Cavendish Update 10/20/23: SB Mtg/Party/News/Events
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10/20/23
1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 10/16/23
2. Depot St. Block Party
3. Vaccine. Clinics
4. Mentors needed
5. Flood Recovery
6. Cavendish Related New
7. Events
1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 10/16/23: Watch the Select Board (SB) meeting at Okemo Valley TV. Unapproved minutes are available at the Cavendish Town website.
Actions/Discussions included:
Approved
• Road Closure for Block Party on Depot St. for Saturday Oct. 21 Please note that this event has been postponed, due to weather, to Oct. 28. See Item 2 below for more details
• Grafton Cheese-Letter of Support for a grant application to open a store at the former Black River Produce Building. Town Manager, Rick Chambers, noted that in the letter he will remind them that the building is in a flood zone.
Cavendish Labs: Members of Cavendish Labs attended Monday night’s meeting to dispel rumors and answer questions resulting from a Facebook post and a rather unusual party invitation. Mirroring Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge in England, they are young scientists who’ve set up an independent, non-profit. Their research focuses on AI (artificial intelligence) and its impact on people and the use of ultra violet light to stop the spread of viruses. Completely computational, they are using computer modeling for their research, hence no chance of a virus “escaping from a petri dish” as this is a computer lab.
Funding itself via grants and donations, Cavendish Labs currently rents two properties in Cavendish village.
When questioned about why they are not published in peer-reviewed journals, Andrew Gritsevskiy noted that not only do they have an article in the October 16 issue of Nature, the world’s leading multidisciplinary science journal, but their field of work changes so rapidly it’s better to post at sites like https://arxiv.org where articles can be reviewed by peers. Gritsevskiy noted it’s taken a year for the Nature article to be published and for AI, that’s just too slow.
For those wondering why they received a can of tomato sauce or pasta as an invite, it’s simple math. It’s much cheaper to send a bag of pasta or tomato sauce via Amazon Prime than purchasing stamps for a letter.
Cavendish Labs can be reached at hello@cavendishlabs.org
Cavendish Community Conservation Association- Flood Hazard Preparation: Robin Timko spoke to the board about CCCA’s interest in hosting a forum on flood hazard mitigation preparation on Nov. 20.
Town Plan Energy Chapter: Approved by the Planning Commission, it now requires the town to have a hearing on this chapter. This will be warned for the December SB meeting.
Old Garage Update: Chambers said the town has filed for an extension on the work plan for the clean up on this past spring’s diesel oil spill. Weston & Sampson is preparing the cleanup plan, but will need to test to determine the extent of the spill and its potential for future use. The site evaluation will be starting in November, with a report due the beginning of the year. An insurance claim as been filed. In the event it’s denied, the town will file for the state’s Petroleum Clean Up Fund.
Manager’s Report
• Estuary 30,000 cubic yards of gravel is being pulled out of the Estuary (off Mill Street by the Water Plant). That should keep the town well supplied with gravel for the next 5-7 years. The work should be completed by the end of this week or the beginning of next week. They are not digging below the armored stream bed. A combination factors resulted in the large amount of gravel coming down the Black River-access to a large floodplain, and the dam downstream. Since this situation is unlikely to correct itself the town was able to get a permit for gravel removal. Chambers said he is hopeful FEMA will reimburse costs for this operation.
• All roads are open. However, paving is needed but not all areas will be paved immediately, with some having to wait until the spring season
• Greven Field: Crown Point Excavating is currently removing the large flood debris and rough grading the fields. It will be possible for playing fields to be re-established but that is not the task of the contractors. That phase of the project will be turned over to the Recreation Director.
• New Hire: Gladys Seville is the new part time office worker. She began work on Monday.
2. DEPOT STREET BLOCK PARTY: Due to rain predicted for this coming weekend, the Depot St. Block party scheduled for tomorrow has been changed to the following Saturday, Oct. 28 starting at 3 pm. Join in for some fun and games-even a relay race-on the forgotten street of the 23 Flood. If you are so inclined, please bring a finger food dish to share (coolers/fridge space available). Plates, napkins, utensils, cups, BBQ, and soft drinks provided. The aim is for a plastic free celebration. Music will be provided by Jill Sachs. FMI: Text Wendy or Stefan 631-334-3510
3. VACCINE CLINICS: On Saturday, October 21, two vaccine clinics will be held in Ludlow as follows: Shaw’s vaccination clinic for Flu and RSV from 10-2. No appointment necessary. Ludlow Health Center: Flu only from 9-1. Call for an appointment 802-228-8867. Walk-ins welcome as long as supplies last. Currently Covid vaccines are available only at pharmacies.
