Cavendish Update: 1/20/17 News/Hockey/Tai Chi

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

                                          SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

1/20/17 Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Related News

2. Free Tai Chi Demo

3. “Friendly” Hockey Match Benefit

4.  Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Impersonation of Law Enforcement or First Responder in Cavendish: Recently, there have been reports of someone driving a Chevy Malibu with an amber light posing as a police officer or first responder and stopping people in an effort to control traffic. If you are pulled over by this individual, leave your window rolled up, do not exit the vehicle and call 911. Note that: Vermont State Police use blue/white or blue emergency lights; fire trucks and ambulances use red or red/white lighting and volunteer firefighters are also permitted to use this color lighting on their privately owned vehicles; and Amber lighting is allowed for hazard vehicles, tow trucks, snowplows and warning vehicles. If you have encountered this individual, please contact the VT State Police 802-722-4600. Do not take matters into your own hands.

TDS Internet on Twenty Mile Stream Upgraded: TDS Internet on Twenty Mile Stream was upgraded to fiber and users should now be getting speeds closer to what they are paying for-about 5 Mbps. Faster service is available, up to 25 Mbps, but it takes about a week for the upgrade notification to go to customer service. Note that you will pay more for faster connections and speed will depend on the proximity to the junction box. Cavendish Telecommunications Committee

Walker St. Bridge in Ludlow to Close in June for Up to 35 Days: Walker Bridge, Main Street by Elm Street and not far from the Ludlow Green, will be closed to traffic from June 1 for up to 35 days. Traffic will be diverted during construction, sending automobile traffic up High Street, Depot Street, and Pleasant Street, and large trucks down Route 100 or around Ludlow completely. The area between the traffic light and construction site will be open to pedestrians and local traffic, but no through traffic. VT Journal 

 School Choice Applications Due by Feb. 15 : Any high school student interested in attending a public school out of their home district for the 2017-18 school year must submit a Vermont School Choice Application to their home district principal by Feb 15, 2017. Once the home district principal receives the application and it has been approved, the application is sent to the receiving school principal for processing.  If the number of applications exceeds the incoming School Choice student limit a lottery will take place to determine which students are accepted. For those not accepted they will be put on a waiting list. Families will be notified in writing by April 1st.  Applications are available in the school office at Green Mountain Union High School. To request an application or if you have any questions please contact Anne Sarsfield at GMUHS: 802-875-2146 or anne.sarsfield@trsu.org

Fire at Springfield Animal Hospital: Just before 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19,  the Springfield Fire Department was called out for the report of a fire at the veterinary clinic on River Street. According to Springfield Fire Chief, veterinary employees were working late and as soon as they realized what was happening, removed the animals. The cause of the fire is still uncertain.  Chester Telegraph 

Comcast Receives New Certificate of Public Good: Receiving its new Certificate of Public Good, which will run through January 2027, four conditions are imposed on Comcast including building 550 miles of line extensions to reach Vermonters who currently don’t have access to cable. As noted in the Jan. 6, Cavendish Update, Comcast has submitted a state grant for funds to expand service into the Knapp Pond/Tarbell Hill area. VT Digger 

 Springfield Transfer Station to Consider Sticker System: Most area recycling centers have a sticker system to limit it to residents, while Springfield does not. Because there is no money in recyclables, the town is considering going to a sticker system to limit who can recycle there. The biggest problem is textiles, where there is currently no market. Rutland Herald 

2. FREE TAI CHI DEMO: On February 1 (Wednesday) at 5:45, Djemila Cavanaugh will provide a free Tai Chi demonstration, describing how the ancient form of self-defense helps with balance, stability and calming the mind. Djemila, of Long River Tai Chi Circle, is the new instructor at dgBodyWorks in Proctorsville (corner of the Green, Rt. 131 and Depot Street), where the demo will be held. Tai Chi Beginner’s classes start on Feb. 8 from 5:45-6:45 pm.  Classes will be held weekly. All ages are welcome.  FMI: http://Dgbodyworks.com,  Denisegebroe@gmail.com, djem.translator@gmail.com or (802) 554-0006 (dgBodyWorks) 802-490-0225 (Cavanaugh)

3. “FRIENDLY” HOCKEY MATCH BENEFIT: Save the date:  Feb 19Cavendish and Chester Recreation Present: "Friendly" Hockey Match-Proctorsville Fire Dept. vs. Chester Fire Dept. The Recreation Departments have organized the benefit games as a way to thank thefire department for assistance with the formation of the ice skating rinks in their respective towns for all to enjoy. This will be a great community event that we hope to have happen annually.

