $2.79/lb PYO and $6.25/quart freshly picked in store. Go into the store for containers and directions to the fields. All fruit must be weighed and paid after picking.

• Free admission to Vermont State Parks this weekend

State seeks help evaluating new rainbow trout strain: The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VTF&W) is stocking a new strain of rainbow trout this spring and is looking for help from anglers to evaluate its performance. The trout is being stocked at Knapp Pond #1.

 

2. JUNETEENTH: The White House Proclamation on Juneteenth Observance, 2021, made Juneteenth our newest federal holiday,  On June 19, 1865 — nearly nine decades after our Nation’s founding, and more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation — enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word that they were free from bondage.  As those who were formerly enslaved were recognized for the first time as citizens, Black Americans came to commemorate Juneteenth with celebrations across the country, building new lives and a new tradition that we honor today.  In its celebration of freedom, Juneteenth is a day that should be recognized by all Americans. And that is why I am proud to have consecrated Juneteenth as our newest national holiday.

While Monday, June 20th is a federal holiday, it’s a holiday that many know little about. Called the country’s “Second Independence Day,” learn more about it by going to the Cavendish Historical Society’s blog post JUNETEENTH: A Celebration of Freedom & Resilience

The CHS Museum offers a “hands on history” corner where visitors can make various items. In keeping with Juneteenth and the 4th of July, there are five pointed stars to make in one snip, along with confetti poppers and various coloring projects. The Museum is open to the public on Sundays from 2-4 pm, and at other times by calling 802-226-7807 or e-mailing margocaulfield@icloud.com

 

3. CAVENDISH VILLAGE GHOST WALK: While the Dutton House was relocated from the Cavendish Green to the Shelburne Museum, taking with it their ghostly occupants, there are plenty of spirits that seem to reside throughout the village. Thadeous, who missed his stop on the Underground Railroad, paces, but became protective of the family that lived in “his” house. A “visitor” likes to run up the stairs at the same time every night in another residence. Was the arsonist who set fire to many places in town, including the Fitton Mill, responsible for the blaze at what is today the town’s Museum?

On Saturday, June 18, the Cavendish Historical Society will be hosting a “ghost walk” of Cavendish Village, where “haunts” and places of “exceptional human experiences” will be visited. The tour begins at 8 p.m. in front of the CHS Museum, 1951 Main Street, Route 131 in Cavendish. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight.

 

4. COVID UPDATE: For local information on testing, vaccinations, boosters, notifying contacts as well as other resources, including for Long Covid, please see the Cavendish COVID-19 Resource Guide.

TRSU SCHOOL NUMBERS: Cases have been reported from June 3-June 9- GMUHS 14; Mt Holly 31; Ludlow Elem 1.

STATE: The Weekly Covid 19 Surveillance Report for May 29 to June 4 reports low statewide community levels, though Bennington continues to report a high number of cases and Windsor county is in the medium range. The weekly case count was 968 new cases, a decrease of over 500 from last week. There were 52 new admissions to hospital, also a decrease from the prior week.

5 . EVENTS

JUNE 11 (SATURDAY): GMUHS Alumni Parade 11 am, Chester

JUNE 13 (MONDAY): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office

JUNE 17 (FRIDAY): GMUHS graduation 7 pm

JUNE 19 (SUNDAY): HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

-       Happy Juneteenth Learn more about the newest federal holiday by going to JUNETEENTH: A Celebration of Freedom & Resilience

JUNE 20 (MONDAY): Town office closed for Juneteenth

-       CTES Graduation, 6 pm

JUNE 21 (TUESDAY): Last day of school

-       1st Day of Summer Happy Solstice

JULY 4 (MONDAY): Happy 4th of July. Town Office Closed. Fireworks in our area will be as follows:

-       Ludlow 9:30 pm (All day events starting at 9 am Sugar House Location at Okemo Mountain Resort. All events are free)

JULY 6 (WEDNESDAY): The Summer Concert series at Svec Park (Proctorsville Green) the concert series kicks off with the Irish band Gypsy Reel. Concerts begin at 6 pm.

JULY 13 (WEDNESDAY): Summer concert series continues

JULY 30 (SATURDAY): Cavendish’s Annual Town Wide Tag Sale, 9-2.