4. MENTORS NEEDED: Windsor County Mentors has just received seven referrals for children in Cavendish who want to have a mentor! This is a large number and it's a good problem to have, but we are eagerly seeking out potential mentors in the Cavendish area. If you are interested in learning more about mentoring or becoming one, please contact Matthew Garcia Executive Director, Windsor County Mentors 802/674-5101 or e-mail info@wcmentors.org
5. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
ARPA Meeting Minutes: At the Oct. 17 meeting, the committee reviewed the first round of applications: Ludlow Area Sports Trails requests $1,000 for a trail sign for their trail project behind Fletcher Farm; Stepping Stones Preschool requests $20,600 for a new playground; Town of Cavendish requests $160-220,00 for new water meters; Town of Cavendish requests $10,000 for an engineering study of the sewer pump stations; Town of Cavendish requests $3,750 for equipment to host virtual meetings and Barbara Dickey requests an unspecified amount for a community center on Depot St. It was agreed to wait until the second round of grant applications are received before approving any applications. The next meeting will be Nov. 21.
CCCA Cavendish Calendar On Sale: The Cavendish Community and Conservation 2024 Cavendish Community Calendar is now on sale at the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library, the Golden Stage Inn on Depot Street, or at the Village Clipper on Main Street in Proctorsville, or you can order them. The cost is $20 per calendar plus $3 shipping for mailed calendars. Send to CCCA, P.O. Box 605, Cavendish, VT 05142. The theme of this year’s calendar is “Cavendish Landscapes” and it celebrates the variety of landscapes in Cavendish. FMI: Robin at 802-259-2327or e-mail cavendishcommunityconservation@gmail.com
CTES Needs Trunks for Trunk or Treat: CTES's parent-teacher group is organizing a trunk or treat at CTES 5-8pm on Oct 27th. Trunk set up starts at 4pm. If you can provide a “trunk” please register on-line or e-mail CTESCPG@gmail.com
Playground Build New Date: Due to the forecast, the final playground build for CTES has been moved to Saturday Nov. 4 and Sunday Nov. 5 8am-4pm ~ or any amount of hours that work for you. Bring wheelbarrows, shovel, steel garden rake, gloves. Sign up by at https://bit.ly/46D8Xp1 Reach out to Jenn Harper with any questions 802-548-7419 Community Service Hours can be earned towards graduation requirements No skills required!!!
Ludlow Farmer’s Market is Closed and Will Not Reopen Next year: For the market to continue at its current location the following would be required: insurance, and a board of directors registered with the state as an LLC. While currently in place, the current board and insurance ends in the next few months.
SEVCA Good Buy Stores in Springfield and Bellows Falls Closing: The Board of Directors and Staff of Southeastern Vermont Community Action, (SEVCA) is announcing the closure of our Good Buy Thrift Stores in Springfield and Bellows Falls effective December 16, 2023. The SEVCA Good Buy stores in Springfield and Bellows Falls will remain open until December 16, with all items marked down 20% starting October 17, 2023. Donations are no longer being accepted. FMI: SEVCA website.
Harry’s Reopens Nov. 3: Harry’s Café, which was heavily damaged in the July floods reopens Nov. 3.
6. FLOOD RECOVERY Cavendish Guide for Flood Recovery for up to date resources and information.
Crown Point Board of Realtors Applications: Recipients of previous recovery funds (Round #1 & #2) who still have a high burden of debt due to flood repairs, whose homes are uninhabitable or unhealthy or who still have issues with heat, plumbing and electricity may be considered in this Round #3! ONE FOCUS OF ROUND THREE IS TO SEEK OUT AND FIND THOSE IN NEED WHO MAY HAVE BEEN MISSED IN THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS. The Crown Point Board of REALTORS has been tasked by the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce to dispense funds that were raised by them in the aftermath of the recent flooding.
7. EVENTS
OCTOBER 21 (SATURDAY): Vaccine Clinics in Ludlow. See Item 3 above.
OCTOBER 27 (FRIDAY): Trunk or Treat at CTES 5-8 pm.
OCTOBER 28 (SATURDAY): DEPOT ST BLOCK PARTY 3 PM See Item 2 above.
OCTOBER 31 (TUESDAY): HAPPY HALLOWEEN
• Trunk or Treat at Benson’s Chevrolet from 5-7 pm
• Ludlow Community Center, 37 Main St., Haunted house display
NOVEMBER 4-5 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY): Final playground build for CTES 8am-4pm ~ or any amount of hours that work for you. Bring wheelbarrows, shovel, steel garden rake, gloves. Sign up by at https://bit.ly/46D8Xp1Reach out to Jenn Harper with any questions 802-548-7419 Community Service Hours can be earned towards graduation requirements No skills required!!!
NOVEMBER 5 (SUNDAY): Fall back, return to standard time. Use this as a reminder to check batteries in smoke and radon detectors.
NOVEMBER 10 (MONDAY): Veteran’s Day Town Office Closed
NOVEMBER 17-19 (FRIDAY-SUNDAY): Okemo Mountain School Ski & Swap, Round House at Jackson Gore. Friday 4-7; Saturday 8-5 and Sunday 9-1. To sell used equipment, it must be dropped off at the Round House at Jackson Gore 10-3 on Sat. Nov. 11, Sun Nov. 12, Wed. Nov. 15. All sales Benefit OMS. FMI: OMS website
NOVEMBER 23 (THURSDAY): HAPPY THANKSGIVING Town office closed
NOVEMBER 24 (FRIDAY): Town Office closed.
