PLEASE CTES HAS AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR A BUS DRIVER

CTES will lose their school bus driver effective Monday, Nov. 6.  This creates a serious problem as there is such a shortage of school bus drivers not only in Vermont but in the country. Unfortunately, if a driver isn’t found, parents will have to figure out alternative ways to get children to and from CTES.  

If you or anyone you know is interested in working 4-6 hours per day, with the possibility of more hours for school trips, plus getting your CDL license paid for, along with bus license certification, please contact George O Thomson, Principal 802-226-7758 or Email: george.thomson@trsu.org ASAP!

George O Thomson, Principal
Cavendish Town Elementary School
P.O. Box 236
Proctorsville, VT 05153

Phone 802-226-7758
Email: george.thomson@trsu.org

Cavendish Update 10/20/17 News/Events/SB Mtg

           LPC TV is now officially Okemo Valley TV, complete with a new logo.

Breezy Winds and dry weather increase fire weather concerns. Fire officials advise against any open burning...including campfires on Friday across northern New York and Vermont. The lack of precipitation this month has led to fine fuels such as leaves...grass...and small brush to become very dry. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with localized gusts 20 to 25 mph are expected on Friday with minimum relative humidity values in the 28 to 38 percent range. All of these factors will increase the potential for any fires that do start to spread quickly and become more difficult to contain.

 CHECK THE CAVENDISH VT FACEBOOK PAGE DAILY FOR THE LATEST NEWS You don’t have to be a Facebook subscriber to see this page.

10//20/17 /Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 10/16/17

2. Cavendish Related News

3. BRGNS To Hold Annual Stick Season Social Fundraiser

4. Halloween BBQ at Greven Field

 5. Events

1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 10/16/17: 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 discussed/taken at Monday night’s meeting:

Telecommunications Update was given-letter of agreement between the state and Comcast has yet to be issued by the state. Comcast is waiting for this before starting to expand service from Tarbell Hill through the Knapp Pond area. TDS service appears to be considerably worse than normal.

Unanimously approved the addition of a new utility pole at 37 High St. (next to the town office) for TDS.

Town received a check for $14,786 for past tipping fees, which will be used to help offset the cost for the new electronics shed that was approved by the voters.

The Planning Commission was given approval by the board to move forward with an application for a matching funds grant to establish a hiking trail in the Proctor/Piper state forest.

Bids were open from six vendors for the replacement of Bridge 21 (Greenbush) and Bridge 22 (East Rd). Awards will be done at the November SB meeting.

The SB signed the Declaration of Official intent regarding the anticipated for the town garage.

Tests are underway to determine location of new town garage. The town will rent space from M&M Construction for the winter season.

• There is now a new municipal website at www.cavendishvt.com

• The town has received a grant of $4,000 towards the installation of blinking lights by the school

A potential leak in the pipe of the municipal water system was discussed. As of Thursday the problem was resolved.

For a more in-depth report see The Dish.

2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Accident on Cavendish Gulf  (103) Involving a bear: According to the VT State Police Report, On 10/12/2017 at approximately 5:30 pm, a member of the Vermont State Police, Westminster Station responded to VT RT 103 in the Town of Cavendish for a car versus bear crash. Investigation revealed that a vehicle being driven by Mr. Thomas Hannigan, 32 of Bellows Falls, VT was traveling north at approximately 50 MPH when he struck a black bear which entered in to his travel lane. No injuries were sustained in this crash and Mr. Hannigan’s vehicle was towed from the scene by H&K towing. The bear was killed on impact. From the various responses to the posting on the Cavendish VT Facebook page, bear appear to be very active at the moment and have been seen on 131 near Glimmerstone and in S. Reading. Cavendish is prime black bear habitat so use caution when driving. 

 New Cavendish Municipal Website: The Cavendish municipal website has a new look and offers new features. Scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up for e-mail alerts about SB meeting agendas and minutes. The web designer for the new site was Katie Hamlin. She is looking for your feedback, so please complete the on-line survey that you can link to from the top of the homepage.

