Cavendish Update 3/11/16 News/Events/Act 46

As we spring forward on Sunday-Day Lights Savings goes into effect-please be sure to not only set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed Saturday night, but change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Also the PVFD wishes to remind everyone that as the seasons change and people begin to do spring clean ups, it’s illegal to burn outside without a burn permit. To obtain a burn permit in Cavendish and Proctorsville you must contact the fire Warden or one of his keymen. Permits will only be issued when the fire danger is low and it is safe to burn.
Fire Warden Roger Sheehan 226-7692 / 802-954-8481
Keymen Robert Glidden 226-7302 / 802-558-4321
Keymen Raymond Fitzgibbons 226-7288
Keymen Shane Turco 802-342-3935
 
3/11/16 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Cavendish Stone Buildings
3. Spring Sing
4. Act 46 “Creating Pre K 12 Education Systems”
5. Women’s Club Meeting
6. Events
 
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Abracadabra Coffee Co. in Cavendish: Clint Hunt and Antoinette Willey have been roasting coffee in Cavendish under the name Abracadabra Coffee Co. for eight months. They sell whole bean coffee in biodegradable and recyclable packaging to local restaurants and specialty food stores. Rutland Herald
 
Congratulations to the Gross Kids for their Wins at the Lego Contest: At the recent 2016 Lego Contest at the Newsbank Conference Center, with entries from 19 towns, the Gross family of Cavendish came out strong winners. Ephram took 2nd place in the Pre K division for his “helicopter” entry. Judah took 2nd place in the K division for “Scotchie’s Bath,” while Stella took 1st place among the 4th graders for her “Community Church.”
 
Vendor Applications Due for Ludlow Farmer’s Market: Have something you make and want to sell this summer? Consider the Ludlow Farmer’s Market. Vendor applications are due by March 15.
 
After Years and Millions, VTel Wireless Promises Unfulfilled: The Springfield, Vt., telecommunications company in 2012 and 2013 won separate funding grants from both the federal government and the state to launch wireless mobile phone service to areas of Vermont that do not receive cellular phone service. The federal money was to make mobile phone service available along 941 miles of state roads where drivers cannot get a cellphone signal. The state money was to add mobile voice capabilities across VTel’s statewide wireless broadband network. Neither project appears yet to have been deployed, based on a Valley News investigation. Meanwhile, the company has argued with state regulators over whether the cellphone service it offers needs to comply with rules governing the geographical location of callers that is automatically supplied to dispatchers when customers make emergency calls. Valley News
 
Employers Needed for Fifth Annual Employment Fair: The River Valley Workforce Investment Board announced that it will be hosting the 5th Annual River Valley Employment Fair from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at Riverside Middle School in Springfield. Employers or resource organizations interested in participating in the fair should contact the Employment Fair Coordinator, Suzanne Groenewold at (802) 885-8310 or at sgroenewold@rvt.org. There is no fee for job seekers to participate. Eagle Times
 
VT Becomes 5th State to Require Paid Sick Leave: Signed into law by Gov. Shumlin, the bill takes effect in 2017, and will require companies to provide three days of paid sick leave in the first year of the law, and five days annually thereafter. While temporary workers, and employees who work less than 18 hours a week, aren’t covered by the mandate analysts expect the law will mean paid sick for about 60,000 workers in Vermont that don’t currently have the benefit. VPR
 
Interested in Your Vermont Ancestors?: The New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston is offering free online access to four Vermont databases, and many other Vermont resources, for all of March in honor of Vermont's 225th birthday. Access the resources at www.americanancestors.org/vermont.
 
2. CAVENDISH STONE BUILDINGS: Throughout Cavendish are a number of buildings made of “sneckered Ashlar” construction- Cavendish Universalist “Stone” Church, Glimmerstone, and Black River Health Center to name just a few. This technique refers to walls constructed with exterior andinterior surfaces composed of mortared stone slabs arranged vertically onedge, tied together with smaller horizontal slabs called "snecks." The spacebetween the wall surface was filled with rubble stone. Oral tradition indicates that Scottish stonemasons working in Canada were responsible for introducing the technique into Vermont.
 
