Cavendish Update 4/17/15 SB Mtg/News/Events

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4/17/15 EDITION OF THE CAVENDISH UPDATE
1. Select Board Meeting 4/13/15
2. Cavendish Related News
3. Celebrating Earth Day/ Week/Month Cavendish Style
4. Household/Hazardous Waste Disposal
5. Tiemann Memoirs: Chapter 7/Foraging in Cavendish
6. CCCA Celebrates Ten Years
7. 5th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale: July 25
8. VT Golden Honey Festival-Sept 12 Vendors/Save the Date
9. Events
 
1. SELECT BOARD MEETING 4/13/15
Select board (SB) meetings are recorded by LPC-TV and are available at their website and on Comcast Television.  Written minutes are available at the town’s website.  Two SB members were absent George Timko and Wendy Regier. Monday night’s meeting included the following:
• Annual Town Highway Financial Plan adopted
• Approved the opening of two new town accounts: Ballantine Animal Fund and changing the Recreation Fund from a savings to a checking account
• Approved a renewal of the Williams’ Country Store Liquor license
• Reviewed and approved the Cavendish Local Basic Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP)
• Approved pursing plans to hire an assistant to work with town manager Rich Svec in several areas including but not limited to: cemetery supervision, transfer station administration, project and program development and supervision, grant applications, grant administration, wrapping up remaining Irene recovery activities.
• Discussed the following bridges/Culverts: Davis, Depot Street, Greenbush/Stephens
 
For a full report on the SB meeting, go to The Dish. 
 
2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Marion’s Floral Shop Closing: April 17th is the last day for Marion’s Flower Shop in Proctorsville. She is returning to the postal service.
 
Taking Stock of the Two Rivers SU Consolidation: As part of VT Public Radio’s Declining Enrollment series, the Superintendent Bruce Williams of Two Rivers Supervisory Union- the district Cavendish is part -, spoke about the impact of the merger of Ludlow and Windsor County Southwest supervisory unions . "The bulk of the savings that were achieved by the creation of the new Two Rivers Supervisory union … probably 80 to 90 percent of those savings came directly from reduced staff at the supervisory union level ... There were some initial estimates that were based on somewhat faulty data, so some people would say we didn’t save as much as those projections. I think once we got a grip on the data itself, I think our savings have come out pretty close to what we’ve projected. To give you a round number, I think we have saved something in the neighborhood of $300 per child." VPR 
 
Zach McNaughton’s Students Once Again Heading to National SkillsUSA Conference: Proctorsville resident Zach McNaughton, a teacher at the River Valley Technical Center in Springfield, once again has a gold medal SkillsUSA Vermont team that is qualified to compete at the National SkillsUSA Conference for Digital Cinematography. The team needs to raise $4000 total with $2,500 due by May 15th in order to attend Nationals. To learn how you can help them, go to Go Fund Me site. 
 
VT is Snowfall Leader: Ski Vermont announced Monday that Vermont received the most snowfall of any state in the continental U.S. this season. Jay Peak Resort leads the way, with 357 total inches as of April 13. Vermont resorts have seen an average of about 240 inches of snow this season. Rutland Herald 
 
Hannaford Recalling Pine Nuts: The Portland Press Herald reports the pine nuts are packaged by Superior Nuts & Candy of Chicago and are sold in store produce departments in packages with a clear front and a tan label on the back. The label says pine nuts are the only ingredients and lists "best by" dates from Oct. 22, 2015, through Dec. 27, 2015. The UPC number for the product is 72543920016. The federal Food and Drug Administration picked up the potential for contamination in random tests of the nuts. Hannaford says the product is now removed from its shelves and anyone who bought them there can get a refund. Salmonella is a bacteria that causes diarrhea and fever. 
 
3. CELEBRATING EARTH DAY/ WEEK/MONTH CAVENDISH STYLE
April is Earth Month, the 22nd is Earth Day and the 20th begins Earth week. To mark the occasion, here are some ways you can celebrate without leaving town:
• Attend the Cavendish Solar Array Dedication on April 20, 11 am at the site, located off Power Plant Rd., next to the wastewater treatment plant
• Protect the Bees by what you grow, not using chemicals and pesticides and becoming involved in the local beekeepers group.
• Order a Composter or Sure Waste Container from the Southern Windsor/Windham County Solid Waste District by May 1
• Take a “Green Clean” Walk and pick up trash around your neighborhood
• Make your own earth friendly cleaning products.
 
