Cavendish Update 11/25/16 C.Guica/News/Events

Carmine Guica in his younger days. 

 IF YOU COUNT ON CAVENDISH CONNECTS TO KEEP YOU INFORMED, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON YOU.

                                          SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of WWII veteran and Cavendish Historian Guica on Nov. 23. More information about Carmine is available at the Cavendish Historical Society Blog. Our condolences to Carmine’s family, friends and to our town who lost a remarkable man. As  funeral arrangements become available, they will be posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page.

 

11/27/16 Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Related News

2. Cavendish Welcomes the Holiday Season Dec. 3-4

3. Events

 

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Cavendish’s ‘Abundance Swap’ a Black Friday Antidote: If you’re tired of all the Black Friday hype, a group in Cavendish is offering up an antidote: Cavendish Connects is sponsoring its third annual Abundance Swap on Saturday, Dec. 3. VPR 

Test Show Many High School Students Aren’t on Track for College: Across the state, students in all grades who took standardized tests last spring had an easier time showing they were proficient in English than in math. In many Vermont high schools, students aren’t ready for college coursework in math, and some aren’t ready for college English either. VTDigger analyzed schools’ average scores to see where students are performing at the level set for proficiency. Younger students performed better than older students in math. Results were mixed between private and public schools in both English and math, and they were unrelated to the school’s price tag in high school. Thirty-six percent of all students attending Vermont colleges and universities have to take remedial courses to catch up. At the Community College of Vermont, 50 percent of Vermont students take at least one remedial course. Springfield High School and Black River High School were included in the eight high schools reporting SBAC scores that were so low that students won’t be ready for college math without “substantial support. However, both of these schools had more low-income students than the statewide average.  VT Digger 

 Vermont’s Drought Explained: Rain and snow in the last three weeks have helped a bit, but low levels of precipitation from August through October have put much of Vermont in drought conditions.  We get three different scientific perspectives on what drought means to Vermont's landscape and waterways. VPR 

VT Sees One of the Lowest Rate Increases Under Obamacare: Vermont has one of the lowest increases in premium rates for policies sold under the Affordable Care Act, according to a new study from Kaiser Health News. In Vermont, the average premium is increasing by 5 percent. In comparison, rates in Arizona are going up by 145 percent; in Minnesota, the increase is 55 percent and in New York State the rate hike is 24 percent. VPR 

 

2. CAVENDISH WELCOMES THE HOLIDAYS DEC 3-4" The holiday season is off to a great start with the various fun activities listed below for the weekend of Dec. 3-4 so plan to be part of the festivities.

 3rd Annual Abundance Swap: Dec. 3 at Cavendish Town Elementary School

• Pick 3-5 items in your home, shop or office that someone would enjoy as a gift. These should be in really good shape and of quality, meaning it’s well made and likely to be valued by someone. Children are encouraged to bring gently used toys they may have outgrown or no longer use. Do not bring items that are damaged, broken or do not work.

• Bring them to the Cavendish Town Elementary School on Saturday morning, December 3, starting at 9:30 am.

• Drop off your items, enjoy a visit with your neighbors and the Cavendish Connects team, as well as share the stories of what you are bringing to the swap.

• From 10-11:30, select presents for someone on your holiday giving list (it can be you). 

Note that copies of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: The Writer Who Changed History will be available for signing and for purchase. FMI 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com

14th Annual Holiday Fair: December 3 9am-3pm at the Proctorsville Fire Department MainSt. Proctorsville. Hosted by St James United Methodist Church and local nonprofits. Crafts, gifts, raffles, goodies, and lunch is available!

Indulgence Tour: Visit 11 local inns including Golden Stage and The Castle) on Dec. 3-4 sampling foods and other treats. Learn more and purchase tickets ($10 a piece) by going to the Indulgence Tour webpage or facebook sites

PVFD Christmas Tree & Wreath Sale: Dec 3rd , 4th, 10th and 11th9am – 4pm VT Grown Frasir Firs Trees start at $30; Wreaths are $15 Benefits the PFD Equipment Fund Free Coffee and Homade Doughnuts Dec 10th. On Saturday Dec 10th Santa will arrive by Fire truck to see the children at 10am-12 noon Proctorsville Jr Firefighters will also be collecting VT redeemable cans and bottles to be dropped off during the sale to benefit the Jr Firefighters program.

