Cavendish Update 12/19/25: SB Mtg/Wastewater/News
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Saturday Dec. 20: Stuff a Fire Truck Food Drive takes place from 9-5 at Singleton’s in Proctorsville and Shaws Parking Lot in Ludlow to benefit the BRGNS Food Shelf. Thank you Proctorsville and Ludlow Fire Departments.
Just in time for the holidays, That’s Chocolate, made by Cavendish chocolatier Maren Muter, is now available at SuperRoasted, 73 Depot St. They are open Thursday-Sunday from 7 to 10ish. Heavy emphasis on the “ish.”
Christmas Trees and Greens sale continues at Cavendish Fire Dept this weekend
Wood Fire Moisture Meters are available from the Ludlow Library
NORAD SANTA TRACKER: Begins on Dec. 24
12/19/25
1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting
2. Wastewater Testing
3. Cavendish Related News
4. Events Calendar
1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 12/8/25: A video of December’s Select Board (SB) meeting is available at the Okemo Valley TV website and the unapproved minutes are at the town website.
Prior to the SB meeting, a public hearing was held on proposed subdivision regulations. Note that adoption of the regulations will most likely be on the ballot for March town meeting. Minutes from this meeting are available at the town website and a video of the meeting is available at the Okemo Valley Website. The Chester Telegraph has an article on the hearing as well.
Approved
• Liquor licenses for TreBar LLC, 73 Depot St. and special permit for Watson Wheeler Cider for an event at Singleton’s on Dec. 13
• Debra Norton to serve on the Proctorsville Fire Dept. Prudential Board
• Budget meetings on Mondays Dec. 22 (6 pm) and Jan.6 (6 pm) and at the regular January meeting-the 12th-at 6:30.
Discussed
• Act 181-Future Land Use (FLU) Maps: Rick Chambers, town manager, explained that this Act was done in response to increase Vermont housing by easing Act 250 restrictions. Since Cavendish has no zoning, developers are subject to Act 250. Little has changed from the last time the FLU maps were updated for Cavendish (2022) except for the description of land use classes. Jason Rasmussen, from Mt. Ascutney Regional Commission (MARC), which is responsible for developing the FLU maps, said that Village Center Designations will not need to be renewed and he plans to have the map finalized by February for preliminary review by the State Land Use Board. Rasmussen suggested that the town may want to have a public meeting on the map. While the town website has a copy of the Proposed FLU it’s not easy to read and it’s recommended that people stop by the town office and look at the enlarged map.
Old Town Garage: As a result of the oil spill in 2023, testing continues, most recently last spring, to determine contaminate levels in the soil. Because of dry conditions, testing wasn’t done this fall but will be this coming spring.
Parking Ordinance: Chambers continued the discussion of Parking Ordinances, which only pertain to town roads and does not impact Route 131. The sheriff will not ticket cars unless there are no parking signs posted. The current winter parking ordinance can be amended to post no parking signs. Abandoned vehicles have their own set of rules, permitting them to be towed.
Town Clerk and Treasurer Positions: Diane McNamara has decided not to run for her current position as Town Clerk/Treasurer. Anyone interested in these positions needs to file a petition, with at least 10 signatures, by January 26, 2026. While McNamara currently holds both positions, it can be two separate people, and the current town auditor, Andy Amstutz, noted that the town treasurer position is a technical one. In the event no one opts to run for these positions, the SB can appoint someone. Chambers said those interested in the role of town clerk and treasurer should check the Vermont League of Cities and Towns website. Click here for Town Clerk and here for Treasurer
Manager’s Report: The first flashing radar speed sign was put up on Depot St. in Proctorsville and should blink when speeds exceed 36 MPH. The town has four more to put on Route 131, which will take place in the spring. Chambers has asked the state to fix the blinking school speed limit sign.
2. WASTEWATER TESTING: A lot of comments were made to the Cavendish VT Facebook posting of very high levels of COVID in Ludlow’s wastewater a week ago. There seems to be a lot of misinformation out there about why this is being done, what it means if levels are high and is this something new.
What is wastewater Surveillance: According to Vermont Rural Water Association Wastewater surveillance can identify the presence and estimate the amount of a pathogen in a population (sewershed) without relying on clinical data, such as from hospitals and laboratories. It compliments other types of public health data, often providing signals sooner than other surveillance systems. Data from a wastewater treatment facility represent people who live, work, play, or travel within a sewershed
Vermonters can now check levels and trends of common respiratory viruses detected in wastewater on a new dashboard. The viruses currently include Influenza A, the most common flu virus, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Wastewater treatment facilities currently participating in the surveillance program are: Burlington– Main, Essex Junction, Middlebury, Montpelier, Ludlow, and South Burlington–Airport Parkway. SARS-CoV-2 data will be added soon for Brattleboro, Milton, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, and Springfield.
The dashboard shows virus levels (very low, low, moderate, high, very high) for a sewershed of interest or all sites combined. Trends over the last 28 days (decrease, stable, increase) are available for each sewershed. A graph shows levels over time while a map displays the sewershed selected.
The dashboard is intended for a general audience, with additional statistics and explanations available for those interested in understanding how the data are calculated.
The dashboard can be found on the Vermont Department of Health Respiratory Illness Activity website. Scroll down to “Wastewater Monitoring.”
How long has wastewater testing been around? In the 1940s, wastewater was tested to track for various diseases, particularly polio, in an effort to contain disease outbreaks in the US. Testing has significantly advanced since then and it can detect Covid virus before people have symptoms. Because nasal swab testing was limited during the early stages of the global spread of Covid, wastewater testing was suggested as a way to bypass some of the bottlenecks in the testing infrastructure and identify areas where outbreaks were just starting. It's basically an early warning device to help communities be aware when an infectious disease is present and to take measures to reduce its spread.
What does a very high level mean? A high level reading indicates that the virus is circulating within the community indicating the potential for increased risk of infection.
3. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
• Respiratory Weekly Report: The health department’s Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont reports Covid concentrations in Ludlow waste water have dropped from very high to low for the week of 12/7-12/12. As of Dec. 6, flu levels remain minimal in Vermont. If you are in need of masks or hand sanitizer these are available for free at the Cavendish Cares Closet next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum.
• Cavendish Library Hours for the holidays: The library will be open as follows: Tuesday Dec. 23 9-6; Christmas Eve (Wednesday) 9-12; Tuesday 12/30 9-6; New Year’s Eve 9-2.
• Free online access to digitized copies of State of Vermont Public Records and Newspapers:Courtesy of the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA) and our partners, Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com, Vermont residents have free online access to digitized copies of State of Vermont public records and newspapers of record in the state archives.
4. EVENTS
DECEMBER 20 (SATURDAY): Stuff a Fire Truck to benefit BRGNS food shelf Singleton’s in Proctorsville and Shaw’s Ludlow 9-5
DECEMBER 24 (WEDNESDAY): Christmas Eve NORAD Santa Tracker
DECEMBER 25 (THURSDAY): MERRY CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 31 (WEDNESDAY): New Year’s Eve
JANUARY 1 (THURSDAY): HAPPY NEW YEAR