For more details, go to The Dish. 
 
4. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL 5/9/15
The Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District is sponsoring free events for the collection and safe disposal of household hazardous wastes on Saturday, May 9.  Residents and businesses from Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish, Chester, Grafton, Ludlow, Plymouth, Reading, Rockingham, Springfield, Weathersfield, West Windsor, and Windsor, Vermont may participate.  No pre-registration for residents. Businesses must pre-register and will be charged for disposal costs.  The collections will be held at the Springfield Transfer Station from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and at the former Goodyear Building in Windsor from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  Bring in a mercury fever thermometer and receive a new digital fever thermometer. For more information, call 674-9235 or click on www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org for a list of what to bring.
 
5. TIEMANN MEMOIRS: CHAPTER 7/FORAGING IN CAVENDISH
A frost on Labor Day weekend is a harbinger of the coldest winter in Vermont’s history. Loosing valuable crops to the early frost, many in Cavendish would have recognized the warning signs that the Thiemann’s did not.  The Depression was at its height and most had little money to spare. Fortunately, the land provideS a variety of game, fish and plants that are edible. Following Chapter 7, is a segment on “Foraging in Cavendish. 
 
To read the prelude and other chapters of Tiemann’s Memoirs go to Coming to Vermont (Cavendish): Memoirs of Philip Tiemann. 
 
6. CCCA CELEBRATES TEN YEARS 
The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association is celebrating ten years of service to Cavendish and to commemorate the anniversary the organization will throw a party for the town. On Saturday, May 2nd at 6:00 p.m. at the Proctorsville firehouse the group will host a free pasta dinner for the Cavendish/ Proctorsville community. All residents are invited.
 
Robin Timko, president of the group, announced that Vermont Secretary of Natural Resources, Deb Markowitz will address the community at the dinner. Timko said, “We have had a successful ten years getting established as an educational resource for the town and we just want to celebrate this milestone. We are so fortunate to have Secretary Markowitz join us for our event. We hope that all of our neighbors will join us too.”
 
The CCCA maintains an active presence in conservation, energy use and the arts through various committees. Activities include the Walk and Talk lecture series, the Summer Concerts on the green, the Cavendish Energy Committee, the Cavendish Community Fund, and the annual Town Meeting preview. “There is always room for more, and we can always use more help and ideas,” said Timko. “But now, let’s celebrate.”
 
For more information, please contact Robin Timko at 802-226-7736.
 
7. 5TH ANNUAL TOWN WIDE TAG SALE
The sun and warm temps this week are definitely putting us in the mood for spring- cleaning. It’s a good time to sort out what you might want to sell at the 5th Annual town wide tag sale, which will be held on July 25 (Saturday) from 9 – 3 pm.  Sponsored by Cavendish Connects, if you wish to register for space at the Greens, or have your site listed on the vendor list (print and on-line) send an e-mail to cavendishconnects@gmail.com or call 802-226-7807. Please note that the more information on sale items you provide, the more shoppers you will attract.
 
For more information and to see who has already registered, go to 5th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale. 
 
8. VT GOLDEN HONEY FESTIVAL-9/12/VENDORS/SAVE THE DATE 
On Sept. 12 (Saturday), from 10-4, the Golden Stage Inn in Proctorsville, will once again be hosting the VT Golden Honey Festival featuring artists, crafters, beekeepers, and food purveyors. The festival is free, offers kids crafts and activities, temporary tattoos, honeybee education, a scavenger hunt and much more. If you are interested in being a vendor, please go to VT Golden Honey Festival Facebook page for more information or call 802-226-7744.
 
9. EVENTS
GMUHS and CTES Spring break is this coming week. Monday, April 20, is the dedication of the Cavendish Solar Array. For more information on these and other events, go to the Cavendish Connects calendar.  For regional events see the Okemo Valley Calendar.

Select Board Meeting 4/13/15

Select board (SB) meetings are recorded by LPC-TV and are available at their website and on Comcast Television.  Written minutes are available at the town’s website.  Two of SB members were absent George Timko and Wendy Regier. Monday night’s meeting included the following:

1. Action Taken

• Annual Town Highway Financial Plan adopted

• Approved the opening of two new town accounts: Ballantine Animal Fund and changing the Recreation Fund from a savings to a checking account

• Approved a renewal of the Williams’ Country Store Liquor license

• Reviewed and approved the Cavendish Local Basic Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP)

• Approved pursing plans to hire an assistant to work with town manager Rich Svec in several areas including but not limited to: cemetery supervision, transfer station administration, project and program development and supervision, grant applications, grant administration, wrapping up remaining Irene recovery activities.