While there are several local sources for the mica schist stone, it is believed that the former quarry/vein at the end of Tierney Rd in Cavendish was the source for the stone for at least the Cavendish Stone Church and Glimmerstone.
 
Learn more about these buildings, and see pictures, at the Cavendish Historical Society blog. A special note of thanks to Kem Phillips who hiked the ice to take the pictures of the quarry at the end of Tierney Rd.
 
3. SPRING SING: Do you like to sing?  Gethsemane Church in Proctorsville is looking for some singers to join our choir for our Easter celebration on Sunday, March 27 at 11am.  The music will be easy to learn and joyful and it is not necessary to know how to read music.  There will be rehearsals the next two Sundays (March 13 and 20) at 12:30 pm at the church (on Depot Street).  Please contact the Rev. Todd McKee if you are interested:  GethsemaneChurchVT@gmail.com or 603-667-5458.
 
4. ACT 46 CREATING PRE K -12 EDUCATION SYSTEMS: Act 46 was passed by the legislature in 2015. Simply stated it reads, “On or before July 1, 2019 educational opportunities in Vermont shall be provided through “sustainable governance structures” that provide PreK 12 educational opportunities at a reasonable cost.” The Act has many components, but the essence is that mergers need to occur if a “structure” has less than 900 students. This means that the structure (which may be comprised of several schools) has one administrative office, one school board, one curriculum, one budget and one tax rate.
 
In 2013 WSWSU and RWSU voluntarily chose to consolidate supervisory unions and became the TRSU. We have in excess of the required numbers as mandated by Act 46, but we still have individual school boards for all of our districts and individual school budgets and all of our districts have different tax rates. Act 46 mandates one school board and one budget. There are various incentives included in the Act for merging (homestead tax reduction for the first four years of operation) and disincentives (no tax relief and loss of small school grants) for not fully merging.
 
A “Merger Planning Committee” with representation from all the school districts in the
TRSU, has been established to look at all of the ramifications of merging and see how we can meet the letter of the Act. Sub Committees have been looking at implications for Educational Benefits, Finance, Property, First Year Plan, Governance and Outreach.
 
The Committee is holding focus forums in all of the towns to explain the Act and to answer questions that anyone in the community might have. Our Focus Forum is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15 at 6:30 at CTES. Please come ask questions and learn how this may affect our school and community.
 
5. WOMEN’S CLUB MEETING: The March meeting of the Okemo Valley GFWC Women's Club will be held Monday, March 14, 2016 at the Black River Valley Senior Center in Ludlow, VT. This month's speaker will be Vickie Ball from Habitat for Humanity. The meeting will begin at 7pm and will also include a business meeting and refreshments in addition to the speaker. Anyone interested in attending is welcome and may contact President Marylou Shaw, 802-228-5673, Membership chairwoman Roxie Davis, 802-226-7417 or any member. The General Federation of Women's Clubs www.gfwc.org  is an international women's organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.
 
6. EVENTS
March 12 (Saturday): Sugar on Snow Supper at the Cavendish Baptist Church 5:30-7 pm
March 13 (Sunday): Spring forward for DAYLIGHT SAVINGS. Move clocks ahead one hour. Spring Sing rehearsal, 12:30 at Gethsemane Church, off Depot St. See article 3.
March 14 (Monday): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the town office. This is the annual organizational meeting; Okemo Valley Women’s Club Meeting at the Senior Center in Ludlow, 7 pm.
March 15 (Tuesday): Act 46 Focus Forum, CTES, 6:30 pm, see article 4 above
March 17 (Thursday): HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY
 
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects March Calendar. 

Cavendish Update 3/4/16 Town Meeting Results/Act 46/Events

Happy 225th Vermont!