2 Sentenced for Numerous Local VT Burglaries: Two Vermont men pleaded guilty in Windsor County Superior Court to burglary charges following a string of burglaries in September 2016. Mitchell Horton, 30, of Cavendish, pleaded guilty on June 6 to two counts of burglary, receiving a sentence of five years. Horton and Bradley Elliott were alleged to have burglarized Kwik Stop, Wellwood Orchards in Weathersfield, Sam’s Steakhouse in Ludlow, Okemo Valley Golf Course and P&M Auto. Eagle Times

Solar Generators to Be Used in Puerto Rico Made in Cavendish: As part of the relief effort in Puerto Rico, following hurricane Maria, solar generators are being constructed to bring power to individual communities, and water pumps will help resolve problems related to "the collapse of water systems and possible contamination with sewer, floodwater, chemicals, etc." The generators will be sent down in shipping docks with the pumps and purifiers after they are built in the Cavendish Solar Store, the headquarters for the USA Solar Store and the Sunnyside Solar Store's distributor. Brattleboro Reformer

LPCTV Changing Name to Okemo Valley TV: On Fri. the 20th, LPC-TV name officially becomes Okemo Valley TV. The website URL will also be changing along with a new name and logo. Of 42 entries from 17 different people for the logo contest, the winner is Cameron Purington of River Valley Technical Center. As of Oct. 20th, the new web address will be OkemoValley.TV. Not to worry, though as you will still be able to get there from the current address, LPCTV.org

CTES 5th Graders New Video: The 5th graders at Cavendish Town Elementary School, informally known as the “Blue Moon” explorers, have recently released a video answering the question “does the sun really rise & set.

VT Health Dept. Concerned about Spike in Tick Born Disease: Vermont health officials are warning about a seasonal spike in ticks that is expected to come with a record in the serious tick-borne disease anaplasmosis.  The Department of Health says the number of cases of the illness has dramatically increased -- from three cases in 2010 to 201 last year. Officials say they are concerned that even though traditional peak tick activity comes later in November, they have already exceeded last year's case count. They say activity in the southern part of the state is of particular concern. Anaplasmosis bacteria is carried by the same tick that spreads Lyme disease. But where Lyme disease often comes with a rash, the CDC says anaplasmosis rarely does. Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle pain, malaise, chills, nausea, abdominal pain, cough and confusion. The CDC says anaplasmosis can be fatal if not treated correctly. Vermont officials say more than one-third of the reported cases here were sick enough to be hospitalized.

LIHEAP Benefits Increase for 20,000 Families: Low-income Vermonters who get state subsidies to pay for heat will see an increase in benefits this winter. The average benefit to the roughly 20,000 households that use the program will be $879 for winter 2017 to 2018, an increase from $831 in winter 2016 to 2017, according to the Agency of Human Services. VT Digger

Storm Damaged Amsden Store May Be Torn Down: Located just after the intersection of 106 and 131, the old Amsden store on 131 was heavily damaged by Irene. Weathersfield Town Manager Ed Morris is seeking the town selectboard’s approval to apply for a $75,000 FEMA Pre-Mitigation Grant to tear down the building.

3. BRGNS TO HOLD ANNUAL STICK SEASON SOCIAL: Black River Good Neighbor Services is holding its eighth annual Stick Season Social this year on Sunday, November 5th in the Roundhouse at Jackson Gore. The silent auction and the bar will open at noon and a buffet lunch will be served at 1:00 p.m. “Stick Season is that time between fall leaves and winter snow with no free concerts and not as much to do, so it’s a great time to party,” said Peter LaBelle, President of BRGNS. “This is our major fund raiser of the year. It will help the BRGNS’ Food Shelf with program costs so it can continue to help local people in need of food, rent, utilities and heat assistance.”

This year BRGNS welcomes Berkshire Bank and William Raveis Real Estate / the Vermont Properties Team as major sponsors of the event. In addition to lunch, the afternoon will include a cash bar, a terrific silent auction, and lots of raffle items and door prizes donated by the community. The Roundhouse staff has planned a delicious hot buffet with several entrées.

Tickets are $50 per person, and can be purchased at the BRGNS Thrift Store, Peoples United Bank, the Book Nook, and The Wine & Cheese Depot, all located in Ludlow. Or, and this is the really easy way to buy, you may purchase tickets online at www.brgn.org. Please call 802-228-3663 with any questions. Tickets must be purchased in advance. BRGNS is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

4. HALLOWEEN BBQ AT GREVEN FIELD: 10/28/17: Halloween Bonfire and Barbecue hosted by Cavendish Recreation!  Saturday, Oct 28 from 7-9:00 p.m. at Greven Field.  Grillin', hot cider and s'mores will be on hand.  Just bring your little ghosts and ghost stories. Any extra firewood(no lumber with nails please!) would be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off at Greven at your convenience.

5. EVENTS

OCTOBER 22 (SUNDAY): Jenni Johnson Concert, 4 pm at Gethsemane Church, off Depot Street in Proctorsville. Admission is $10.