2. Telecommunications: Comcast was to attend the April meeting. After a number of tries, Svec finally has appropriate contact information and will coordinate getting a representative to the meeting.

3. Bridges

Culvert/Bridge Study: Katherine Otto of the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission (SWCRPC) provided the SB with the summary findings of the “Cavendish Bridge and Culvert Inventory.” Of the 733 culverts, 79% are town owned. While Cavendish has an average number of culverts, when compared to surrounding towns, they have fewer bridges. Thirty-Seven culverts were considered to be in poor condition, while 33% are less than the state standard of 18 inches and some were only 12 inches. The current town budget for culverts is $3,200. Otto recommended that if the town bumped up to $5,000 they could do a lot more to resolve issues. She also recommended that the town apply for funding-grants due May 15-and she would be willing to work with Svec on the application.

Davis Road Bridge: Under construction, the bypass is now much tighter, but it avoided a six-mile detour. When the concrete is poured the bridge will be closed  for a few hours. Projected completion date is early summer-June.

Bridge #21Greenbush/Stephens Road: The culvert is in such disrepair that Svec requested that an application be submitted this year for replacement in 2016-2017.

Bridge # 58 Depot Street: On May 11 (Monday), at 6:30 pm, as part of the Cavendish Select Board’s (SB) regular monthly meeting, there will a special hearing regarding the Depot St Bridge in Proctorsville, which is due for replacement in the next few years. For more information about this meeting. 

 4. Hazardous Mitigation Plan: Hazard mitigation is any sustained effort to permanently reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from the effects of hazards (e.g. floods, winter storms, high winds, material spills). The purpose of this plan is to identify such risks and how to reduce them. Cindy Ingersoll of SWCRPC has been working with Svec on this project. Some modifications were made to the first draft during the course of the meeting. Svec and Ingersoll will meet soon to finish the document and submit it.

 5. VELCO Connecticut Valley Transmission Line Project Presentation: An upgrade from the Coolidge Substation (Cavendish) to the Asctuney station is being planned. A presentation on the project had been scheduled for May 11, but given other items scheduled , it was agreed to move the presentation to either May 6 (Wednesday and Planning Commission meeting) or Monday, May 4.

 6. Cemeteries: Following this year’s town meeting vote to give the town/SB responsibility for the cemeteries, a petition was started to revote this article. Requiring a 30-day period from the day of the vote, no petition was submitted. Woodie Woods has been helping in the interim. He has received one estimate ($12,500) for mowing the two largest cemeteries-Cavendish High Street and Hillcrest in Proctorsville for the season. The company would provide their own equipment, insurance coverage etc. However, there are five smaller cemeteries that need to be done with hand equipment. At this point, Svec is still gathering information about how to proceed with this new responsibility. Woods noted that there are three interments that need to take place. These are slated for mid-May.

 7. Energy Committee Report

• Solar Array Dedication: On Monday, April 20, there will be a dedication of the Solar Array at 11 pm at the site, followed by reception at the town office.

 • Solarize Makes Sense:  Cavendish has joined with Reading, Brownsville, Weathersfield and Windsor to work as a team to promote residential solar power through a program called “Solarize Makes $ense”, run by the non-profit Vital Communities.  For more information. 

8. Municipal Water: The exact cause of the excess water usage that required drawing water from the second well thus triggering a “boil water” notice is uncertain. However, several things were found: a possible slow leak on one of the valves (this will be checked after the snow is gone); and one if not two houses had leaks due to frozen pipes bursting. One house had a ¾ inch pipe that had been gushing water for several days.

Svec asked that if municipal water users have a leak, it’s important to let the town know so they have a better sense of what’s going on

Celebrate Earth Month/Week/Day in Cavendish

April is Earth Day, the 22nd is Earth Day and the 20th begins Earth week. To mark the occasion, here are some ways you can celebrate without leaving town:

1. Attend the Solar Array Dedication: Monday, April 20th at 11:00 a.m. It will be held at the new Cavendish Municipal Solar Array site, which is located off Power Plant Road next to the wastewater treatment plant. All citizens and residents of Cavendish are invited to attend. After the ribbon cutting and remarks there will be a reception with light refreshments at the Cavendish Town Offices, 37 High Street in Cavendish.