 

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Cavendish Update 6/3/22: News/Events

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6/3/22

1.    Cavendish Info

2.    Covid update

3.    Events

 

1. CAVENDISH INFO

• Cavendish Historical Society Updates: Learn what’s happening at the Cavendish Historical Society, including upcoming events by going to the June CHS Briefs. Note that the Cavendish Village Ghost Walk is June 18 (Saturday) at 8 pm. Whether you have kids at home or just want to know more about historical events and how they relate to Cavendish, go to the  Carmine Guica Young Historians Update at the CHS Blog. The Museum is now open on Sundays from 2-4 pm and other times by appointment, which can be arranged by calling 802-226-7807 or e-mailing margocaulfield@icloud.com New this summer at the Museum, “hands on history,” table where visitors can engage in various craft projects that relate to history.

Westminster Barracks / Trafficking Fentanyl: On 05/31/2022 Troopers at the Vermont State Police – Westminster Barracks concluded an investigation of an incident that occurred on 02/17/2021 on Depot Street in Cavendish, Vermont. This investigation culminated in the arrest of Kwesi Wilson, 37, Londonderry, Vermont. Wilson was charged with Trafficking Fentanyl, a violation of Title 18 VSA 4233(b). Wilson was cited to appear in Vermont Superior Court – Windsor County, Criminal Division on 07/26/2022 at 0800 hours to answer to the aforementioned charge.VSP

• GMUSD Facilities Renovations Move Ahead: During their special May 26 meeting, the Green Mountain Unified School District board agreed to move forward with the approximately $21 million renovation plan for GMUSD schools with the goal of presenting a bond issue to district voters in the November 2022 election. They also agreed to build an on-campus softball field at GMUHS and approved a playground renovation at Cavendish Town Elementary School as part of the overall project. VT Journal

Summer construction on Vail Bridge, Main St. Ludlow: The Vermont Agency of Transportation is replacing the bridge deck and superstructures for Vail Bridge over Jewell Brook along Main Street in Ludlow Village. Construction is anticipated to start in July and will be completed by the end of October. All work will take place during the day, between sunrise and sunset. During construction, the bridge will be closed for a period of 21 days, to begin no earlier than July 5 and end no later than Oct. 1. During the closure, truck traffic will be guided to state routes, per a signed detour. Local traffic is advised to seek alternate routes. VT Journal

Phil Scott signs bills on free school meals, offensive school mascots

 

2.COVID UPDATE: For local information on testing, vaccinations, boosters, notifying contacts as well as other resources, including for Long Covid, please see the Cavendish COVID-19 Resource Guide.

TRSU SCHOOL NUMBERS: Cases have been reported from May 27-June 2 as follows: GMUHS-8 cases; Mt Holly Elementary-6. No cases reported for CTES

STATE: According to the May 28th Surveillance Report, the rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Vermonters is above 200. New COVID-19 admissions are above 10 per 100,000 Vermonters per day, and the percent of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 is below 10%. The weekly case count was 1,477, a slight decrease over the previous week. There were 64 total new hospital admissions, a slight increase from the previous week. On May 31, there were 36 people in the hospital, the lowest total since April. May saw 30 more Vermonters die from Covid, bringing the total to 670.

Vermont Covid cases drop for first time in months, but levels remain

 

3.EVENTS

JUNE 13 (MONDAY): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office

JUNE 19 (SUNDAY): HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

-       Juneteenth Learn more about this holiday by clicking here.

JUNE 20 (MONDAY): Town office closed for Juneteenth

JUNE 21 (TUESDAY): Last day of school

-       1st Day of Summer Happy Solstice

JULY 4 (MONDAY): Happy 4th of July. Town Office Closed. Fireworks in our area will be as follows:

JULY 6 (WEDNESDAY): The Summer Concert series at Svec Park (Proctorsville Green) kicks off the concert series with the Irish band Gypsy Reel. Concerts begin at 6 pm.

JULY 13 (WEDNESDAY): Summer concert series continues

JULY 30 (SATURDAY): Cavendish’s Annual Town Wide Tag Sale, 9-2.

 

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Cavendish Update 5/27/22: Memorial Day/Concerts/Tag Sale/News

VIEW THE CAVENDISH VT FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THE LATEST NEWS 

Milling has begun on 131 and will continue from the NH/VT line to 106/131 (Downers). Expect delays by the entrance to 91. Drive Safe this holiday weekend.