3/4/16 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Town Meeting Results
2. Cavendish Related News
3. Happy 225th Birthday Vermont
4. Act 46 Focus Forum at CTES
5. Sugar on Snow Supper
6. Events
 
1. CAVENDISH TOWN MEETING/ ELECTION RESULTS
All articles of the Annual Town Meeting (page 10 of the Town Report) and School Meeting were approved. Citizen Service Awards were given to Ginny Garrow for her 20 years of work at the Town Office and Will Hunter, who has been an active member of the Cavendish community for many years. This was his last meeting as Town and School Moderator. There was considerable discussion during the school portion about Act 46, nursing, and the lack of handicap parking during the day for those wishing to use the community library. A report on Town Meeting is available at The Dish.
 
The results of Cavendish's Australian ballot are as follows: CTES budget passed (301/98); GMUHS (1,027/561); River Valley (Cavendish passed it but requires approval from multiple towns). Julie Gignoux was the write in for the Library Board. Sanders was the Democratic choice for President (Sanders 250, Clinton 29), while the Republican choice was Trump (57) Kasich (36), Rubio (21), Cruz (17). There was insufficient write ins for either town moderator or school moderator.  All other candidates were elected as they were running unopposed and there were insufficient write ins to challenge them.
 
2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Wind Storm Knocks Out Power in Cavendish: With winds up to 85 miles an hour on Monday night, March came in like a lion, leaving a number of homes without power on Tuesday March 1. At one point, while a transformer was replaced on Mill Street, Cavendish village, including the town office, was without power. Fortunately, this did not impact the school and voting. Power was restored to the entire town before nightfall.
 
CHS Newsletter: The Winter 2016 edition of the Cavendish Historical Society newsletter-Scribbler II is now available on-line at the CHS blog. Those desiring a print version of the newsletter should e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.  
 
BRGNS Celebrates Five Years: The staff and volunteers at Black River Good Neighbor Services, Inc. invite you to join them at the BRGNS Thrift Store on Wednesday March 9th to celebrate their fifth anniversary at the Ludlow Community Center. The store will be open for its normal hours from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 pm with special activities, including something special for the kids, hourly events, scavenger hunts, door prizes, special sales and tours of the food shelf.  As a non-profit community organization, BRGNS provides confidential, temporary food, clothing and financial assistance to those in need, to help them return to self-sufficiency. BRGNS serves the towns of Ludlow, Cavendish, Mount Holly and Plymouth. They are always in need of volunteer help so if you have a few hours to donate, please call Audrey at (802) 228-3663.
 
3. HAPPY 225TH BIRTHDAY VERMONT
On March 4, 1791, Vermont became the 14th state. In 1777, Cavendish’s first settler John Coffeen was among the representatives and signers of Vermont’s Constitution. Meeting in Windsor, VT, the Constitution said that Vermont was an independent state and not part of New York or New Hampshire. Based on Pennsylvania’s 1776 Constitution, Vermont’s founding document had several radical innovations including a prohibition on slavery and universal manhood suffrage unencumbered by property qualifications. The Constitution also provided a mechanism for proposing amendments, if needed, every seven years. In 1793, the VT constitution was amended to reflect it’s joining the United States two years prior. This revised Constitution remains the core of the current Constitution.
 
4. ACT 46 FOCUS FORUM AT CTES
There was considerable discussion at the School segment of Town Meeting about Act 46 and what it means for our town. Act 46 of 2016 Act 46 is designed to encourage and support local decisions and actions that: Provide substantial equity in the quality and variety of educational opportunities statewide; Lead students to achieve or exceed the State’s Education Quality Standards, adopted as rules by the State Board of Education at the direction of the General Assembly; Maximize operational efficiencies through increased flexibility to manage, share, and transfer resources, with a goal of increasing the district-level ratio ofstudents to full-time equivalent staff;  Promote transparency and accountability; andAre delivered at a cost that parents, voters, and taxpayers value. Fact Sheet Department of Education
 
