Cavendish Update 2/5/16

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1921 Wheeler School (Twenty Mile and Chapman Rd) Photograph.

1921 Wheeler School (Twenty Mile and Chapman Rd) Photograph.

2/5/16 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Safe at Last In Cavendish
3. Events
 
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Recent Theft on Twenty Mile: The press release from the VT State police reports the robbery at 651 Twenty Mile Stream Road in Cavendish. The address is most likely 2651, which is a construction site. According to the report, sometime between the afternoon of 2/3/16 and morning of 2/4/16, tools were taken from the property. Anyone with information or who may have seen suspicious activity in the area is asked to contact State Police 802-875-2112.
 
GMUHS Annual School District Report and FY 2017 Proposed Budget: The Report is available electronically, by calling the GMUHS Principal’s office at 875-2146 or e-mailing GMUHSAnnualReport@trsu.org Printed copies are available at the Cavendish Town Office and at GMUHS. The Annual meeting for GMUHS is on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Click for an electronic version. 
 
Cavendish 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. There are no contested races for elected positions. 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 by Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 1, 10-7 at the school. For more information and the slate of elected offices, go to The Dish. 
 
Two $1,000 Sammy Pierce Memorial Scholarship for Cavendish and Area Students: A real estate professional Pierce died tragically in a motorcycle accident and a scholarship fund was established in his name. Eligibility is for students from Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish, Chester, Grafton, Ludlow, Mount Holly, Rockingham, Springfield, and Weathersfield who are continuing education in a 2 or 4 year college program. Public and private school students, home schooled, college, adult learners, and previous recipients may apply. While the course of study is not restricted in any way, the applicants must have a strong history of volunteer community service. Applications and information for the Sammy Pierce Memorial Scholarships are available at your local High School, or by contacting Helen Wachtel at 802-275-3902. For more scholarship information as well as other ways to fund Cavendish students to wish to pursue post secondary education, go to Paying for College: Never Too Soon or Too Late. 
 
Senior Companions are Needed for Southern VT: As a Senior Companion volunteer, you’ll join a support network that creates new possibilities and improves the quality of life for elders in your community. Senior Companions spend time with elders who are homebound and/or socially isolated. Activities might include visiting while sharing a cup of tea, playing a game of cards or taking a walk together. Senior Solutions is looking for volunteers age 55+ who are willing to spend about 15 hours per week, visiting seniors in your area. Volunteers will receive a small tax-free stipend, an orientation, training, and mileage reimbursement. But of course the greatest reward is helping relieve the loneliness of a local Senior. FMI: Senior Solutions, Abby Eldridge, 802-257-2338. 
 
VT Implements Tougher Battery Recycling: And as of January, Vermont became the first state to require disposable battery manufacturers to make battery recycling more convenient. "The legislation leads the way for a more convenient way for Vermont residents to dispose of their batteries as Vermont residents are now able to recycle all their household batteries, including AA, AAA, C, D, among other battery-types, by bringing them to drop-off locations throughout the state.” In Cavendish you can take your used batteries to the Cavendish Transfer Station.  For other sites, go to Find Recycling Locations.  VPR
 
VT Spends 10% More than Needed on Education: A nearly 300-page report by Allan Odden, Lawrence Picus and Michael Griffith says that by applying their “evidence-based” school funding model, Vermont could have saved $164 million, or 10 percent, on pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education during the year they examined. Special education is the reason for the lion’s share of the costs. The next big-ticket item is the high number of staff in relation to students in Vermont’s schools. Costs associated with numerous small systems that lack efficiencies also drive up the price of education, the researchers said. VT Digger
 
2. SAFE AT LAST IN CAVENDISH
Written in honor of Black History Month, a new short story from the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS), draws its inspiration from information obtained during the recording of oral histories. As the story goes, a female slave became pregnant after coming to Cavendish via the “underground railroad.”  Consequently, she was given a woodlot for a homestead and she made a living by cleaning, cooking, sewing, doing laundry and other chores.
 
How factual the story is unknown. However, there is good documentation of Cavendish Civil War soldiers bringing former slaves to the community after the war.  Early pictures of students in the various schoolhouses of Cavendish show African descent students. One such picture is from the 1921 Wheeler (Twenty Mile Stream) school that identifies a black student as James or “Sunny.”  No last name was provided. While we have learned that Sunny’s (James) mother was a cook at the Bates Mansion, and probably attended the Wheeler School for several years, if you have any additional information, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.
 
Safe at Last in Cavendish is a fictionalized account of how a female slave could have ended up here and contains a number of facts about the town’s role in the abolitionist movement. Following the story is more Cavendish history. Read the story at the CHS blog.  
 
3. EVENTS
February 6 (Saturday): Potluck supper and informational discussion at 5 pm at Gethsemane Church for anyone wanting to learn more about the Church’s trip to El Salvador. FMI: Rev. Todd McKee at GethsemaneChurchVT@gmail.com or 603-667-5458.
 
February 8 (Monday): Monthly Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Town Office. The Agenda will be posted to The Dish  when it becomes available.
 
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects February Calendar. 

Town and School Budget/Ballot for 2017-2017

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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

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

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.