Sub-zero wind chills expected this weekend – be prepared and be safe

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Vermonters should brace for what could be the coldest temperatures of the season this weekend.  The National Weather Service is forecasting sub-zero wind chills in areas of Vermont Friday through Sunday with some areas possibly reaching a wind chill of 30 below zero or colder Saturday night.

Public Safety officials are urging Vermonters to bundle up and be prepared for the cold.  Dress in layers, ensure you have a sufficient heating fuel (oil, wood, etc.) supply for your home, recognize health risks, and take other safety measures as needed.

Only heat your home with a heating source that is professionally designed for that purpose.  Improper heating devices can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide buildup in the home.  Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause flulike illness or death. Symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu and include nausea, headache, and dizziness.  Always have working CO and Smoke detectors in your home and in all living areas, ensure all heat sources are ventilating properly, and always operate a generator outdoors and away from the home.

Dress in warm layers with a hat and gloves to prevent frostbite or hypothermia.  The Vermont Health Department says hypothermia most often affects older people who have inadequate food, clothing or heating, babies sleeping in cold rooms, people who are outside for long periods such as the homeless, hikers, and hunters, and those who drink alcohol or use drugs.  Even healthy adults can become hypothermic if not dressed warmly enough for weather conditions.

In the car, keep a blanket, hat and gloves, first aid kit, flashlight and extra batteries.  If you get stuck, don't venture out on foot in extreme cold.  Have a cell phone to call for help.

Other reminders:

• Check in with neighbors and friends who may need assistance to ensure they’re staying warm.

• Be mindful of pets and limit their time outdoors.

For weather, road, or emergency updates sent directly to your e-mail or cell phone sign up for Vermont Alert at http://www.vtalert.gov.

Forecast information: www.weather.gov.btv or www.weather.gov/aly.

Cavendish SB Meeting 2/7/16

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The Cavendish Select Board will meet at 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office, Monday, Feb. 8

1. Call the monthly meeting to order

2. Review/approve minutes of the meetings of January 11th, 13th, 20th and 27th, 2016

3. Sign Orders

4. Review Correspondence

5. Adjust agenda

6. Hear Citizens

7. As Local Board of Liquor Control, reveiw and consider application for a second class liquor license for Singleton’s Store

8. Review for approval and signature a Certificate of No Appeal or Suit Pending for the Vermont Division of Valuation and Review

9. Review for approval Amendment #1 to the Finance and Maintenance Agreement between the Agency of Transportation and the Town of Cavendish on the matter of EA/SUBJOB RREW12K-100, the railroad underpass project on Cavendish Gulf Road as was discussed with Dan Delabruere of VTrans at the January 11th meeting.

10. Consider Dean Kauppinen applications and requests for approval of wastewater connections for a total of four living units, two units each with two-bedrooms and two units each with three bedrooms. The subject four unit apartment building is located at 57 Depot Street in Proctorsville.

11. Review of forthcoming events calendar

12. Resume work on review of the revised Cavendish Cemetery Regulations

13. Other business

14. Adjourn

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.