Cavendish Update: 3/23/18 GMUSD/News/Compost/Events
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3/23/18 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Solid Waste District News and Compost Bin Sales
3. Cavendish 8th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale
4. Events
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Solzhenitsyn Proclamation: On March 21, members of the Cavendish Historical Society and representatives from the town, joined Ignat Solzhenitsyn and his family in Montpelier where Ignat was presented with a proclamation by the Vermont General Assembly commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Russian author, historian, and former Cavendish resident Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn.
TRSU Exec Committee Votes to Reopen Budget: At the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) board meeting on March 21, the discussion focused on why their budget had failed to pass on Town Meeting day. One of the key concerns of voters was the inflated cost of the Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU), which oversees both the GMUSD and the Ludlow-Mount Holly Unified Union District. High rental of space, numbers of staff, salaries, benefits etc. were given as reasons as why the supervisory union’s (SU) budget was so high. Consequently, the GMUSD board voted to request the SU to reopen their budget, as it would be difficult to revote a new GMUSD budget without looking at the TRSU’s cost, as it is part of the unified school district’s budget.
On March 22, the board chairs of both the GMUSD and Ludlow Mt Holly district asked members of the TRSU Executive Committee, on which they also sit, to convene a full SU board meeting to reopen and reconsider the budget it approved on Feb. 22. Marilyn Mahusky (GMUSD board) told fellow committee members that voters questioned items like the rent on the SU’s Fletcher Farm offices as well as central office salaries. Referring to a statement made by Cavendish resident Sara Stowell during the public comment portion of the meeting, Mahusky also looked for clarity in other expenses including items within the special education budget, such as transportation. Stowell suggested a careful look at the special education budget, including a 10-year study of programs and results.
During the discussion of re-opening the TRSU budget, Stowell pointed to items promised in the Act 46 merger, asking that the budgets be level funded and a year-by-year plan developed to provide for better educational opportunities. The committee scheduled a full board meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday April 12 at Cavendish Town Elementary School. Chester Telegraph and meeting notes from Jenn Harper
Cavendish Women You Should Know: As part of March’s Women’s History Month, the Cavendish Historical Society continues their series this week by recognizing a mother and a daughter. However, either woman is remarkable in her own right. Natalia Solzhenitsyn, the wife of the Nobel Prize author and Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and her mother Yekaternia Svetlova, lived in Cavendish from 1976 until their return to Russia in 1994. Together these women worked behind the scenes, at times putting their own lives in jeopardy while living in Soviet era Russia. When Solzhenitsyn was stripped of his Russian citizenship and sent into exile, the same fate was handed down to Natalia and Mrs. Svetlova. However, in the short interim between when Solzhenitsyn was deported and their own exile, they worked at break neck speed to not only smuggle Solzhenitsyn’s writings and research to him in the West, but to also destroy materials that could endanger the lives of others. Read their stories at the Cavendish Historical Society blog.
GMUHS Wins Awards at Jr. Iron Chef Competition: St. Patrick’s Day proved to be a lucky day for two of the three Jr. Iron Chef teams Green Mountain Union High School sent to the event in Essex Junction, Vermont to compete in the 11th Annual Jr. Iron Chef Competition. The two high school teams won awards. GMUHS students have competed for six years and four of the six years have been winners. Eagle Times
State Moves to Ease Vehicle Inspection Rules After Complaints: Vermont is moving to relax motor vehicle inspection standards a year after the rollout of an electronic database system that many believe unfairly burdens drivers, especially lower-income residents with older cars. The electronic system, known as the Automated Vehicle Inspection Program (AVIP), has spurred an onslaught of criticism and concern from consumers and politicians alike, who say it has increased the financial burden low-income drivers must bear in order to pass an inspection. Before AVIP, critics say, mechanics could use “common sense” to pass vehicles that had issues unrelated to safety or emissions, such as a busted tail light, rust or a broken rear windshield wiper. Now, mechanics have no choice but to crack down on drivers for these types of violations. The state is now working to mitigate the effects of the system’s rollout. Multiple proposals to loosen inspection restrictions are pending in the Legislature, while the DMV, with the support of Gov. Phil Scott, is working to rewrite its inspection manual. Meanwhile, drivers and inspectors continue to deal with the effects of the AVIP system. VT Digger
Firm’s Financial Woes Impacts Cell, 911 Service: A company that has expanded cell phone service — and the ability to call 911 from a mobile phone — to at least 26 rural Vermont communities in recent years is on the brink of dissolving and likely will discontinue that service, state officials say. The expected fate of Vanu CoverageCo, which could cease operations within days, is the latest setback in Vermont’s long and often frustrating efforts to expand mobile phone coverage. Despite millions of dollars in state and federal spending for those efforts, many motorists traveling Vermont’s numbered state highways and back roads are still unable to make calls. Communities likely to be affected include: Canaan, Norton, Brighton, Wolcott, Groton, Ryegate, Topsham, Washington, Roxbury, Granville, Ripton, Middlebury, Hancock, Chelsea, Vershire, Fairlee, Strafford, Thetford, Wilmington, Whitingham, Halifax, Readsboro, Woodstock, Townsend, Newfane, and Jamaica. VT Digger
VT’s Times Argus and Rutland Herald to be Sold: In a story published Thursday on their websites, the Herald and the Barre-based Times Argus reported it's expected the papers will be sold by the end of the month to the Sample News Group by its current owner, Vermont Community Media. Rutland Herald
2. SOLID WASTE DISTRICT NEWS AND COMPOST BIN SALE : The Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste District is selling "Soil Saver" backyard composters for $50 each. The 100% recycled plastic composter is 28" w x 28" d x 32" high and has a 10-year manufacturer's guarantee. We also sell Sure-Close food scrap pails for $5 each. To order, call 674-9235 for an order form or download one from the District's website. Orders are due by Friday, April 13 and may be picked up at the Cavendish Transfer Station on or after Saturday, April 28. If you attend a backyard composting workshop, you can buy one at the workshop for $35.
3. CAVENDISH 8TH ANNUAL TOWN WIDE TAG SALE: The calendar now says it’s spring, and maybe you’ve had the urge to clean. Make a special box for items to sell at the 8th Annual Town Wide Tag Sale. This will take place on Saturday July 29 from 9-2. Sponsored by Cavendish Connects, if you wish to register for space at either of the Village Greens, or have your site listed, send an e-mail to cavendishconnects@gmail.com or call 802-226-7807. Please note that the more information on sale items you provide, the more shoppers you will attract.
4. EVENTS
MARCH 24 (SATURDAY): 6:30 pm: Paint & Munch Party/Fundraiser to raise funds for a event marquis sign for the library. It will feature heavy appetizers and desserts
Donation of $35.00 per person includes painting supplies, a guided painting lesson, food and non-alcoholic drinks. Tickets go on sale on March 1. for info call 226-7503
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.