5/27/22

1.    Memorial Day/Weekend Activities

2.    2022 Cavendish Summer Concert Series

3.    Town Wide Tag Sale

4.    Cavendish Info

5.    Covid update

6.    Events

 

1. MEMORIAL DAY/WEEKEND: While many view Memorial Day as the start of the summer season, it was first observed May 30,1868 to honor those who died in the Civil War.

We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.” James A. Garfield, Arlington National Cemetery.

Originally called Decoration Day, over the years the last Monday in May includes visiting cemeteries and laying wreaths on the graves of loved ones, military or otherwise.

In Cavendish, the CTES 6th graders have visited all of the town cemeteries, placing flags on veterans’ graves and doing a general clean up. They will be cleaning gravestones in early June.

Below is a list of those from Cavendish who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Revolutionary War: While many Patriots are buried in the town cemeteries, particularly the Revolutionary Cemetery, the only ones who died while serving in the war, are buried in unmarked graves in the Coffeen and possibly the Revolutionary Cemetery. They were most likely not from Cavendish, but died on the Crown Point Rd, which was close to both cemeteries.

Civil War: Of the 173 names appearing on the Cavendish Civil War Memorial: 10 died in battle, five from wounds received in battle, 4 in prison, 9 while in the service (diseases like typhoid) and one was lost at sea.

-       Joseph Ashley: Killed in Action (KIA) Gettysburg

-       Zaccheus Blood: KIA Windchester

-       Henry G. Fillebrown: KIA Petersburg

-       J. Quincy French: KIA Wilderness, he was 19

-       Hial W. Holden: Lost on steamer “north America,” off Cape Hatteras.

-       Lowell Paine: Lost on steamer “north America,” off Cape Hatteras.

-       Wesley Sheldon: KIA Cedar Creek

-    John Smith: KIA Petersburg

      -    Henry C. Spaulding: Died in Andersonville Prison

      -    Josiah Dana Thompson: Died from service related consumption

`.   -     James Webster: KIA Cold Harbor

Spanish American War (1898): Six men served from Cavendish, with one person killed in battle-Ernest. C. Grout

WWI: Cavendish sent 57 men and one woman. Of the four who died, three died from disease (most likely flu related)-George Dixon, Winthrop Hoyle (he was only 16), Truman McNulty and Francis Wallace

WWII: One hundred and sixty-eight men and one woman served in the war. Six men were killed in action- Theodore Berg; Harold C. Davy; Duane G. Hodge (killed in an airplane crash in Labrador, brother of Kenneth); Kenneth D. Hodge (Corregidor); Morris Percy; Edward Sherer; and H.W.A. Spaulding

Korea: 55 served, no deaths

Vietnam: 60 served, no deaths

Memorial Day Weekend Activities

• CHS Annual Plant Sale: As always, there will be an “early bird special” on Friday, May 27 from 5-7 pm and continues on May 28 (Saturday) from 9-noon. The sale takes place in front of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum. There are lovely hosta, container veggies and herbs, geraniums and a variety of perennials. The CHS Cares Closet will be open, where books, puzzles and whatever else is free. KN95 masks, adult and children sizes, plus hand sanitizer will be available for free. Moonlite Meadows will have their free range/grass fed beef for sale.

• Ludlow Memorial Day Events: Parade, 9 am on Main St; Veterans Park Ceremony will follow the parade. Click here for more information.

VT Open Studio: May 28 (Saturday) and 29 (Sunday) from 10-5 is the VT Crafts Council’s 30th Anniversary VT Spring Open Studio Weekend. Chris Wuttke of Mason House Pottery, 384 Atkinson Rd in Cavendish will be open.

 Cavendish will not be holding any formal Memorial Day activities on May 30 due to continuing Covid-19

 

2. CAVENDISH 2022 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES:  The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA), on behalf of the Town of Cavendish, is putting together a terrific lineup of talented, popular, local musicians for the Wednesday evening Summer Concerts on the Green series. The music starts this year on July 6th at 6:00 pm, and as always is held on the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville. While the lineup is still under construction, the first concert will be played by perennial local favorite Gypsy Reel who play high energy, stirring music rooted in the Celtic tradition but garnered worldwide.

