Cavendish Update 3/21/20: Weekend Report

She hunkers down. Norm Roosts by Jane Hart

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

3/21/20: It’s the Weekend!

1. What’s Happened in the Last 24 Hours

2. Sanity Tip for the Day

3. Take a Break

4. Events

It’s Saturday and the amount of news you need to know about right now is slowing down. Much has been closed, reduced or cancelled in an effort to get the entire country into “hunker mode.” Yes Uncle Tony (Dr. Fauci) we’re doing what you told us and staying home and six feet apart.

Fortunately we live where we can walk in the woods and listen to the birds. Wonder if the song birds, bears and other animals are noticing that it’s not so noisy this spring? There’s less junk in the air and in general, good times in their world view.  

Unless there is something critical that happens today, no update tomorrow as I’m going to spend the weekend catching up on some needed housework. While you can’t see it, I can and it needs tending to.

A favor to ask. If you are keeping a journal, or are about to start one (highly recommend it), when this is over, can you donate a copy of it to the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS)?

I’ve been reading various CHS records about the town’s experiences during the war years. There are tips and tricks from 80 years ago that could help us today. It’s important to leave a legacy for future generations, as they too will deal with some version of this. Contrary to the shouting newscasters, “never before in the history….” Bull! The humans have been dealing with pandemics, natural disasters and worse since they first arrived.

Each of us has the responsibility to practice social distancing. If we all do it, we will significantly reduce the number of people who get sick. It’s up to each of us to be that difference so Show some heart and stay home or 6 feet apart. Want to understand why this works, read this article from Smithsonian Magazine.

1. WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS:

• Request from Ludlow Ambulance Services: Stop hiking up Okemo Mountain and skiing down. Ski Patrol is no longer there and they don’t have the time or resources to collect your sorry ass if you fall and hurt yourself.

• VT Legislature will return to the Statehouse Next Week to Pass Covid-19 measures. This will include legislation to expand unemployment benefits and aid health care providers.

• If you have a sewing machine and want to make masks, this is a good pattern. Now this is real throwback to the war years when there were lots of posters that said, “Do your bit and knit.”

• Highway rest areas are now closed. There ain’t a porta pottie to piss in.

• Vermont’s cases are increasing and sadly there is an outbreak of Covid-19 at Burlington Health & Rehab.

• To help those in quarantine or self-isolating, the Cavendish Covid-19 Team (CCT) now has a wonderful group of volunteers to help with everything from shopping, picking up prescriptions and even doing that transfer run. To arrange for assistance, call 226-7291 or 7292, Monday-Friday, 9-5.

2 .SANITY TIP FOR THE DAY: If you’ve never tried journaling, this is the perfect time to start. Lots of research shows that it will make you feel a lot better, and you have no idea if you share a copy with the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) how many people you’ll touch for generations to come. We still read Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD. Somewhere along the line somebody decided to dress up his journals and call them “Meditations.”

No special supplies. A notebook, paper, whatever you have handy. Use markers pens, whatever inspires and just write down, sketch, cut and paste, what’s going on in your life. For best results try to do it daily. Some like to start the day with it, others end with it or do it over lunch. Your call.

3. TAKE A BREAK: Coloring is a good way to relax. Meaning “circle,” in Tibetan Buddhism, a mandala is an imaginary palace that is contemplated during meditation. Below are resources to help you get started.

• Print Mandala:  Free Mandalas to print

• Create a virtual mandala

• Mandalas Coloring pages

Google up patterns that you may enjoy. Lots and lots and lots of them to choose from.

4. UPCOMING EVENTS Go to dgBody Works  for classes that are being posted via Facebook live. Take a new one, do an old one. Stay fit and healthy.

                      Have a Heart -stay home or 6 feet apart. 

                        Stay healthy to protect yourself and Cavendish.

IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

Cavendish Update 3/20/20

“In Ned’s case, working at home was anything but peaceful.” Jane Hart

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

3/20/20: We’ve done this before

1. Was there ever a time in our history similar to now?

2. What’s Happened in the Last 24 Hours

3. Sanity Tip for the Day

4. Take a Break

5. Events

We’re coming up on the weekend so just a reminder that the town office is closed Saturday and Sunday.