While the Department of Education has a webpage on Act 46, focus forums are being held to assist residents in understanding the intent of the legislation and how it will impact their community. To that end, a focus forum will be held on March 15 (Wednesday), 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Elementary School in Proctorsville. FMI: 802-226-7758
 
5. SUGAR ON SNOW SUPPER
The Cavendish Baptist Church’s Helping Hand Class will once again be sponsoring the annual “Sugar-on-Snow Supper, March 12, from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Parish Hall, 2258 Main St., Cavendish. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-12 and under 6 are free. The menu, served buffet style, includes baked beans (sweetened with maple syrup), ham (raisin sauce available), squash, coleslaw, pickles, breads, homemade doughnuts, decaf coffee, tea, punch and of course sugar-on-snow. Take out meals available. FMI: 802-226-7724
 
6. EVENTS
March 4 (Friday): 225th Anniversary of VT Statehood
March 6 (Sunday): A Walk in the Woods (Dinner and a Movie) at the Cavendish Community Library, 1 pm
March 8 (Tuesday): Community Luncheon at Gethsemane Church, off Depot Street in Proctorsville at noon. Menu is New England Boiled Dinner. Suggested donation $4
March 9 (Wednesday): Celebrate Black River Good Neighbors 5th anniversary by stopping by the Thrift Store in Ludlow during normal store hours 10-4 for special treats and surprises.
 
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects March Calendar. 

Town Meeting 2016

Town: All articles of the Annual Town Meeting (page 10 of the Town Report) passed. Inquiries were made about increases in insurance for the town constable and the health insurance for town employees. Town manager, Rich Svec, explained that because the Town Constable, Seth Perry, has all the qualifications of a police officer, his liability needs to be in accordance. For health insurance, the increase of $20,000 is due to a new employee as well as a current employee going from a single to a family plan.

The question was raised if there was a law requiring that the names of delinquent taxpayers continued to be listed in the town report. Since this system creates considerable stress for some of the older residents, who will go to great lengths not to “be in the book,” should this practice continue? The town auditor, Peter LaBelle, said that this is the way it’s always been done and would check to see if it’s a requirement.

Citizens Service Awards: This year’s recipients were to Ginny Garrow, for over 20 years of service to the town and to Will Hunter, who has been a town Justice of the Peace for 22 years and Town and School Moderator since 2010. This was the last Town/School meeting that Will moderated

School: All articles for the school were approved (page 87). Since the budget for the Cavendish Town Elementary School is voted on by Australian ballot on Tuesday, the remainder of the evening was an informational about the town budget.

Considerable concern was raised about the Ballot Warrant for the school’s budget. Article 1 (page 88) states, “Shall the voters of the Cavendish Town Elementary School District approve the school board to expend $1,914,620.00, which is the amount the school board has determined to be necessary for the ensuing fiscal year? It is estimated that this proposed budget, if approved, will result in education spending of $15,266.33 per equalized pupil. This projected spending per pupil is 3.3% lower than spending for the current year.”

 The school budget has actually increased from 1,900,180 in FY16 to 1,914,620 for the proposed Fy17 budget. Viewed as the “Madison Avenue approach” to a warning, a number of people raised concern about how the wording of the warrant since it would imply that costs have gone down when in fact the budget has been increased. According to the school board and town clerk Diane McNamara, this was the language they were required to use by the state, who wants to emphasize the per equalized pupil cost versus the actual budget. To read more on this issue, check out Lyonel Tracy’s Democracy Compromised. Tracy is a former education commissioner in NH and the former superintendent of schools for the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union. 

Principal George Thomson went on to explain the impact of Act 46 (pages 110 and 111), which has been crafted to save money by consolidating districts by July 1, 2019. It has many components, which from the school board up to and through the state Dept. of Education are still being worked on. To help foster better understanding of Act 46, there will be a focus form on Tuesday, March 15, 6:30 pm at CTES.