 

 3. EVENTS

NOVEMBER 29 (Tuesday): Act 46 meeting, Chester-Andover Elementary School, 6:30 pm. Discuss the proposed changes to the Schools in the TRSU District, which includes Cavendish, Chester, Andover, Ludlow and Mt. Holly. 

Select Board Meeting Agenda 11/21/16

The Cavendish Select Board will meet on Nov. 21 (Monday) in the Cavendish Town Office at 7 pm.  The Agenda will be as follows:

1. Call the meeting to order

2. Consider a resolution to request a reclassification of Quent Phelan Road, TH #9, from Class III to Class II town highway. This reclassification would be in concert with companion efforts by the Town of Ludlow. Ludlow is in the process of reclassifying Commonwealth Avenus and Barker Road from Class III to Class II. Collectively, these three roads constitute a significant connecting thoroughfare between the towns of Cavendish and Ludlow. This connecting thoroughfare links Vermont Rt. 103 (Main Street in Ludlow), a Class I town highway, to Twenty Mile Stream Road (TH #2), a Class II town highway in Cavendish.

3. Town Manager to return to the Board with full information on the proposals received for the installation of heat pump equipment at the Cavendish Town Office building. The manager is requesting that the Board approve of the purchase of this equipment utilizing funds from the Town Office Renovation Fund. The low bid received is from HB Energy. There is a timeliness issue on this matter due to an Efficiency Vermont rebate program.

4. Consider a motion from a member of the Board to have the Select Board review the Town of Cavendish Conflict of Interest Policy as it may apply to current considerations of the Board in its recruitment of a new Town Manager.

5. Conduct discussion related to Town Manager recruitment. NOTE: Due to the nature of this activity, this portion of the meeting will be conducted in executive (not open to the public) session.

6. Adjourn

Cavendish Update 11/18/16: Black Friday/CTES Petition/News

CTES's Annual Pie Sale takes place today at Singleton's and Brewfest from 3-6 pm

 IF YOU COUNT ON CAVENDISH CONNECTS TO KEEP YOU INFORMED, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON YOU.

                                          SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS 

 

Follow Cavendish VT Facebook Page for up to date information.

 11/18/16 Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Related News

2. Cavendish Options to Black Friday

3. Full Days for CTES Students Petition

4. Cavendish Calendar Now on Sale

5. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Cavendish Robbery: On 11/14/2016 at approximately 1025 (10:25 am) hours the State Police responded to a burglary in the Town of Cavendish. The burglary occurred on Hill RD sometime between 11/4/2016 and in the morning of 11/14/2016. The following are what were taken:

• Savage Double barrel 16 gauge shotgun

• 1800 era Flintlock Pistol

• Craftsman toolbox with miscellaneous

• hand tools

• 84 Sacagawea dollar coins

• Approximately $350.00 in change.

The investigation is still on going, if anyone has any information in regards to this burglary please contact Trooper Soule at 802-722-4600.

Chester Man Pleads Guilty to Log Rustling in Cavendish: Matthew Wyman has pleaded guilty to charges that he cut down two large trees in the Proctor Piper State Forest in Cavendish earlier this year. Wyman was ordered to pay the state $669 in restitution and a $500 criminal fine, plus court costs. A related case against Wyman’s brother, Joey Wyman, of Cavendish, is pending and slated for jury selection next month. Times Argus 

Holiday Stuff-A-Bus to Benefit Local Food Shelf: Black River Good Neighbor Services has announced will hold its annual “Stuff-A-Bus” food drive on Saturday, December 3rd from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Shaw’s Market parking lot in Ludlow. Volunteers will hand out holiday dinner menus and will ask shoppers to help with the foods most needed: canned fruit, cranberry sauce, pickles, olives, mac & cheese, hot chocolate, cookies, tea, cereal, candy, canned carrots, peas, green beans and corn, gravy, stuffing, soup and coffee. Donations of money are always welcome and greatly appreciated since much food will still need to be purchased. Volunteers are needed to sort the food as it comes in, and countless other tasks are required to make sure that the Holiday boxes find their way to everyone who needs help. Please call Krey or Audrey at BRGNS’ Food Shelf, 228-3663 or visit 37B Main Street to ask how you can get involved.

