Exercise Your Right to Vote in Cavendish

With the Town Report now available in print and in PDF format it is time to think about exercising your important right to vote, which is now much easier than in the past. Whether you are concerned about weather, having to work, being away, or another reason, you can vote early or by absentee ballot for a presidential candidate and/or town elections by:

• Calling (802-226-7292) or stopping by the Town Office in Cavendish to vote early or pick up an Absentee Ballot.

• Going to the VT Secretary of State’s My Voter Page to arrange for an Absentee Ballot or early voting form.

Not a registered voter? You can register on-line or by contacting the Town Office. In order to vote on March 1, you must register to vote by Wed. Feb. 24, 5 pm.

Have questions about voting? Call the Town Office 226-7292

Important Dates and Times

• Feb 24 (Wednesday): Voter registration for the March 1 election must be completed by 5 pm.  Town Meeting Information Forum, sponsored by the CCCA, 6 pm at the Cavendish Town Office.

• Feb. 29 (Monday): Town meeting at Cavendish Town Elementary School, 7 pm. The town budget is voted on at this meeting. It is information only for the CTES budget

• March 1 (Tuesday): Voting for Presidential primary candidate; school budgets, town elected positions. Cavendish Town Elementary School, 10-7 

Cavendish Update 12/19/16 News/Water/Classifieds

1st School District in Cavendish-Center and Town Farm Roads. 

2/19/16 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Cavendish Municipal Water
3. Cavendish Classifieds
4. Events
 
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Unapproved Minutes of Feb Select Board Meeting Now Available: The minutes from the Feb. Selectmen’s meeting are now available on-line. Action taken at the meeting included: Approved second class liquor license for Singleton’s; Signed the Certificate of No Appeal or Suit Pending for the VT Division of Valuation and Review that would dispute the 2015 grand list; Reviewed and approved Amendment #1 to the Finance and Maintenance between the Agency of Transportation and the Town of Cavendish for the railroad underpass on the Cavendish Gulf Rd; Considered Dean Kauppinen’s application and request for approval of waste and water connections on a four unit apartment off Depot St in Proctorsville; Adopted the Resolution as drafted by Rutland Town to Increase the Input of Vermont Municipalities Regarding the Siting of Renewable Energy Projects in Certificate of Public Good Proceedings Before the Public Service Board. Download Minutes in PDF format. The meeting can also be watched on LPC-TV.
 
Proposed Legislation Would Base School on Income, Not Property Value: Recent legislative attempts to provide property tax relief have focused on ways to curb the growth in education spending. Legislation has been introduced that changes the way the money is raised. Under the plan, Vermonters would pay property taxes based on income, rather than the value of their homes.  Under the Pearson/Pollina proposal, the answer is to have everyone pay 2.5 percent of their income to the education fund, regardless of how much their property is worth. VPR
 
VT Cops are Scanning More License Plates than Ever, But Not Having More Success: Police collected 8.66 million snapshots of license plates across Vermont in the 18 months leading up to Dec. 31, 2015. Each entry includes the time and location where each license plate was spotted by an Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system. That total is up 2.6 percent from the 18-month period ending Dec. 31, 2014, and up 9.3 percent from the 18 months ending Dec. 31, 2013. Despite privacy concerns surrounding the technology, lawmakers are set to continue to allow police to collect and retain data about thousands of Vermonters without the results the Legislature would need to know if the technology makes the public safer. VPR
 
2. CAVENDISH MUNICIPAL WATER
Various community members on town water have posted pictures and concerns to the Cavendish VT Facebook page about discoloration. In response, the town issued the following statement on Feb.17, “During the past two weeks the Cavendish Municipal Water System has been performing maintenance tasks on the filtration system under the guidance of the filtration equipment manufacturer. Some of these activities may have caused some temporary light coloration in the finish water. Not all, but some parts of the distribution system have experienced this tint to the water. Reports have shown that the central part of the distribution network has been affected while consumers at the ends of the system have not. This condition is hoped to be short lived and several of the folks who have reported coloration have subsequently reported that the water has already cleared.
 
Consumers should be assured that, at all times during the maintenance activities, the water has remained potable and does not present any health issue. Testing, both routine and extra, by both in-house and outside labs, has been conducted and has detected no evidence to suggest any health concern.
 