The request was made that future budgets reflect actual costs for the school year and how the balance, positive or negative, will be dealt with.

There was some concern that the nursing position was reduced to .4-she is there Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8-1. Mr. Thomson explained that the state requirement is one nurse per 500 students, which CTES exceeds. Further, duties that were once performed by the nurse (health education and social services coordination) are now carried out by other staff members.

Handicap accessible parking for the Town Library is not available during the times the school is in session, making the library non compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. While various members of the community had hoped this could be addressed with the new space adjacent to the school, the board indicated that it was too costly to move existing play structures and make necessary changes.

Town Meeting was taped by LPC TV and will soon be available at their website. 

Cavendish Update 2/26/16 News/Town Meeting/Events

Every four years February has an extra day. This year Leap Year Day and Town Meeting are on Monday. Hope to see you there. 

2/26/16 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Cavendish Town Meeting 100 Years Ago
3. Free Dinner and a Movie: A Walk in the Woods
4. Free Medicare Boot Camp
5. News From Cavendish’s Local CSA-Little Village Farm
6. Walk & Talk: Return of the Cougar to the East
7. Events
 
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Cavendish 2015 Annual Report: The Town and School District 2015 Annual Report for Cavendish is now available on-line at the town office, and mailed to all registered voters. Town Meeting is on Monday, Feb. 29, 7 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School. Australian Ballot for school budget, town elected positions and presidential primary is on Tuesday, March 1 at CTES. You can obtain an absentee ballot or you can vote early. Call or stop by the town office for an absentee or early ballot. Learn more about Cavendish Voting at The Dish.
 
Low Quality LEDS Flooding the Market: LEDs are known for requiring very little energy to power, lasting for more than 20 years, and providing excellent quality light. Unfortunately, some LED products have recently started to flood the lighting market that may not perform when it comes to light quality, energy savings, and lifetime. These products are made with cheaper parts, they are generally packaged very similarly to higher-quality, certified products, and they tend to sell for a few dollars less apiece. Fortunately, there is one way that shoppers can ensure they are choosing the highest-quality product with guaranteed savings. By opting for LED bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® logo, consumers can rest assured that they are getting the most for their money. Press Release
 
CDC Says It Underestimated Cancer Risk from Lumber Liquidators Flooring: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk of cancer is three times higher than it previously estimated, and it strongly urged Lumber Liquidators customers to take steps to reduce exposure to the substance. The company no longer sells the Chinese-made, laminate products. The higher levels "could cause increased frequency of asthma symptoms and other respiratory issues for people with asthma and COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]." NPR
 
2. CAVENDISH TOWN MEETING 100 YEARS AGO
With Town Meeting slated for Feb. 29 (Monday), the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) thought it would be interesting to see what was being voted on 100 years ago. 
 
This year, there are six articles, which pertain to the passing of the town's budget and adoption of the Town Report, compared to March 6, 1917, where there were 16 articles. The 1917 report was a slim volume, compromised of columns of numbers pertaining income and expenditures. The 2015 report is 138 pages long, available on-line and in print, and, while it contains lots of figures, there is considerable information about town activities, along with pictures and reports from the various community organizations that serve the town. 
 
The warning of articles for the March 6, 1917 Town meeting is available at the CHS Blog.
 
3. FREE DINNER & MOVIE: A WALK IN THE WOODS
The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library presents the second dinner and a movie event of the season.  A Walk in the Woods will be shown on Sunday, March 6 at 1:00 PM. The movie is based on the best-selling book by Bill Bryson and tells the story of two men who decide to hike the Appalachian Trail in their 60’s.  It stars Robert Redford and Nick Nolte.  Please be aware that the movie is rated “R” for language. The library will be serving a traditional picnic menu including potato salad, fried chicken, deviled eggs and more. This event is free and open to the public, though donations are welcome. 
 