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

IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

 

 

Cavendish Select Board Meeting 10/16/17

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 discussed/taken at Monday night’s meeting:

• Telecommunications: While Comcast has been awarded a grant by the state to provide service from Tarbell Hill up and around Knapp Pond, the state has yet to send them the agreement letter. Once that is received they can begin work and will have a year to complete the project. In conversations with Comcast about expansion into other parts of town, representatives have stated that without contribution or aid, they only expand into areas where there are 13 houses per mile, regardless of how many accounts that may exist.

Over the weekend, a resident posted a problem with TDS Internet. Consequently, a question was posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page about TDS’s subscribers recent experience with their Internet service. The response was swift and immediate, 22 people either posted or e-mailed with major complaints about TDS-slow speeds, buffering, needing to continually reboot etc. TDS does have Connect America Funding, but it is unclear when and if Cavendish will benefit from this service.

• TDS Utility Pole: Unanimously approved the addition of a new utility pole at 37 High St. (next to the town office) for TDS. This might help to reduce some of the TDS issues in that area.

• Check/Recycling/Transfer Station: Tom Kennedy, on behalf of the Southern Windsor/Windham County Solid Waste Management District, who voted to return tipping fees held since 2008 when the VT/NH Solid Waste District was dissolved, presented a check for $14,786 to the town.  This money will be used to help offset the cost for the new electronics shed that was approved by the voters.

Kennedy also alerted the board that China’s proposed prohibition on recovered plastic and fiber imports could have drastic impacts on recycling costs. Currently, China has taken a large share of these recyclables. With the proposed ban, costs could significantly increase for zero sort recycling and the town should build that in for next year’s budget.

• Trails in Proctor Piper State Forest: The Planning Commission was given approval by the board to move forward with an application for a matching funds grant from the VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Agency of Natural Resources. The purpose of the grant would be to create a hiking trail that would connect Proctorsville and Cavendish villages starting at Pratt Hill (near the fire pits) and over to White’s Hill near the old Cavendish Train Depot station or the Water Tower.

• Bridge Replacement Bids: Bids were open from six vendors for the replacement of Bridge 21 (Greenbush) and Bridge 22 (East Rd). For Bridge 21, bids ranged from $160,000 to$$254,000. For Bridge 22, the range was from $158,000 to $245,725. The town manager, Brendan McNamara, will prepare a matrix by Wednesday for the SB to review. A decision on award will be made at the Nov. SB meeting.

• Bond for the Town Garage: The SB signed the Declaration of Official intent regarding the anticipated for the town garage.

• Town Garage Replacement: Borings will take place in the next two weeks to see if the alternative site by the sand pit is suitable for the new garage. If the town decides to use this location there are a series of hoops the town will need to jump through, and McNamara is already talking to the state about Act 250 permits and other necessary steps. Since the garage will not be built before “snow flies,” an agreement is being worked out for rental space from M & M construction, new owners of the old Black River Produce building, for space. The rent will be $1,500 plus heat. Changes are also being made to make it easier to take sand from the lower pit this winter.

• Website: There is now a new municipal website at www.cavendishvt.com Jen Leak is the contact person at the Town Office for website related questions.

Signage by the School: The town has received a grant of $4,000 towards the installation of blinking lights by the school. Bruce McEnaney, asst. Town manager, will be meeting with the CTES board to secure the additional $4,600 for the installation. These will be solar powered flashing lights.

• Municipal Water: Following the recent flushing there are reports of issues with water discoloration. It is believed that there is a leak in the pipe, which has been narrowed down to the island across from Glimmerstone. This will be checked out this week. In the mean time, water quality continues to test fine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cavendish SB Meeting Agenda 10/16/17

Select Board Meeting, Monday, October 16th, 2017 in the Cavendish Town Office
Meeting Room at 6:30pm
................................................................ AGENDA ................................................................
1. Call the meeting to order
2. Act upon minutes of the meetings of August 23rd(Corrected) and September 11th, 2017.
3. Adjust agenda
4. Hear Citizens
5. Select Board to review and consider approval of easement with TDS for the placement of a pole at 37 High Street.
6. Tom Kennedy from the Southern Windsor/Windham Solid Waste Management District to
address Select Board.
7. Cavendish Planning Commission to present State of Vermont Recreational Trails Program to
the Board.
8. Select Board to open bids submitted for the replacement of Bridge #21 and Bridge #22. (Bids will be opened and read aloud, the Select Board will award the bid at a later date)
9. Select Board to sign Declaration of Official Intent regarding the anticipated bond for the Town Garage.
10. Town Manager to update Select Board on Town Garage Project and Various Town Activities.
11. Other business
12. Executive Session (Personnel Matter)
13. Adjourn