1. WAS THERE EVER A TIME IN OUR HISTORY SIMILAR TO NOW?: Cavendish has certainly dealt with its fair share of disease over the years, but the Covid-19 epidemic reminds me most of the response mounted after Pearl Harbor was bombed.

Yes, the US knew what was going on in Europe, but they really hadn’t prepared, and a large part of the naval fleet was lost with Japan’s attack on December 7, 1941. Sound familiar? However, the Americans with their can do spirit, immediately went to work.

There were ships in the ocean, planes in the skies and troops on the ground. Everybody did their bit. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of England would later comment, that among his first thoughts after the US declared war, was “We have won the war.”

That can do spirit is alive and well in Cavendish. Just amazing to see how the community is pulling together. People are volunteering to help those who need to remain at home, others are offering classes on-line and everyone is connecting on-line. Read the article at the Cavendish Historical Society blog.

2. WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS: It is with sadness that we report that the Governor announced last evening Vermont’s first two deaths from Covid-19, with one of them being the Ludlow resident. As brother Richard noted in his poem “Lockdown” (Included in the Cavendish Update 3/17/20)

Yes there is sickness.

But there does not have to be disease of the soul

Yes there is even death.

But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.

Today, breathe.

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic

The birds are singing again

The sky is clearing,

Spring is coming,

And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul

And though you may not be able

to touch across the empty square,

Sing

• Last evening, Cavendish’s state representative Annemarie Christensen called to talk about Covid-19 . She is on the House Committee on Health Care so consequently putting in very long days remotely from her home in Weathersfield. In addition to committee meetings and briefings, she also gets to conference call once a day with the Governor. Did I use this as an opportunity to advocate for what we need? Of course. She wants the community to know how impressed she was at the speed by which Cavendish hit the ground running. The legislature, while not meeting in Montpelier, is working to get legislation passed that can help those who have lost jobs, don’t have health care etc. However, her over riding message was straight forward, and she repeated again and again and again, “Just stay home.”

• While the headlines are screaming frightening statistics, there is also a growing number of stories on drugs that look like they could offer real benefit. Researchers Look to Old Drugs for a Possible Coronavirus Treatment that Might Just Work. While I’ve read some of the original research about how an anti-malaria drug is being used in other parts of the world, it’s interesting to see the reporting from business publications. Note Bayer has ramped up its production of the anti-malarial drug.

• Hey Millennials out there, listen up: This disease affects you too. New data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests adults ages 20 to 44 have accounted for nearly 30% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, and 20% of related hospitalizations. After adding adults ages 45 to 54, the percentages swelled to nearly 50% and 40%, respectively. So none of us are immune to this, so do yourself and everybody else a favor and Be Smart and Do your Part. Stay home or 6 feet apart. Learn more.

• If you are in quarantine, Ludlow Ambulance has asked that you post a sign on your door so they can protect you and their staff. We’ve posted a sign that you can print and tape to the door at the Dish. If you don’t have a printer, call 226-7291 and someone in the town office can print one and mail it to you. Remember they’re only in during the week. 

• Best of luck to our parents who will be “homeschooling” all Cavendish students today. Thank you to our teachers who have worked very hard to make this possible. 

• Stores opening early for seniors/high risk customers: Market Basket-Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30-7; Shaw’s 7-8:30 on Tuesday and Thursdays. Stores hours for Shaw’s will be 7 am-8 pm Sunday through Saturday.

• Walmart is offering special shopping hours for seniors. From March 24 through April 28, Walmart stores will host an hour-long senior shopping event every Tuesday for customers aged 60 and older. This will start one hour before the store opens. Pharmacies and Vision Centers will also be open during this time. Learn more.

• If you are a Hallmark Christmas movie fan, they are marathoning these movies during self-quarantine. Starting Friday, March 20 at 12 p.m. ET/PT, Hallmark will air 27 original "Countdown to Christmas" holiday films from recent years ending at 6 pm with “Christmas in Rome.”

