Welcome to "The Dish", the blog of Cavendish Connects, a community web site for the town of Cavendish, Vermont.
The Dish features a round-up of local happenings and events in Cavendish, Vermont.
Have something noteworthy to share? Contact us at cavendishconnects@gmail.com; we would love to hear from you.
The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library is looking for a part time circulation assistant to work every Saturday from noon to four. The ideal candidate would have solid computer skills, a love of reading and excellent customer service skills. Previous library experience is not necessary, but a love of books is. Please contact Kata at 226-7503 for more information.
The Vermont Department of Health (VDH) is closely monitoring the situation in New Hampshire, where two people, both of whom have been in China, are in isolation awaiting test results for the novel coronavirus. A 19 year old student is at Littleton Regional Hospital and the second is at Concord Hospital. Tests results should be issued this week, but the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) says testing is backed up.
Below is information on the coronavirus as well as prevention strategies, which are similar for cold and flu.
VDH’s HEALTH ADVISORY: VDH issued a “Health Advisory” on January 23. The novel coronavirus (termed “2019-nCoV”) is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. Investigations are ongoing to learn more, but person-to-person spread of 2019-nCoV is occurring. Chinese officials report that sustained person-to-person spread in the community is occurring in China. Person-to-person spread in the United States has not yet been detected, but it’s likely to occur to some extent. While this is a very serious public health threat, based on current information, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time. Get updated information, as it becomes available, from CDC.
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS? Coronaviruses are an extremely common cause of colds and other upper respiratory infections. These viruses are zoonoses, which means they can infect certain animals and spread from one animal to another. A coronavirus can potentially spread to humans, particularly if certain mutations in the virus occur.
Chinese health authorities reported a group of cases of viral pneumonia to the World Health Organization (WHO) in late December 2019. Many of the ill people had contact with a seafood and animal market in Wuhan, a large city in eastern China, though it has since become clear that the virus can spread from person to person. Harvard Health
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? The symptoms can include a cough, possibly with a fever and shortness of breath. There are some early reports of non-respiratory symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Many people recover within a few days. However, some people — especially the very young, elderly, or people who have a weakened immune system — may develop a more serious infection, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. Harvard Health
COULD I CATCH THIS VIRUS? Unless you’ve been in close contact with someone who has the coronavirus — which right now, typically means a traveler from Wuhan, China who actually has the virus — you’re likely to be safe. Harvard Health
If you have been in Wuhan or Hubei Province within the past two weeks or have been in close contact with a person with 2019-nCoV, and develop a fever, cough or have difficulty breathing, contact your health care provider right away.
FLU IS A CONCERN: Of more concern to VDH is the flu. The most recent report posted on-line 1/12-1/18/20 for VT shows that the flu is widespread in the state. It most likely hasn’t peaked and eight outbreaks have been reported, mostly in schools.
With the exception of a vaccine for flu prevention, which does not exist for colds or the coronavirus, the prevention of all three conditions are the same.
COVER & WASH
• Cover your mouth and nose every time you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue and throw it away. Use your arm (not your hand).
• Observe regular cleaning habits if someone at home has the flu. Pay special attention to doorknobs, faucets, refrigerator handles, phones, smartphones and toys.
• Vaccinate (only for flu)
• Every time you use a tissue, throw it in the trash and then wash your hands. Skip the antibacterial stuff, unless you don’t have access to soap & water, as it may contribute to the rise in antibiotic resistant bugs.
• Remember not to share anything that goes into the mouth.
&
• Wash your hands often and well. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Skip the antibacterial soaps as regular soap and water works fine.
• Avoid contact with sick people. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Have alcohol hand sanitizer on hand if you don’t have access to soap and water.
OTHER WAYS TO PREVENT COLDS & FLU: Stay healthy by:
• Getting plenty of sleep-at least six or more hours a day.
• Getting sufficient Vitamin D. The sun is a lot less effective in providing Vitamin D during the winter months-peak time for colds and flu-so take a supplement
• Taking Exercise Breaks
• Skipping the handshake. Fist bumps and elbow bumps are replacing handshakes during cold and flu season. If your really hip, the ‘Namaste’ bow is becoming very popular- put your hands together at chest level, make eye contact and give a little bow
In the Work Place: In addition to practicing Cover & Wash, consider the following
• Use Paper Towels to clean work spaces as they do a better job than sponges and cleaning cloths used previously.
• Use Disinfectant Spray to clean doorknobs, handles, light switches, phones, computer mice, railings, microwave, coffee maker handle, elevator buttons and escalator rails. Note that viruses can live up to 48 hours on plastic and stainless steel surfaces. Identify the germ “hot spots” in your office and make sure they are regularly cleaned.
