Cavendish Update 1/9/15: News/Election/Events

Thank you to all who donated to the Cavendish Connects December fundraiser.

THE 1/9/15 EDITION OF THE CAVENDISH UPDATE

1. Cavendish Related News

2. Petitions for Town Elected Positions Need to be Filed by Jan. 25

3. Cavendish Q and A: What to do with Christmas Trees

4. Adult Reading Program at the Cavendish Library

5. Black River Produce Donate Land to BRGN

6. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Cavendish Solar Power is Contributing to the Grid: According to town manager Rich Svec, the town’s solar project was installed and operational by Dec. 31 thereby making it possible for the town to receive maximum incentives. A full report on the solar project will be available shortly.

 Cavendish Trees Fund Cavendish Shelter: The Cavendish Fire Department (CFD) is working to strengthen the emergency sheltering capabilities within the town by raising money to purchase an emergency generator for the Cavendish Baptist Church building, which costs approximately $10,000. “Thank You!” to the Cavendish Fire Department and all the individuals who purchased their Christmas tree from the Department. The current balance of the Emergency Shelter Initiative fund is $668 – a good start! To learn more about this initiative and how you can help, go to The Dish. 

 Area Fires: The Proctorsville Fire Department has recently responded to local fires in Ascutney/Weathersfield (Green Dragon Farm-131 and S. Mountain Rd) and to 83 Main Street in Ludlow (corner of Commonwealth Ave and 103) for an explosion. The latter occurred on Jan 3, around 9:30 pm. There was no fire . The origin of the explosion is from a Bock oil fired water heater. While the exact cause of the explosion is unknown, it is not considered “suspicious.” Vermont State Police Press Release

PVFD Totals 85 Calls for 2014: The Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Department has posted their total number of calls (85), man-hours (1,581) and other information for 2014 available at The Dish. *None of theses stats account for the hundreds of hours our Firefighters train, provide fire safety education at CTES, fund raise, and volunteer extra time to the community such as filling the Greven Field Ice Rink etc. through out the year. This has been the busiest year in our 181 year history. We operate as a true volunteer fire dept. as none of our members collect any kind of pay. Thank you to the volunteers of PVFD for making the difference in our community.

Flu is Now Widespread in Vermont and in Cavendish: The flu is now considered "widespread" in Vermont and several local residents have been diagnosed with Type A flu.  If you experience flu symptoms -fever, headache, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and body aches- see your medical provider as soon as possible for medications that can reduce symptoms and avoid complications. Note that nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can occur but are more common among children than adults. For tips on reducing your risk of flu, go to Don’t Have Time to Be Sick: Flu Prevention

JC Penney at Rutland Mall Closing: J.C. Penney confirmed the store will be closing in early April. The mall's Sears store closed just last month. WCAX 

 2. PETITIONS FOR TOWN ELECTED POSITIONS: If you are interested in seeking an elected position for the town, you need to complete a petition (available from the Town Clerk) and file it, along with a minimum of 11 signatures of registered Cavendish voters, with the Town Office, by Jan. 26 (Monday), 5 pm. Elected positions, which will be done by Australian Ballot on Tuesday March 3, include:

• Town Moderator 1 year

• School District Moderator 1 year

• Selectman: One 3 year term and 2 positions for 1 year terms

• Town Agent 1 year

• Lister 3 years

• Auditor: Terms for three, two and one year terms

• Library Trustee: 1 year

• Trustee of Public Funds: 1 and 3 year terms

• Town  Grand Juror: 1 year

• First Constable: 1 year

• Cemetery Commissioners: 3, 4 and 5 year terms

• Town School Directors: One 3 year term and two 1 year terms

• GMUHS Director: 1 and 3 year terms

3. CAVENDISH Q AND A: What to do with a Christmas Tree.

Q: How/where should I dispose of my Christmas tree? Are there any options other than the transfer station?

A: Real trees are biodegradable, which means that can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes. Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Pines, firs and other evergreens have a high content of flammable turpentine oils.  Burning the tree may contribute to creosote buildup and risk a chimney fire. According to Mary O’Brien of the Southern Windsor/Windham Solid Waste Management Christmas trees make excellent habitat for birds and other wildlife if left outside after the holidays. If you have land enough, leave your tree out to decay naturally over time. If you know anyone with goats, talk to them--goats love to eat Christmas trees! More ideas for recycling your Cavendish Christmas Tree.