Firefighters will take the ice at 10am in Chester at the new rink on Lovers Lane. There will be concessions for sale. Game two (and three if needed), late afternoon at Greven Field (start time based on player recovery! and temperature conditions). There will also be Chester/Cavendish youth games too!

Proceeds at Greven go to PVFD: Barbecue, raffles, shoot the puck contest, more...

Sponsors, volunteers, and prize donors welcome, please contact Terry O'Brien at 802-738-3215, dthuskies@hotmail.com, or here, on Facebook

4. EVENTS

JANUARY 24 (TUESDAY): Wildlife Photography Program, 7 pm at the Cavendish Town Office with wildlife photographer Tim O’Donaghue.

For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar.  For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar. 

Cavendish Update 1-13-17 SB/Fire District 2/News/Events

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

                                          SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

1/13/17 Cavendish Update

1. Select Board Meeting 1-9-17

2. Cavendish Related News

3. Cavendish Fire District #2 Annual Meeting

4. Vital Communities Partners with Cavendish and Other Towns for Weatherization Program

5. Wildlife Photography Show In Cavendish

6. Brooks Farm Vineyards Tasting Room Opens in Ludlow

7. Events

1. SELECT BOARD MEETING 1-9-17: Select board (SB) meetings are recorded by LPC-TV and are available at their website and on Comcast Television.  Written minutes are available at the town’s website.  The following action was taken at Monday night’s meeting:

• Cavendish Telecommunications Committee provide an update on Comcast’s state grant to expand services in the Knapp Pond/Tarbell Hill area, and TDS upgrades on Twenty Mile Stream.

• Representatives from Cavendish Community Conservation Association (CCCA) have asked the SB to consider a roadside maintenance policy to protect the esthetics of the ditches along the rural roads.

• Adopted the “Ordinance Relating to Snowmobiles,” which becomes effective Feb. 10

• Discussed the tax sale of the North Country Condo #4

• Approved applying for technical assistance grant on energy planning from Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Council to meet the new set of municipal and regional energy recommendations set forth in Act 174. 

• Voted not to fill the SB vacancy resulting from Wendy Regier’s resignation as it’s too close to Town Meeting elections.

• Approved a first class liquor license for Murdock’s on the Proctorsville Green.

• Heard from Constable Seth Perry about his current activity level and the request to increase Constable hours from 133 to 200.

For a more in-depth report, see The Dish. 

2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Additional Position for Town Election: In addition to the town office elected positions, to be voted on March 7 as part of Town Meeting, there is an additional position for one three-year term for Cavendish Town Elementary School director. The full slate of available positions is posted at The Dish. Anyone interested in running for a town office must file a petition and have it signed by 15 registered Cavendish voters by 5 pm on January 30 (Monday). Please stop by the town office if you are interested in filing or signing a petition.

 Jury Duty Scam: Callers are impersonating law enforcement officers threating prosecution for failure to report for jury duty, saying an arrest warrant has been issued. The caller will try to collect personal information such as credit card numbers, social security and other confidential information. The courts will never call to ask for this information. Do not provide any confidential information. Report scams to the VT Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program -800-649-2424. For questions pertaining to jury duty contact the Jury Administration Office 802-865-5879.

VT’s Same-Day Voter Registration Now in Effect: Vermont has become the 14th state in the country to adopt an “Election Day Registration” statute that allows eligible voters to cast a ballot on the same day they register to vote. The law applies to all local and statewide elections and prospective voters will be able to register to vote at the polling stations where they go to cast a ballot. VPR 

VTrans Launches Winter Roads Portal: The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) now has a Winter Central web portal,  a new site to help drivers navigate winter conditions in Vermont. Included in the new site are Plow Finder,  a map that will show the location of all active VTrans plow trucks in near real-time. A few of the more popular features from New England Compass can also be displayed along with the plows including National Weather Service Alerts, Doppler radar, weather cameras and countywide condition alerts. Users can choose which base map to use and turn all the features on or off. Press Release