• Use Hand Sanitizer when soap & water aren’t available: Reduce transferring nasty cold and flu germs by using hand sanitizer wipes to clean public surfaces, such as keyboards.
• Don’t share pens with colleagues as these can be particularly dirty. Carry a pen or two in your pocket.
• Ask your manager to supply the office with the necessary tools to keep the workplace healthy.
• Stay home when you are sick
At Home: In addition to practicing Cover & Wash, consider the following:
• Create a “sick room” where the person who is sick can have all the things they need.
• Sanitize shared items
• Take care of yourself so your resistance isn’t lowered
Can you spare a little time for Cavendish Gorge this summer? A volunteer River Dipper is urgently needed to help the Black River Action Team monitor for bacteria levels at this popular swimming spot.
The Black River Action Team is looking for one or two reliable, mature volunteers willing and able to be trained as "River Dippers" at the historic swimming hole known as Cavendish Gorge. You'll need to be able to get yourself to the pre-arranged sampling site on Wednesday mornings between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and transport the carefully collected sample to the Ludlow wastewater treatment facility before 9:30 AM, ahead of the courier who picks up the samples. Simple yet vital collection protocols must be followed when gathering the water, to avoid contamination of the sample. Additionally, volunteers will be required to fill out a simple (but, again, vital) Chain of Custody form that will accompany the sample.
A chart will be generated by BRAT by Friday of the same week, displaying the cumulative bacteriological results for the Gorge - a volunteer will be needed to print off the full-color chart and post it at the Gorge in a small display case on a sign post. This chart will aid visitors to the Gorge in making their recreation decisions.
Sampling takes roughly an hour each week, from parking and walking to the river, to collection and filling in the form, then delivering the sample to the treatment facility.
Mileage can be reimbursed, so volunteers should keep a log. All supplies and equipment will be provided, as well as a BRAT tee shirt for each volunteer.
Can you or someone you know help? Contact BRAT Director Kelly Stettner before February 20th by email (blackrivercleanup@gmail.com) or by leaving a detailed voicemail with your contact information at (802) 738-0456.
CHECK THE CAVENDISH VT FACEBOOK PAGE DAILY FOR THE LATEST NEWS You don’t have to be a Facebook subscriber to see this page.
1/17/20 Cavendish Update
1. Australia Relief Dinner
2. Preparation for Town Meeting Day
3. Select Board Action
4. Education News: Powden Resigns
5. Fire District 2 (Cavendish) Warning of Annual Meeting
6. Events
1. AUSTRALIA RELIEF DINNER: To help raise money to aid those most affected by the Australia bush fires, CTES students -part of the Carmine Guica Young Historians’ Preserve & Serve program- are partnering with the Ludlow Rotary and Murdock’s Restaurant. On February 6, from 4-9, Murdock’s Restaurant on the Proctorsville Green, will donate a percentage of the night’s profits to assist the Ludlow Rotary’s Australian Fire Disaster Relief. Funds will support both the people and wildlife devastated by the fires. You can call ahead for reservations at 802-554-0126.
In addition, throughout the area you will find Rotary donation boxes, some of which offer bracelets made by the students. Please consider supporting this effort. All donations are tax deductible. 100% of the funds go to Australia. Checks should be written to Ludlow Area Rotary Charitable Foundation (LARCF).
2. TOWN MEETING DAY: Town meeting is March 2 (Monday), 7 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School’s multipurpose room. The town budget is voted on at this meeting. There is a separate school informational meeting in February. Voting for elected positions and school budgets takes place by Australian Ballot on March 3 (Tuesday), 10-7 at the Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Dept.
Register for Cavendish Elected Positions-File Petitions Now: Anyone interested in applying for a Cavendish Elected position, see list below, stop by the Town Office and pick up a petition from the Town Clerk, Diane McNamara. All petitions require 12 signatures from registered Cavendish voters and are due at the Town Office by Monday, Jan. 27., 2020. Note: all positions are for one official, with the exception of Select Board, where there are two vacancies for one year terms: Town Moderator 1 year term; Town Agent 1 year term; Auditor 1 year; Auditor 1 year (remaining balance of 2 year term; Auditor 3 years; Select Board 1 year (2 positions available); Select Board 2 year (remaining balance of a 3 year term; Select Board 3 years; Town Clerk 3 Years; Town Treasurer 3 Years; Town Grand Juror 1 Year; Library Trustee 5 years; Trustee of Public Funds 3 years;; GMUSD Director 1 year and GMUSD Director 3 years.
While petitions have been filed for all of the Select Board positions, none have been submitted for the GMUSD board positions. FMI: Town Office 802-226-7291.
3. SELECT BOARD ACTION: The Cavendish Select Board is now working on the budget, to be voted on at the Cavendish Town Meeting, March 2 pm. Minutes are available at the Municipal Website for January 7 and January 9.