If system users have any questions about this matter, they are requested to contact the Town Manager at the Cavendish Town Office either at 226-7291, in person, or by email at townmanager @cavendishvt.org. Reports of coloration or other observations are also welcome at the same contact points as such feedback is valuable to us in operating the water system and detecting and responding to situations that may arise.”
 
3. CAVENDISH CLASSIFIEDS
Free: Exercise bike/arm machine (in good condition!). A/C unit--still worked before it went into storage. If interested call 226-7048. 
 
4. EVENTS
February 24 (Wednesday): Town Meeting Information Forum, sponsored by the CCCA, 6 pm at the Cavendish Town Office.
 
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects February Calendar. 

Notice to Cavendish Water System Users: Systems Maintenance 2/16

During the past two weeks the Cavandish Municipal Water System has been performing maintenance tasks on the filtration system under the guidance of the filtration equipment manufacturer. Some of these activities may have caused some temporary light coloration in the finish water. Not all, but some parts of the distribution system have experienced this tint to the water. Reports have shown that the central part of the distribution network has been affected while consumers at the ends of the system have not. This condition is hoped to be short lived and several of the folks who have reported coloration have subsequently reported that the water has already cleared.

Consumers should be assured that, at all times during the maintenance activities, the water has remained potable and does not present any health issue. Testing, both routine and extra, by both in-house and outside labs, has been conducted and has detected no evidence to suggest any health concern.

If system users have any questions about this matter, they are requested to contact the Town Manager at the Cavendish Town Office either at 226-7291, in person, or by email at townmanager @cavendishvt.org. Reports of coloration or other observations are also welcome at the same contact points as such feedback is valuable to us in operating the water system and detecting and responding to situations that may arise.

Cavendish Update2/12/16 News/Fraud/Events

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. For more information. 

2/12/16 Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Related News

2. Fraud Watch

3. CCCA to Hold Town Meeting Information Forum

4. Sewing for Peace Project

5. Special Treats for Your Cavendish Valentine

6. True Tales: Live Storytelling in Proctorsville

7. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Stolen Tools Recovered: According to the VT State Police, the tools that were stolen from 2651 Twenty Mile Stream Rd were recovered on 2/4/16 in Springfield. Investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police. 802-875-2112.

 First Female Life Member of PVFD: Firefighter Karlene Glidden achieved life membership status by serving Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Dept. for 20 years. Karlene has excelled as a driver/pump operator. She is often times one of the top five responders as far as calls made per year. She joins her husband Chief Bob Glidden and their son Captain Bob Glidden Jr as life members at PFD. Her youngest son Michael is currently serving his 20th year in the fire service also. He is currently a Captain on Truck 5211 at the Glen Cove Vol. Fire Dept. in NY. Congratulations Karlene on being the first female life member at PFD since its establishment in 1833.

Scam Alerts: On Monday, Feb. 8 a Cavendish resident reported that they received a call from "Power Ball???" saying they have 5 million dollars for us.  That is if I have +$200 to verify and approve the acceptance stamp that needs to be put on the package. After a few calls I found that this is probably a scam and not a normal procedure.  In addition, neither the state police or Ludlow police will have anything to do with scams and that they have been receiving an increase of calls on the problem.  Note that other residents are receiving similar calls, including one from Publisher’s Clearing House. Another resident has posted the reminder that Microsoft, Dell, Google, VTel, TDS, Xfinity/Comcast, Hewett Pakcard etc. will not call telling you that they need access to your computer because your computer is infected with a virus. The VT Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) has issued a warning http://timesargus.com/article/20160211/THISJUSTIN/302119996 of several scams currently targeting VT businesses. For Scams, contact the Vermont Attorney General's office. 800-649-2424. For more information, see article 2 below-Fraud Watch.

BRGNS Looking for Volunteers: Black River Good Neighbor Services’ Thrift Store is looking for volunteers to help take out the trash – literally. If you have a pick up truck or SUV, or don’t mind filling the back of your car with trash, and you can spare two hours once a month, BRGNS can use your help. FMI: Audrey at 228-3663, or stop by the thrift store at 37B Main Street in Ludlow.