3. CAVENDISH FIRE DISTRICT #2 ANNUAL MEETING: The legal voters of Cavendish Fire District #2 [Cavendish village] are notified and warned to meet at the Meeting Room at the Cavendish Town Office on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at 7:30 pm to act on the following articles:

Article 1: To hear and act on the Auditors report (position vacant)

Article 2: To choose and elect officers as follows: Moderator for one year term; Clerk for one year term (currently vacant); Prudential Committee Member for three year term; Tax Collector for one year term; Treasurer for one year term; Auditor for one year term (currently vacant)

Article 3: To see if the voters will raise money and in what amount for the purpose of defraying expense for fiscal year July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018

Article 4: To see if the voters will approve a onetime expense in the amount of $4000.00 to purchase a carport for the utility trailer used to transport the UTV. Currently has to be shoveled off before responding to a call.

Article 5: To do any other business proper at such meeting.

4. VITAL COMMUNITIES PARTNERS WITH CAVENDISH AND OTHER TOWNS FOR WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM: Cavendish will be part of a weatherization program from January through May. The town will host events to encourage residents to learn more about home energy efficiency and the Weatherize process. Weatherize Upper Valley teams up community volunteers with certified weatherization contractors to provide FREE professional home energy assessments, proposals, and quotes. Homeowners who sign weatherization contracts by May 31 will be entered into drawings for prizes ranging up to $2,500 toward energy improvements.

For Cavendish, Reading, Weathersfield and Windsor there will be Weatherize Kick-Off on January 28 (Saturday) 10-11:30 at The Weathersfield School. Learn more about the program at http://vitalcommunities.org/energy/weatherize/ascutney/

5. WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW IN CAVENDISH: On Tuesday, January 24th at 7:00 p.m., noted photographer and Proctorsville resident Tim O’Donoghue will present a slideshow and talk about his wildlife photos. The presentation will take place at the Cavendish town office meeting room, 37 High Street in Cavendish.

Tim is an accomplished photographer, especially concentrating on all kinds of wildlife. He has been an avid outdoorsman since his youth, always curious about plants, animals and why they lived in particular places. That led to a degree in Wildlife Management from UConn and a career with the State Parks Division in Connecticut. After retirement he has pursued his passion as a wildlife photographer. Most of his pictures have been taken in Vermont, particularly in Cavendish. He will discuss how and where he got the shots and will also talk about the animals that live in our midst.

This is the latest in the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association’s Walk and Talk Series of events. The series is designed to present topics of general ecological interest to the public in the Cavendish area. Anyone can attend, space permitting, and the presentation is free. For more information please contact Robin Timko at 226-7736. 

6. BROOK FARM VINEYWARDS TASTING ROOM OPENS IN LUDLOW: Located off of Twenty Mile Stream Rd, Brook Farm Vineyards (BFV) in Proctorsville  now has a year round tasting room at Hammond Hall, 114 Main St., Ludlow. The Tasting Room is on the end next to Huntley’s Financial Services.

Inspired by the Georgian Revival Mansion on the property, the design of the tasting room is Gustavian Swedish, with muted gray tones. However, with the lush antique style tin ceiling, the mirrors on the wall, and the long space, it also reminds one of Harry’s in Paris.

Opened on Jan. 11, the Tasting Room hours are as follows: 1-9 on Wednesday and Thursday; 12-9 on Friday and Saturday; and 12-7 on Sundays. In addition to the wine tasting, you can also enjoy their cheese and charcuterie plate, an abundant plate full of delectable meats, cheeses, fruits, crackers and nuts. Coming soon, will be the chocolate charcuterie board.

The Tasting Room is also available for private parties as BFV does have a catering license. For more information, 802-226-7152, website,  Facebook

Congratulations and best of luck to Jen and Doug McBride on their newest business adventure.  

 7. EVENTS

JANUARY 16 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day. Legal Holiday schools and Town Office closed

For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar.  For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar. 

Select Board Meeting 1-9-17

Select board (SB) meetings are recorded by LPC-TV and are available at their website and on Comcast Television.  Written minutes are available at the town’s website.  The following action was taken at Monday night’s meeting:

A. TELECOMMUNICATIONS: The Cavendish Telecommunications Committee provided an update on Comcast’s applying for a state grant to expand their services to the Knapp Pond/Tarbell Hill area. TDS is upgrading the Twenty Mile Stream area with fiber on Jan 17-18. While these projects will improve conditions for the northwestern and northeastern sections of town, TDS will not upgrade the north central area (East, Old County, Town Farm and Brook Roads) until 2018.