4. ADULT READING PROGRAM AT THE CAVENDISH LIBRARY:  Looking for a way to beat the winter blahs?  Reading is a great way to do it.  Starting January 12 and running until April, the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library will be running a reading program for adults only.  Loosely modeled on the Summer Program for children, the program is designed to encourage reading during those cold dark months of winter.  Simply check out a book from the library and your name will be entered into a weekly drawing for a small prize.  All of the entries will then be entered into a grand drawing in April for a grand prize.  

 Each month the library will feature different genres and themes.  These will include survival, relationships and crime.  The program will culminate with a Dinner and a Murder event, where participants play a role in solving or perpetrating a murder (not a real one, honest!) while enjoying some great food.  

 This program is free and open to any members of the community 18 and older. For more information, please contact Kata at 226-7503.

 5. BLACK RIVER PRODUCE DONATES LAND TO BRGN: The Board of Directors of Black River Good Neighbor Services in Ludlow has announced the receipt of a major gift from Black River Produce of North Springfield.  The owners of BRP, Mark Curran and Steve Birge have given the Ludlow based food shelf the land on which BRP first ran their wholesale business in the late 1970’s.

Black River Good Neighbor Services operates a food shelf at 37B Main Street in Ludlow to serve the towns of Ludlow, Cavendish, Mount Holly and Plymouth.  They have partnered with Black River Produce for many years to help feed the hungry and this latest gesture of generosity is most appreciated.

“This is quite overwhelming,” said Peter LaBelle, President of the Good Neighbors’ Board.  “We are truly grateful for the kindness that Mark and Steve have shown to the people of Ludlow, and especially to our clients.”

Black River Produce began the wholesale distribution of produce from an old barn in the lot off Pleasant Street in the late 1970’s.  They moved their operations to Proctorsville in 1989 when they outgrew the barn, and then moved to North Springfield in 2005, but still remember their roots in Ludlow.  “We believe in giving back to the community that has been so good to us,” said Steve Birge.  “Black River Produce is all about food and we hate the thought that there are people who cannot afford to eat.  We just wanted to help Good Neighbors in some way.”

5. EVENTS: Monday, Jan. 12 begins the Adult Reading program at the Cavendish Library as well as the Cavendish Select Board meeting, the agenda of which has been posted to The Dish. Tuesday Jan. 13 is the local beekeepers meeting and Friday Jan 16 is the CTES Bake Sale.  For more information on these and other upcoming events, go to: 

• Cavendish Connects Calendar 

•  Okemo Valley Calendar 

                                                SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS 

Select Board Meeting Agenda 1/12/15

The Cavendish Select Board will meet on Monday, Jan 12 at 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. The agenda will be as follows:

1. Call the meeting to order

2. Review/approve minutes of the meeting of December 8, 2014 and January 5, 2015

3. Sign Orders

4. Review Correspondence

5. Adjust agenda

6. Hear Citizens

7. Recreation Director Terry O’Brien present to discuss the Recreation Department budget proposal for FY16

8. Town Manager to explain to the Board that representatives from TDS were not able to attend tonight’s meeting as originally planned but are instead now scheduled to attend the SB meeting of February 9th.

9. At 6:50 pm meet with representatives of the Vermont Adult Learning regarding an external appropriation request for FY16

10. At 7:00 pm meet with representatives of the Cavendish Library Board and the Town Librarian to consider the library appropriation request for FY16

11. Town Manager to ask the members of the board what they wish to proceed in considerations of external appropriation requests which were received this year after the submission deadline.

12. At 7:45 pm meet with Mike Chamberlain, Windsor County Sheriff regarding Sheriff’s Office services and rates proposed for FY16

13. Town Manager to report on preparation and the printing contract award for the 2014 Annual Town Report.

14. Town Manager to solicit topics for inclusion in the Town Manager and Selectmen’s Report for the 2014 Town Report and thoughts on items to be included on the draft of the Town Meeting Warning.

15. Review and sign Annual Town Highway Inventory and Special Highway & Bridge Weight Limit filing

16. At 8:15 pm meet with members of the Cavendish Cemetery Commission for a follow-up and continuation of the discussion of January 7th to review and consider the cemetery request for FY 16 town appropriation.