2. FRAUD WATCH: At the winter meeting of the GFWC Okemo Valley Women’s Club, the guest speaker was Elliott Greenblott from AARP Fraud Watch Network. He spoke about Identity theft, investment fraud and the latest scams throughout Vermont and the United States. Every 2 - 3 seconds someone is victimized by fraud. Mr. Greenblott and the Fraud Watch Network are dedicated to informing Vermonters and Americans about how to protect themselves from becoming one of those victims. IRS scams, debt collection, computer tech support, phishing, lotteries/sweepstakes, online listings / Craigslist, business targeting, imposters, Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes and Identity theft are the Top Ten Scams in Vermont. ATM skimming and RFID reading are very common as well. We should all arm ourselves against these scams and fraud by becoming informed and cautious. Help is available from the AARP Fraud Watch Network , toll free at 877-908-3360; the Vermont Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) toll free at 1-800-649-2424 or CAP  or the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG)  and from many other organizations including theUS Postal Inspection Services.

3. CCCA TO HOLD TOWN MEETING INFORMATION FORUM: The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will hold an informational forum for Cavendish voters on the Wednesday before this year’s town meeting. The forum will be held on Wednesday, February 24th, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Cavendish Town Offices on High Street in Cavendish. The forum will be recorded by LPC-TV and will be broadcast at various times during the week before town meeting. The video will also be available at their website.

The discussion will address each of the issues on this year’s town meeting ballot, primarily the town and the school proposed budgets.  Town and school officials will be present to lead the discussion and will also entertain questions with respect to the recently released town report.

Although there are no contested races on the ballot this year, all candidates are invited to attend and any candidates who are present will be able to make short statements and to answer attendees’ questions. The meeting is open to all Cavendish citizens and residents.  For more information, please call Peter LaBelle at 802-226-7250.

4. SEWING FOR PEACE PROJECT: Last year, Dan Farrar, transfer station operator, decided that the Springfield Transfer Station could be a collection site for unwanted sewing machines for the “Sewing Peace” project created by Pedals for Peace (PCP) which added sewing machines in the sea containers, along with their bikes,  to enable people to start family businesses. Springfield collected 24 machines last year, which went to Fiji.

While we’re checking to see if the Cavendish Transfer Station can take your sewing machine for this project, Springfield Transfer Station is now accepting them year-round. The next truckload of bikes and machines, collected by the Green Mountain Returned Peace Corps Volunteer group in Burlington, will leave Vermont in September.

5. SPECIAL TREATS FOR YOUR CAVENDISH VALENTINE: Looking for last minute gift ideas for your Valentine? Try tasty treats from Minibees in Cavendish and Crow’s Bakery, and Singleton’s in Proctorsville. For the crafter what about a class at Fletcher Farms  or Six Loose Ladies? . Six Loose Ladies also offers a variety of incredible gifts. If a bit of pampering is in order, there’s the Aveda Spa at the Castle Hill Resort and Spa or the Village Clipper.  For other ideas, check out the Cavendish Business Directory and remember, you support your neighbor and community when you shop local. 

6. TRUE TALES: LIVE STORYTELLING IN PROCTORSVILLE: What do a state legislator, independent bookstore owner and a fearless cyclist biking alone in India have in common?  They each have what it takes to stand up and tell a true story without notes in front of a live audience in the third annual True Tales event in Proctorsville.  On Sunday February 28, these plucky yarn spinners will join four others who will present a Vermont version of Moth Radio Hour, a popular NPR program that has spawned similar events throughout the country.  The storytelling event will benefit Gethsemane Church, which has hosted the Raise the Roof Concert Series in its acoustically perfect space for the last four winters.  To say thank you and replenish the church’s winter heating fuel, True Tales will donate all proceeds from the door to the little church with a big heart---and the audience will bask in the warmth of a late winter afternoon of well-told stories.  Last year’s event included tales of a flying lesson gone wrong, a local sting operation and pet sitting for escape-artist sheep.  This year the lineup will bring you new stories guaranteed to be just as entertaining.  True Tales will begin at 4:00 p.m. at Gethsemane Church on Depot St. in Proctorsville.  Admission is $10.00 at the door, a bargain for such afternoon magic. 

7. EVENTS

February 12 (Friday): Flower & Bake Sale Mini Beez from 12-2 and Singleton’s 5-6 pm. Benefits CTES 6th Grade.

February 14 (Sunday): Happy Valentine’s Day

February 15 (Monday): President’s Day, Town Office Closed.

February 15 (Monday)-February 19 (Friday): Winter break. Schools closed

February 16 (Tuesday): Fire District #2 (Cavendish) annual meeting, 7:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. 

For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects February Calendar.