Holiday Food Applications Due by Dec. 1: Black River Good Neighbor Services  is accepting applications for the 2016 Holiday food basket program. Applications must be submitted by December 1, 2016. Qualified individuals and families living in Ludlow, Proctorsville, Cavendish, Mount Holly, Belmont or Plymouth need only stop by Black River Good Neighbor’s Food Shelf and Thrift Store at 37B Main Street in Ludlow to pick up an application, or can download the application from the BRGNS website.  If you don’t know if you qualify, call 228-3663 to find out. Those qualifying last year must complete a new application for this year. FMI: 228-3663

 VSP Westminster Sobriety & Safety Enforcement: Vermont State Police, Westminster Barracks in conjunction with local and county law enforcement will be conducting Sobriety & Safety Enforcement during the upcoming 2016 Thanksgiving Holiday Week. As of November 8th, 2016, Vermont statewide has experienced 57 fatalities from crashes. The scheduled enforcement is an opportunity to use high visibility enforcement to turn the tide, across the state, in the number of traffic fatalities/crashes. Using state and local data, engaging task forces, and working with other agencies, we can have an impact in Vermont. Recent crash data can be found at http://ghsp.vermont.gov . In addition to checkpoint(s), Troopers will be aggressively patrolling and enforcing motor vehicle laws with specific regard to impaired, distracted/aggressive driving, speeding, and seatbelt usage in high crash areas.

 

2. CAVENDISH OPTIONS TO BLACK FRIDAY: Enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and friends. The gift of time together is far more meaningful and treasured than a shortened holiday dinner so you can “plan your midnight shopping.” Sleep in Friday morning, have a leisurely brunch at one of the area eateries. Not only do you have an extra holiday shopping Saturday this year (five Saturdays instead of the usual four) but you can do your shopping locally, helping the community and reducing fossil fuels. Below are ways to locally shop and avoid the Black Friday shopping blues:

Abundance Swap: A great way to reduce clutter in your home while finding incredible presents that cost nothing, the rules for the Abundance Swap are simple:

• Pick 3-5 items in your home, shop or office that someone would enjoy as a gift. These should be in really good shape and of quality, meaning it’s well made and likely to be valued by someone. Children are encouraged to bring gently used toys they may have outgrown or no longer use. Do not bring items that are damaged, broken or do not work.

• Bring them to the Cavendish Town Elementary School on Saturday morning, December 3, starting at 9:30 am.

• Drop off your items, enjoy a visit with your neighbors and the Cavendish Connects team, as well as share the stories of what you are bringing to the swap.

• From 10-11:30, select presents for someone on your holiday giving list (it can be you). 

Make a donation in a friends name to Cavendish Connects and we’ll be sure to acknowledge your gift. You can even have an issue dedicated to them.

The Cavendish Historical Society has a special holiday deal on their newest publication Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: The Writer Who Changed History order by December 15, and the book will be gift wrapped, autographed, and mailed with a gift cardanywhere in the continental USA in time for Christmas. To order, send a check for $17.50 ($15 for the book plus $2:50 for shipping and handling) to Cavendish Historical Society, PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142. The book is available locally and on-line (www.createspace.com or amazon.com). FMI:802-226-7807, margocaulfield@icloud.com. All proceeds from the book go towards the CHS Solzhenitsyn Project.

 CCCA’s Annual Calendar is now available for sale. See Article 3 below.

Donate to local organizations 

Indulgence Tour: Visit 11 local inns including Golden Stage and The Castle) on Dec. 3-4 sampling foods and other treats. Make a great gift for a group of friends, as well as fun activity to do together.  Learn more and purchase tickets ($10 a piece) by going to the Indulgence Tour webpage

Give the gift of the Cavendish experience:

• A day of being pampered at The Castle’s Aveda Spa

• A class or two at Fletcher Farm  

• Dinner at The Castle or Table 19

• Gift certificate of all sorts of fun things to do in Cavendish-hiking, biking, dinning, or relaxing.

Cavendish tasty treats Check out the Food and Drink section of Cavendish’s Pinterest board to learn more.

Help a student with college: It’s Never too Soon or Too Late

Use the Cavendish Business Directory to purchase gift certificates for goods and services.

 

3. FULL DAYS FOR CAVENDISH TOWN SCHOOL STUDENTS PETITION: A parent of a second grader, Kristen Pannone, has started a petition for parents at Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) to sign to eliminate the half day on Tuesday, which has been in place at CTES for the last 28 years. Pannone points out that neighboring schools-Chester-Andover and Dorset school have longer instructional hours than CTES. 

