Town and School Budget/Ballot for 2017-2017

The Town budget for FY 2016-2017 is $1,344,981, while the Cavendish Town Elementary School budget for the same time period is $1,914,620. Both budgets are close to a 1% increase over the previous year.

Note that the town budget will be voted on for adoption at Town Meeting on Monday, Feb. 29, 7 pm at the Cavendish School. The school budget will be voted on by Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 1, 10-7 at the school.

The slate of elected offices to be voted on by Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 1, 10-7 at the school, will be as follows:

• Town Moderator (1 year): No applicants

• School Moderator (1 year): No applicants

• Selectmen (2 positions-1 year term): Jillian Flinn and Wendy Regier

• Selectman (1 position-3 year term): George Timko

• Town Agent (1 year): Dan Churchill

• First Constable(1 year): Seth Perry

• Lister (3 year): Jane Pixley

• Lister (2 year): Diane McNamara

• Auditor (1 year): Peter Labelle

• Auditors ( 2 and 3 year terms): No applicants

• Trustee of Public Funds: Dan Churchill

• Town School Director (2 positions-1 year terms): Barbara Dickey and Doug McBride

• Town School Director (1 position-3 year term): Fred Marin

• GMUHS Director (1 position 3 year term): Michael Kell

• Library Trustee (5 year term, 1 position): Mary McCallum

• Library Trustee (4 year term, 1 position): Vacant

• Town Grand Juror: Terry McNamara

• Town Agent: Dan Churchill 1 year

 There are no races for any positions this year. For the first time in many years, the positions of town and school moderators, currently held by Will Hunter and previously by Rolf van Schaik, have no applicants. Anyone interested in running for office as a write-in can make that announcement at Town Meeting.

The Annual Report will soon be mailed to voters addresses and will also be available on-line at the Town’s Municipal website. 

Cavendish Upate 1/29/16 New/Events

Original rope tow at Okemo, which turns 60 on Feb. 1.

1/29/16 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Okemo Valley Women’s Club February Meeting
3. Trip to El Salvador with Gethsemane Church
4. Events
 
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Former CTES Board Member Dies: It is with sadness that we remember Mike Ceravole, a member of the CTES board for many years, who has died. He and his wife Pat Apicella were involved in a number of community activities, including the CCCA, before they moved to Baldwinsville, NY to be closer to family. Our condolences to Pat and his many friends and family. 
 
Police Investigate ATM Skimming at Okemo: Ludlow Police and federal authorities are investigating ATM skimming incidents at Okemo. Authorities say a visitor attempted to used an ATM at the ski resort's base lodge on Sunday and that his debit card got stuck. While trying to remove it, the card skimming device came off in their hand.  Police confirmed it was a skimming device, used to fraudulently obtain credit/debit card information.  A second device was also found at the Jackson Gore base lodge. Police are urging visitors who may have used the machines to contact their bank and/or credit card company. WCAX
 
Okemo at 60: A Story of Lofty Aspirations and Success: On Jan. 31, 1956, the locals had a chance to try out the three trails that would become Okemo Mountain resort. On Feb. 1, the area officially opened to the public with three trails, a summit warming hut (the Wigwam), Okemo’s small warming hut/base lodge, a ski school, and a ski patrol. There were 800 skiers for the inaugural weekend. Mountain Times
 
Bruce McKenna Writing Biopic of Solzhenitsyn: Primeridian Entertainment has tapped Bruce McKenna to adapt it untitled movie about Russian dissident writer, and former Cavendish resident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. The biopic is adapted from D.M. Thomas’s biography “Alexander Solzhenitsyn: A Century in His Life.” McKenna was the creator and co-executive producer of HBO’s “The Pacific,” and wrote three episodes of HBO’s “Band Of Brothers,” winning a Writers Guild Award. He also worked as a journalist in Russia. Variety
 
Vermont Sees Growth in Food Business: In the last five years, Black River Produce, a wholesale distributor of fresh food, has doubled its sales and staff and added a much-sought-after slaughterhouse in southern Vermont as demand for locally produced food continues to climb. Around the state, Vermont has added 5,300 food-related jobs between 2009 and 2014, according to the Farm to Plate annual report presented to the Legislature this week. That growth comes with a rising demand for locally produced foods. Boston Globe
 
GMP Customers Overwhelmingly Satisfied with Company: Customers of Green Mountain Power are incredibly pleased with their energy company, a new study concluded, with 92% saying they are satisfied with the service they received from GMP. The customer study shows an improvement of four percentage points over the last year. In addition, 90% rated their trust in GMP as high, up four percentage points from the previous year. Reliability, especially in the wake of recent intense storms over the past several years, is critically important to customers and 97% say GMP provides reliable electric service. Press Release
 
Health Officials Don’t Expect Zika Virus Outbreak in VT: Vermont health officials say they expect there will be some cases of the Zika virus diagnosed in the state in those who travel, but they don't expect an outbreak. The mosquito-borne virus is linked to birth defects mostly in Central and South America, and there is currently no vaccine. But health officials say the types of mosquitoes that spread the virus are not in Vermont. WCAX
 
2. OKEMO VALLEY WOMEN’S CLUB FEBRUARY MEETING 
The February meeting of the GFWC Okemo Valley Women's Club will be held Monday, February 8, 2016. This month's speaker will be Audrey Bridge, Executive Director of Black River Good Neighbor Services.  Audrey will speak about the operations and mission of BRGN. There will also be a business meeting and refreshments. The meeting will be held at the Black River Valley Senior Center in Ludlow at 7pm. Any one interested in attending is welcome. Please contact a club member, President Marylou Shaw at 802-228-5673 or Membership officer Roxie Davis at 802-226-7417.
 