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. Murdock’s Restaurant, Singleton’s Market, and Outer Limits Brewery each serve takeout food, so please support your local businesses. Wearing masks and physical distancing is encouraged. Please spread out and maintain distancing. FMI:  CavendishCommunityConservation@gmail.com

 

3. CAVENDISH INFO

• Request for Concerns Regarding the Recent Teacher Arrest and how it was handled: The Chester Telegraph has posted the following request for information regarding the recent arrest of GM teacher Norman Merrill for child pornography. A number of parents seem to have concerns about how this was handled by the TRSU. Please email me with those concerns. We would like to have the TRSU address those concerns in a follow up article. cprairie@chestertelegraph.org

Merrill Pleads Not Guilty/Ordered to remain in custody:  GMUHS middle school language arts teacher, Norman Merrill pleaded not guilty to 3 charges of “sexually explicit conduct.” Chester Telegraph

GMUSD board meeting coincides with news of Merrill’s arrest

Fired by GMUSD board, Merrill awaits trial in jail: After  a 58-minute executive session last night, the Green Mountain Unified School District board voted to dismiss Norman Merrill II, who has taught middle school at Green Mountain High for many years. Merrill is in jail in northern Vermont awaiting trial on a three-count federal indictment involving the creation of child pornography. Chester Telegraph

• The Ludlow Rotary Club is continuing its annual scholarship awards to graduating high school students who reside in Ludlow, Mt. Holly, Plymouth and Cavendish. https://www.chestertelegraph.org/2022/05/25/ludlow-rotary-offers-scholarships-to-area-graduating-seniors

•  Shred event at Shaw’s in Ludlow: AID-Certified SecurShred will be accepting paper shredding on June 4, 2022 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Shaw’s Plaza. This event is sponsored by Mary W. Davis Realtor & Associates and is free. Look for the Mary Davis Tent on the day of the event.

Vermont officials say tick season is now all year

 

4. TOWN WIDE TAG SALE: Just about two months from now, the Cavendish Annual Town Wide Tag will be held July 30 (Saturday) from 9-2. If you haven’t registered for a place on one of the town greens, and/or want to promote your sale, do so by e-mailing cavendishconnects@gmail.com or calling 802-226-7807. The more information you can provide, the more we can post at the Cavendish’s Annual Town Wide Tag Sale, 9-2.

 

5. COVID UPDATE: For local information on testing, vaccinations, boosters, notifying contacts as well as other resources, including for Long Covid, please see the Cavendish COVID-19 Resource Guide.

TRSU SCHOOL NUMBERS: Cases have been reported from May 19-May 26 as follows: Chester/Andover Elementary-3; Ludlow Elementary School-7; Mt Holly Elementary-1. No cases reported for CTES or GMUHS.

STATE: According to the May 25 Surveillance Report, Statewide community levels are high but not as high as they have been. They’ve dropped by 23% in the past week. New hospitalizations, while dropping slightly continue-down to 9 admissions per day versus more recent 17 admissions per day. According to VT Digger there is an issue with the state’s database that might be resolved this week. As it is, there isn’t reporting on numbers in hospital, ICU or new cases in this Wednesday’s report.

While Springfield is the closest town to Cavendish monitoring wastewater for indications of Covid, data has yet to be provided. Some of the Vermont monitoring sites show slight decreases, other towns, Essex Junction and Troy/Jay, are reporting an increase in viral levels.

 At many Vermont hospitals, ‘COVID never left’

 

6.EVENTS

MAY 27 (FRIDAY): 5-7 pm, Early Bird Cavendish Historical Society plant sale in front of the Museum

MAY 28 (SATURDAY): 9-noon: CHS Plant sale continues in front of the Museum

MAY 28 (SATURDAY)-MAY 29 (SUNDAY): VT Open Studio tour. See item 1 for more information.

MAY 30 (MONDAY): Memorial Day. Legal holiday. Town Office Closed

JUNE 1 (WEDNESDAY): CCCA’s Cavendish Calendar Photography Contest photographs are due today.  FMI: cavendishcommunityconservation@gmail.com.

JUNE 21 (TUESDAY): Last day of school

-       1st Day of Summer Happy Solstice

JULY 4 (MONDAY): Happy 4th of July. Town Office Closed. Fireworks in our area will be as follows:

JULY 30 (SATURDAY): Cavendish’s Annual Town Wide Tag Sale, 9-2.

 

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