17. Update on various town activities

18. If time permits, continue general work and discussions on the FY 2014-2015 Selectmen’s Budget

19. Other business

20. Adjourn by 8:45 pm


Stats for PVFD for 2014

Thank you to the Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Department for making such an incredible contribution to our community in 2014. 

Official Call Stats for 2014
Note: None of theses stats account for the hundreds of hours our Firefighters train, provide fire safety education at CTES, fund raise, and volunteer extra time to the community such as filling the Greven Field Ice Rink etc. through out the year.This has been the busiest year in our 181 year history. We operate as a true volunteer fire dept as none of our members collect any kind of pay.

Total # of calls: 86
Average # of Firefighters per call: 8
Total # of Man Hrs: 1581

Personnel Response
Name Calls Made Hrs on Calls
FF Mathew Flinn 78 165
1st Asst Chief Roger Sheehan 77 143
1st Capt Bob Glidden Jr 74 163
FF Karlene Glidden 65 142
Chief Bob Glidden 56 127
1st Lt Seth Perry 53 117
House Capt Brian Fitzgibbons 45 113
2nd Capt Chris Marks 41 99
2nd Asst Chief Rick Sheldon 39 95
FF Amy Perry 36 96  
2nd Lt Nate Rose 30 52
FF Seth Matlofsky 29 57
Safety Officer Ray Fitzgibbons 23 52
FF Cindy Fitzgibbons 17 33
FF Jeremy Carlisle 13 43
FF Brian Kendall 12 26
FF Jessica Rose 11 20
FF Jason James 8 15
FF David Barrows 4 6
FF Willie Ford 3 9
FF Chris Parker 1 6
FF Frank Gould 1 2
FF Jim Glidden 0 0

Truck Response # of Calls
60M1 Tanker 1 33
60M2 Engine 2 57
60M3 Utility 1 63

Type of Calls in Proctorsville
Brush Fire 1 
CO Alarm 3
Chimney Fire 2 
Fire Alarm 8
Medical Assist 16 
Motor Vehicle Crash 7
Motor Vehicle Crash W/ Entrapement 1 
Power Lines Down 2
Public Assist 5 
Snowmobile Crash 1
Snowmobile Fire 1 
Structure Fire 2
Trees down in Roadway 5 
Vehicle Fire 1

Mutual Aid to Cavendish
Chimney Fire 2 
CO Alarm 1
Dhart Med Flight LZ set up 1 
Fire Alarm /Lightning Strike 1
Structure Fire 1

Mutual Aid to Chester
Brush Fire 3 
Cover Truck 4
Flood/Assist with Welfare Checks 1 
Motor Vehicle Crash Fuel Tanker 1
Road Closure 1 
Structure Fire 6

Mutual Aid to Ludlow
Brush Fire 1 
Cover Truck 2
Structure Fire 1

Mutual Aid to Springfield
Structure Fire 1

Mutual Aid to West Weathersfield
Cover Truck 2 
Structure Fire 2

Break Down of Calls by Month
January 16 February 15 
March 5 April 8 
May 2 June 4
July 13 August 3 
September 7 October 2 
November 1 December 10

Cavendish Trees Fund Cavendish Shelter

Often, trees are the reason people lose electrical power. This year, however, the Cavendish Volunteer Fire Department used trees to help provide electricity for future power failures. How? By allocating all the profit from their annual Christmas tree sale to the Department's Emergency Shelter Initiative!

 In order to assist the population of Cavendish in times of emergencies, the Cavendish Fire Department is working to strengthen the emergency sheltering capabilities within our town. The Department is raising money to purchase an emergency generator for the Cavendish Baptist Church building. The projected cost for this endeavor is approximately $10,000.The Cavendish Fire Department believes that the church building makes an excellent shelter facility not only for its large and accommodating physical plant, but also because the Church can modify regular operations in the case of a large-scale ongoing emergency event like the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene.

 Cavendish Baptist Church is sending a big “Thank You!” to the Cavendish Fire Department and all the individuals who purchased their Christmas tree from the Department. The current balance of the Emergency Shelter Initiative fund is $668 – a good start! To contribute to this effort or to coordinate on another public safety project please contact:

Cavendish Volunteer Fire Department

Att: Emergency Shelter Initiative

PO Box 453

Cavendish VT, 05142

Or call the Fire Station at 802-226-7790 and leave a message