GFWC, the General Federation of Women's Clubs, is an international women's organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.
 
3. TRIP TO EL SALVADOR WITH GETHSEMANE CHURCH
The members of Gethsemane Church in Proctorsville invite you to join them on a learning trip to El Salvador this coming April 16-23.  Already 10 members and friends of Gethsemane are making plans to travel to Central America and participate in an interactive experience organized by Foundation Cristosal.  This is not a work project but a listening and learning project in which participants will visit and have discussions with citizens of El Salvador, learn about their history and current situation, build relationships and engage in dialogue.  
 
The group will be multi-generational (from teenagers to older adults) and will stay in guesthouse accommodations in the capital city San Salvador while making field trips to many parts of the country.  No knowledge of Spanish is necessary.  You can read more details on the Episcopal Church in Vermont website.
 
There will be a potluck supper and discussion for anyone who is interested on Saturday, February 6 at 5pm in the Gethsemane Church parish hall on Depot Street in Proctorsville.  For more information please contact the Rev. Todd McKee at GethsemaneChurchVT@gmail.com or 603-667-5458.
 
4. EVENTS
January 31 (Sunday): Free Dinner (Scottish food) and a Movie (Outlander) at the Cavendish Library at 1 pm. Atlantic Crossing will be performing as part of Raise the Roof Concert Series, 4 pm at Gethsemane Church, Proctorsville.
 
February 2 (Tuesday): Cavendish Community Lunch at the Parish Hall of Gethsemane Church, Depot Street, Proctorsville.  Menu chicken and broccoli Al Fredo, spaghetti with red sauce and meat, garlic bread, Caesar’s salad, cherry cheese tarts.  Noon at Gethsemane church on Depot St.  Suggested donation, $4.  
 
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects January Calendar. 

Cavendish Update 1/22/16 News/Scholarship/Event

This issue of the Cavendish Update has been made possible by a donation from Gary McElligott. Thank you for your support. If you have not made a donation recently, please consider doing so that we can continue to provide the Update in February
 
1/22/16 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Barbara Jean Barker Memorial Scholarship
3. Free Dinner and a Movie at the Cavendish Library
4. Events
 
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Claremont Wal-Mart No Longer 24/7 Starting Feb. 1: Beginning Feb. 1, Wal-Mart in Claremont will no longer be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Instead, the store will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight, but still seven days a week. The move comes as Wal-Mart announced plans to close 269 stores globally and in the U.S. as part of an effort to streamline operations that will result in the loss of approximately 16,000 jobs. No stores in the twin state region are slated to close.
 
Cavendish Elected Position Vacancies: Jan. 25 (Monday), 5 pm is the date and time petitions, with signatures by registered voters, must be filed for all elected town positions (e.g. Select board, school board etc.). This year, there is a vacancy for Town Moderator and School Moderator. If you are interested, please stop by the Town Office. FMI: 802-226-7292
 
2. BARBARA JEAN BARKER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The General Federation of Women's Clubs of Vermont (GFWC - VT), announces the availability of this year's Barbara Jean Barker Memorial scholarship. This non-traditional scholarship is offered to Vermont women who are displaced homemakers and have lost their primary means of support through death, divorce or separation of a spouse, disability or long-term unemployment of a spouse. Eligible women are those who are in need of education or training to enter the work force. Applicants must submit a specific plan for their education or training.
 
The scholarships range from $500 to $1500. This is the 22nd year of awarding this financial aid, which is funded through GFWC state federated clubs and individuals. In those 22 years women from a wide range of communities throughout the state have received the award.
 
The memorial scholarship is named for Barbara Jean Barker of Poultney who served as Vermont state federation president from 1992 - 1994 and who was instrumental in establishing this scholarship program. The scholarships will be awarded at the state federation annual meeting in May 2016.
 
Applications for the Barbara Jean Barker Memorial Scholarship can be obtained from Midge Tucker, 4246 Route 100, Plymouth VT 05056, midgetucker@gmail.com, 802-672-3086. Applications are also available through federated women's clubs in several Vermont towns including the local GFWC Okemo Valley Women's Club, which has placed applications in locations around Ludlow including Fletcher Memorial Library and Black River Good Neighbor Services thrift store.  
 
3. FREE DINNER AND A MOVIE AT THE CAVENDISH LIBRARY
The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library presents the first dinner and a movie of the year on Sunday January 31 at 1:00 in the library.  It will feature the first few episodes of the hit television series “Outlander” and a generous tasting of Scottish food.  This event is free and open to the public, though donations are gratefully accepted.
 
4. EVENTS
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects January Calendar. For regional events, check out the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce Calendar.

Select Board Agenda 1/20/16

Selectmen’s Budget Work Session Meeting, Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 in the Cavendish Town Office Meeting Room at 6:00 PM.

1. Call the meeting to order

2. Review Correspondence

3. Final review of FY 2016-2017 Selectmen’s Budget including some adjustment suggestions offered by the manager.

4. Discuss draft of the March 2016 Annual Town Meeting Warning

5. Town Manager to request purchase of a new hot water high pressure washer using funds from the Capital Equipment Fund.

6. Adjourn by 7:15 pm sharp