As far as cellular service, the trend is to run as much as possible through Wi-Fi. As the Internet issues are resolved, and users purchase newer phones, reception will become less of an issue. Note that T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon provide built-in-Wi-Fi calling on certain phones as does Republic Wireless, Trackfone and Google Project. Read Everything You Need to Know About Wi-Fi Calling for more information on this topic.  If you are using a “flip phone” you wont be able to take advantage of Wi-Fi calling.  

See the Cavendish Update on 1/16/17 for more in-depth information from the Cavendish Telecommunications Committee. 

B. ROADSIDE MAINTENANCE POLICY:  Representatives from the Cavendish Community Conservation Association (CCCA) have asked the SB to consider a roadside maintenance policy to protect the esthetics of the ditches along the rural roads. It was recommended that the SB consult Woodstock’s ordinance on this topic.

C. SNOWMOBILE ORDINANCE: The ordinance, download in PDF format, was adopted and will become effective Feb. 10

D. TAX SALE OF NORTH COUNTRY CONDO #4: Due to failure to pay taxes, the Town has acquired the property and will sell it. The North Country Condo Association has offered to purchase the condo for $10,000, absorbing the $10, 000 for back condo fees they are owed. Because of the liens on the property, and with an estimated real estate value of $30,000, the Town may be best served by accepting the offer from the condo association. However, total costs to the town, including taxes owed along with lawyer and cleaning fees etc. need to be tallied before a decision can be made. Any money that would be left from the sale of the building after the liens are paid (town and condo association) would go to the original owner of the property. Town manager Brendan McNamara will determine total town costs, which will be reviewed and a decision made about the sale at a later SB meeting

E ENERGY

• UPGRADE TOWN PLAN TO MEET ACT 174: This Act establishes a new set of municipal and regional energy planning standards, which if met allow those plans to carry greater weight - substantial deference - in the Section 248 siting process for energy generation. To assist with this effort, the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission (SWCRPC)  is offering to work with three towns in the district to make appropriate changes to their town plans. Because Cavendish has a strong Energy Committee, SWCRPC is very interested in working with the town. In order to be considered both the SB and the town’s Planning Commission must agree to it. The SB approved the request, as has the Planning Commission. McNamara will send a letter stating such to SWCRPC. 

• WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM: Cavendish will be part of a weatherization program from January through May. The town will host events to encourage residents to learn more about home energy efficiency and the Weatherize process. Weatherize Upper Valley teams up community volunteers with certified weatherization contractors to provide FREE professional home energy assessments, proposals, and quotes. Homeowners who sign weatherization contracts by May 31 will be entered into drawings for prizes ranging up to $2,500 toward energy improvements. A Weatherize Kick-Off will take place on January 28 (Saturday) 10-11:30 at The Weathersfield School. Learn more about the program at Weatherize Upper Valley. 

F. SB VACANCY: The board voted not to fill the SB vacancy resulting from Wendy Regier’s resignation as it’s too close to Town Meeting elections.

G. LIQUOR LICENSE: Approved a first class liquor license for Murdock’s on the Proctorsville Green. This will include a bar and restaurant and has an anticipated opening date of some time in February.

H. TOWN CONSTABLE:  Constable Seth Perry presented a proposed budget for the coming year and discussed his current activities. He would like to see the reimbursed Constable hours be increased from 133 to 200. The SB will consider the increase budget request during their on-going budget hearings.

Cavendish SB Meeting Agenda 1/9/17

Select Board Meeting, Monday, January 9, 2017 in the Cavendish Town Office Meeting Room at 6:30 pm. The Agenda will be as follows:

1. Call the meeting to order

2. Review/approve minutes of the regular meeting of December 12th and December 15th, 2016

3. Sign Orders

4. Review Correspondence

5. Adjust agenda

6. Hear Citizens

7. Discussion regarding the tax sale of Apt. 4 of North Country Condos Phase 2. (Former Giglo Property)

8. Consider liquor license application for “Murdock’s on the Green”.

9. Discussion regarding Select Board vacancy.

10. Recreation Department presentation for budget request for FY’2018 and report on recent activities.

11. Town Constable presentation for budget request for FY’2018.

12. Update on Town Office heat pump installation.

13. Other business

14. Adjourn