At the monthly SB meeting on January 13, the board took the following action and/or discussed:
• Approved the submission of the “Communities Caring for Canopy’ grant application, which will be used to prune trees on the Proctorsville Green.
• Tim Calabrese (Tree Warden) advised the board that the Emerald ash borer has been spotted in Londonerry. He recommended that additional funds be put in the budget as ash trees will need to come down.
• Agreed to a “Memo of Understanding” between the town, the Cavendish Historical Society and the Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Center (ASC) regarding the completion of the restoration of the Cavendish Stone Church and its ultimate use as the permanent home of the Solzhenitsyn exhibit as well as a small venue space.
• Approved a Special Event Permit for Groennfel Meadery LLC.
• Granted two requests from municipal utility users who wanted inactive status for sewer
• Discussed re-financing of the current ‘Delinquent Tax Anticipation Note, as it relates to FY 20-21 Budget.
For more information on this meeting, go to Cavendish Select Board Stifles Quarry Discussion (VT Journal); Okemo Valley TV website for the video of the meeting; or check the minutes of this meeting at the Municipal website.
4. EDUCATION NEWS: The biggest news item this month has been the resignation of Meg Powden, Superintendent of the Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU) at the January 13 TRSU monthly meeting. Effective June 30, 2020, Powden did not give a specific reason for leaving. The Chester Telegraph’s article Powden resigns as TRSU superintendent effective June 30 provides a good overview of her four year tenure as head of the SU, noting that Powden’s tenure with the school system, which began in the middle of the Act 46 merger process, has been marked by a number of issues revolving around transparency and trust. You can read. Powden’s letter of resignation by clicking here.
Other education news pertains to the developing school budget, which is voted on by Australian ballot on March 3, from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Dept., in Proctorsville.
• TRSU Postpones Budget While Districts Continue Work on Theirs (Chester Telegraph)
• TRSU Board Rejects Budget with a 9’5% increase (VT Journal)
• GMUSD Finance Committee reverses strict cost per pupil mandate (VT Journal)
• TRSU board mulls budget increases, LMH may lose transportation (Chester Telegraph)
• GM board restores priorities, bets on programs to attract more students: At least two board members will not seek re-election (Chester Telegraph)
5. CAVENDISH FIRE DISTRICT 2 ANNUAL MEETING: Fire District #2 (Cavendish) will hold its annual meeting on February 3 (Monday), 7:30 at the Cavendish Town Office. The official warning is available on-line and at the Town Office. In addition to electing officers, and voting on the budget, Article 5 states, “To see if the legal voters of District #2. Will authorize the closing of the Truck Fund and allow the District to apply said funds toward the hiring of two part time (2) EMTs or one full time EMT for daytime coverage.” This measure is being sought to help with the increasing demand for medical coverage. Further, CVFD is working on a methodical transition from fire department to medical Rescue Squad. The intent is to keep just one engine at the department for enough fire-fighting capacity to keep homeowner insurance rates lower on this side of town.
6. EVENTS
JANUARY 20 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day. Cavendish Town Office Closed
JANUARY 26 (SUNDAY): English Tea and the screening of Downton Abbey (the movie) at Cavendish Fletcher Community Library at 1 pm. Make it more fun and come in High Tea attire!
FEBRUARY 3 (MONDAY): Fire District #2 (Cavendish) Annual Meeting, 7:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. The official warning is available by clicking here.
FEBRUARY 6 (THURSDAY) : Australian Relief Dinner 4-9 pm at Murdock’s on the Proctorsville Green. See article 1 above.
FEBRUARY 10 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board Meeting
FEBRUARY 17 (MONDAY): President’s Day Town Office Closed
FEBRUARY 18 (TUESDAY): 3rd Quarter Town Taxes Due
MARCH 2 (MONDAY): Cavendish Town Meeting, 7 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School. Note: The town budget is voted on at this meeting. There is a separate informational meeting about the school that takes place in February.
MARCH 3 (TUESDAY): VOTING DAY-Elected town positions and school budgets are done by Australian Ballot. The polls are open from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Department in Proctorsville. Handicap accessible entrance is available. Town office will be closed.
MARCH 28 (SATURDAY): A joint project of Cavendish Connects and the Cavendish Library, learn to make totes from feed bags. The workshop is free from 1-4 pm at the Cavendish Library in Proctorsville.
APRIL 10 (FRIDAY): Town office closed for Good Friday
APRIL 12 (SUNDAY): Happy Easter
SEPETEMBER 12 (SATURDAY): 8th Annual Vermont Golden Stage Honey Festival. 10-4 pm at the Golden Stage Inn, Proctorsville, corner of Depot Street and Route 103. Free Admission. FMI: 802-226-7744 or vtgoldenhoneyfestival@gmail.com
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