The issue of the half day on Tuesday-used for staff development-has been questioned over the years. Is the school meeting the state’s requirement for instructional hours? Does the half day contribute to students learning or does it in fact detract?

To the first question, according to the VT State Board of Education Manual of Rules and Practices, CTES meets and exceeds the standard. Under section 2312.2 Exceptions to Length of School Day, CTES can modify the school day particularly if it is in the best interests of the students.

The second question is the more important of the two-does the Tuesday half day improve or detract from students learning? How does CTES stack up against other schools in the district and in the state?

CTES ranks the highest for the TRSU district elementary schools. Of 174 Vermont elementary schools, CTES ranks 36th; Ludlow Elementary 78th; and Chester Andover 88th. Dorset, which is not in the TRSU supervisory union, but included in Pannone’s petition,  ranked 35th. When comparing standardized test results,  Dorset was at 72.9 and CTES 72.4, not statistically different.

Poverty has a very negative impact on education, so it is important to understand if this is a factor at CTES.  The poverty indicator is how many children are receiving reduced or free lunch. In the case of CTES, 57.8% of CTES meet this criteria. In fact,  CTES is the highest ranking school in the state with this level of poverty. Higher levels exist at Ludlow Elementary 57.4% and Chester Andover 61.3% than what exists at Dorset, which has 23%.

Given that CTES significantly out performs both Ludlow and Chester on standardized tests, 55.1 and 47.9 respectively versus CTES’s 72.4, the question does come to mind, what are they doing differently at CTES? The teacher’s Tuesday in service is one such difference. It may be that having that afternoon once a week significantly helps the teachers to regroup and learn new ways to approach issues that continually arise.

Starting in January, the snow sports program at Okemo takes place on Tuesday afternoons and most children participate. Unlike previous years, there is now an after school program on Tuesday so that parents can pick their children up at the same time every day after school regardless of the season.

 

4. CAVENDISH CALENDAR NOW ON SALE: The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association’s 2017 Cavendish calendar is now on sale, just in time for the holidays. CCCA selected the pictures that grace each month from their annual calendar photography contest in which entrants submit photos during the spring.

The winners and their winning photos are: January, Pat Moore, Snow Covered Trees; February, Hans Schrag, Brrrrrr; March, Tim O’Donoghue, Banks of the Beaver Pond; April, Andy French, Trillium; May, Jon Owens, Divine; June, Claire Walker, Phlox of Flowers; July, Penny Trick, Our Gazebo; August, Winston Churchill, Bridge Over Stream; September, Dan Sullivan, Glory of Autumn; October, Belle McKnight, Sugar House; November, Mary McCallum, Retired Workhorse; and December, Cheryl Leiner, Patiently Waiting.

Each year CCCA solicits photos in the spring for the following year’s calendar. Photos have to be taken within Cavendish, including Proctorsville, by Cavendish residents, including second homeowners. Subjects can include anything that reflects life in this rural Vermont community. The next contest will be starting soon, so start taking your photos for the next calendar.

The 2017 calendars are on sale now at Crow’s Bakery on Depot Street in Proctorsville, at Jill’s Place in Cavendish Village, at the Village Clipper on Main Street in Proctorsville, and at Singleton’s Market in Proctorsville. For additional information on the contest or any other aspect of the Cavendish calendars, please call Cheryl Leiner at (802) 226-7820.

 

5. EVENTS

NOVEMBER 18 (Friday): CTES Annual Pie Sale Singleton’s and The Brewfest in Ludlow 3-6 pm.

NOVEMBER 20 (Sunday): Raise the Roof Concert-Jenni Johnson, 4 pm at Gethsemane Church off Depot Street in Proctorsville. Cost $10

NOVEMBER 24 (Thursday): HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Crime Alert: Robbery

Cavendish Robbery: On 11/14/2016 at approximately 1025 (10:25 am) hours the State Police responded to a burglary in the Town of Cavendish. The burglary occurred on Hill RD sometime between 11/4/2016 and in the morning of 11/14/2016. The following are what were taken:

• Savage Double barrel 16 gauge shotgun

• 1800 era Flintlock Pistol

• Craftsman toolbox with miscellaneous

• hand tools

• 84 Sacagawea dollar coins

• Approximately $350.00 in change.

The investigation is still on going, if anyone has any information in regards to this burglary please contact Trooper Soule at 802-722-4600.