4. FREE MEDICARE BOOT CAMP
Medicare Boot Camp will be held on Wednesday March 16 from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M.  In Springfield.  This learning opportunity is presented by Senior Solutions, which provides unbiased information about the Medicare system.
 
The class is appropriate for anyone who is planning to sign up in the near future. Family members who help elders may also find this class useful. Medicare has strict enrollment periods, and this session will help participants make timely decisions about drug plans and supplemental plans as well as many other issues. This is not a refresher class for those who are currently enrolled in Medicare.
 
Space is limited, and this class has been very popular so pre-registration is required. To register or get full location details, call the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-642-5119. Additional Medicare classes will be listed at www.seniorsolutionsvt.org.
 
5, NEWS FROM CAVENDISH’S CSA: LITTLE VILLAGE FARM
Cavendish’s only CSA (community supported agriculture) is Little Village Farm (LVF) in Proctorsville. Today, Friday Feb. 26 is National CSA Day. In celebration, LVF is offering a great deal-Sign up online by midnight, and in addition to your tier savings you will receive 10% off all non-produce items in the farm stand all season long!
 
On Saturday February 27th LVF Winter Farm stand will be open. Come to the Farm stand Mudroom between 10am and 2pm to purchase fresh Greenhouse Spinach, Potatoes, Onions, Eggs, Rabbit Meat, Maple Syrup and more!
 
Follow LVF on Facebook or at their website. LVF is located at 48 Mt View Ave., off Depot Street in Proctorsville. Phone 802-226-7231.
 
6: WALK & TALK SERIES: RETURN OF THE COUGAR TO THE EAST  On March 23 (Wednesday), Susan C. Morse of Keeping Track will talk about the return of the cougar to the east coast at 6 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School.
 
There is no question about it. Cougars are not only being seen in eastern North America, some are attempting to recolonize their former habitats. Where once it was flatly dismissed as impossibility in the so-called “developed” east, scientists have now documented cougar dispersals and even occupancy of a growing list of eastern states and provinces. Join us for a magnificently illustrated introduction to cougar biology and ecology in the broad diversity of habitats where Sue has studied them, from Alberta to the Arizona/Mexico border. We will also get the low-down regarding the latest confirmations of cougars in the east, including the recently documented suitability of a substantial amount of wild habitats from Manitoba to Louisiana and Maine to Georgia. It is only a matter of time.
 
Sue Morse, the founder of Keeping Track®, is highly regarded as an expert in natural history and one of the top wildlife trackers in North America. Since 1977 she has been monitoring wildlife with an emphasis on documenting the presence and habitat requirements of bobcat, black bear, Canada lynx and cougar. Keeping Track® is a non-profit organization founded in 1994 out of concern that development in all its forms often unwittingly harms, isolates and even eliminates habitat critical to local biodiversity and broad-scale ecological health.
 
Tickets are available at Crows Bakery on Depot Street in Proctorsville, at the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library, by mail or at the door. Donations suggested are $5 for adults and $2 for children. For more information please call Claire Walker at (802) 226-7259 or Robin Timko at 802-226-7736
 
7.  EVENTS
February 27 (Saturday): Little Village Farm’s Winter Farm Stand, located 48 Mt. View Ave off of Depot St in Proctorsville is open from 10-2 offering spinach, potatoes, onions, eggs, rabbit meat, maple syrup and more. FMI 226-7231
February 28 (Sunday): Third Annual True Tales: Live Storytelling event. Gethsemane Church off Depot Street in Proctorsville, 4 pm. Admission $10
February 29 (Monday): TOWN MEETING, 7 pm, Cavendish Town Elementary School
March 1 (Tuesday): VOTE, including presidential primary, 10-7 at the Cavendish Town Elementary School. Note that the Community Luncheon, usually scheduled for the first Tuesday of the month, will be held on Tuesday March 8 due to the election. Please vote.
March 4 (Friday): 225th Anniversary of VT Statehood
 
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects February Calendar.