2. Protect the Bees: Try one or more of these activities this summer:

• Let the Clover, Dandelions and Wildflowers Grow: Bees love meadows, with clover being one of their favorite flowers. Cutback on the size of your lawn and let the dandelions (often their first feed after a winter in the hives) and clover grow. If you really are intent on pruning the blackberry bushes, let them bloom first and then trim.

• Avoid chemicals & pesticides in treating lawns and gardens: Research alternative methods to battle bugs and weeds. These include white vinegar, cayenne pepper and insecticidal soaps.  Note, just because a product is organic it doesn’t mean that it cannot harm honeybees and other pollinators.

• How and when you apply products: Apply products to plants when they are not blooming if possible.  Honeybees would not spend time on a plant without blooms. Apply the products during the very early morning hours or at dusk.

• Plant their favorites: Honeybees are most attracted to purple blooms, such as Russian Sage, Lavender, purple Butterfly bushes, Coneflowers (Echinacea), and Liatris to name a few.

• Learn about Bee Keeping: Cavendish is fortunate to have an active bee keeping community. To learn more, check out the VT Golden Honey Festival Facebook page and/ or call 802-226-7744  This year’s Festival will be held on Sept. 12 (Saturday) 10-4.

3. Order a Composter or Sure-Waste Container: Composting bins and Sure Waste Containers are available from The Southern Windsor/Windham County Solid Waste Management District (SWWCSWMD).

Step 1: Download the form in PDF to purchase one or both items. If you can't print out the form, the Cavendish Town Office (226-7291) is happy to do this for you. 

Step 2: Complete the form and enclose a check for $50 for the compositor and/or $5 for the Sure Waste Container. Who to make the check payable to is included on the form.

Step 3: Mail the check and form to the address included on the form by May 1.

Step 4: Pick up your items at the Cavendish Transfer Station on the date provided by SWWCSWMD. FMI: Mary O'Brien 802-226-674-9235

 4. Take a Green Clean Walk (Clean up litter in your neighborhood): With the snow receding at a rapid rate, the trash is blossoming. Take a bag and pick a mile, or whatever distance is comfortable for you,  loop by your home and pick up trash. Go for a “green clean walk” with a friend, kids, family and neighbors. Vermont Green Up Day is May 2 (Saturday). Meet at CTES at 9 to pick up bag and route. BBQ at noon on the Proctorsville Green. 

 5. Try making earth friendly cleaning products 

Select Board Agenda 4/13/15

The monthly Cavendish Select Board Meeting will be held on Monday, April 13, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. The Agenda will be as follows:

1. Call the Meeting to Order

2. Act upon minutes of the meetings of March 9th, 2015

3. Sign Orders

4. Review Correspondence

5. Adjust agenda

6. Hear Citizens

7. Katherine Otto of the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission will be present to share the report and summary findings of the Cavendish Bridge and Culvert Inventory work which is now complete.

8. Town Manager to discuss the submission of the Annual Town Highway Financial Plan which needs to be signed and submitted to the Agency of Transportation.

9. Town Manager to present Town Treasurer’s request for the Select Board to sign resolutions for two new bank accounts.

10. As Local Liquor Control Board, review of Liquor License application for Williams’ Country Store.

11. Town Manager to review Cavendish Local Basic Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP) annual update with the Select Board.

12. Updates on Energy Committee activities including the ribbon cutting event on the solar project and the Solarize Program (in partnership with Reading, Windsor, Weathersfield and Brownsville).

13. Update on Davis Road bridge project

14. Discuss update of Cavendish All Hazards Mitigation Plan

15. Discuss dates for forthcoming VELCO Connecticut Valley Transmission Line Project presentation and Alternatives Presentation by Vtrans regarding Bridge #58 on Depot Street

16. Update on various town activities including spring roads, quarterly budget report, cemetery operations, recent water system boil notice, forthcoming activities, ERP program activities, recreation activities, transfer station activities, etc.

17. Town Manager to discuss plans for the hiring of an assistant to work with him in several areas including, but not limited to: cemetery supervision, transfer station administration, project and program development and supervision, grant applications, grant administration, wrapping up remaining Irene recovery activities.

18. Other business

19. Adjourn