• No lines at the DMV!! They too have gone virtual, which is good news if you want to process registration and license renewals and various other services via online, by mail, or via telephone. Not so great if you need to take a driver’s test as in-person transactions like exams, trainings, and hearings will be postponed for the duration of the state of emergency. However, the Gov. has granted a 90 day extension for all license and registration renewals. You can reach the DMV at 888-998-3766 or www.dmv.vermont.gov/contact

3 .SANITY TIP FOR THE DAY: If thou are pained by any external thing, it is not the thing that disturbs thee, but thine own judgment about it. And it is in thy power to wipe out this judgment now. Marcus Aurelius Roman emperor from 161 to 180. One of the famous Stoic philosophers, he wrote daily, in what are now called his “Meditations.” His message was clear that it isn’t the event in and of itself that is problematic, it’s how we respond and how we choose to work with it. So consider how you can control yourself by staying calm and don’t panic. Focus on what you can do about the situation, e.g. in our current Covid-19 world, practice social distancing religiously. Don’t lose your cool and finally, look for the good. Every situation has one. Personally, I’m liking this social distancing thing cause nobody knows if I did the dishes, made the beds and best of all, no bra required.  Not a biggie for you guys, but the gals know what I’m talking about.

4. TAKE A BREAK: Have some of the veggies about to head south? No worries. Today’s take a break is all about preserving veggies in a simple brine solution that takes little effort.

Each fall, we take the 6th graders to Sturbridge Village. One of the things we learned is that as long as you kept your veggies soaking in the brine solution (they used a weight to make sure the veggies were well sunk) they would keep for a year with no refrigeration or canning. Yeah…Well that certainly made me realize that veggies I had put in brine and had in the refrigerator in a glass jar would definitely last a lot longer than the 3 weeks many recipes indicate. In fact, some of my tastiest veggies are the ones I forgot were in there. Here’s a link to get you started. And don’t limit yourself to just cucumbers. I “can” a wide variety including beets, carrots, cauliflower, radishes, string beans and more. Enjoy and let me know how they turn out.

5. UPCOMING EVENTS

3/20 (Friday): 7 am Boot Camp with Denise. dgBody Works Classes; https://www.facebook.com/dgbodyworks/ These are Facebook Live Classes and free. Will be post to Cavendish Facebook page the next day

                      Be smart. Do your part. Stay home or 6 feet apart. 

                        Stay healthy to protect yourself and Cavendish.

IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

Sign Posters to Alert Visitors

Ludlow Ambulance has asked that anyone who is in quarantine for Covid-19 be sure to note that on the door.

Cavendish Update 3/19/20: Taking Care of Our Corner of the World

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

3/19/20: Taking Care of Our Corner of the World

1.Just take care of your corner of the world

2. What’s Happened in the Last 24 Hours

3. Sanity Tip for the Day

4. Take a Break

5. Events

 It’s back to school today for our older students and grade schoolers will soon follow. Our educators have been working long hours to make on-line learning possible. Thank you! Let us know how much fun you’re having.

1. JUST TAKE CARE OF YOUR CORNER OF THE WORLD: Uncle Tony (Dr. Fauci) is telling us to “hunker down,” and we’re just about at full “hunker.”  The good news is that in countries that have implemented social distancing, such as China, it’s been very effective. So if somebody gives you the “we’re all going to get it,” have them step 12 feet away from you and not just 6.

Living in Vermont, we get “hunkering,” due to snow, power outages, wind, flooding and sometimes all of the above at once. However, this is going to be a longer “hunker” than normal. How long, we don’t know but there are two things we can do.

1.    Take care of yourself first. As the flight attendants always remind us to put oxygen masks on our self before helping anyone else-to function your best, you gotta be at your best. Did that sound too Oprahish? Second comes your family and nearest and dearest. Once you have that, help others as you can. If you can help or need help, call 226-7291 or 7292.

2.    We know about “cabin fever,” so the more ways we can help each other with this the better. Post ideas to Cavendish Facebook, or if you prefer send to cavendishconnect@gmail.com

2. CONNECTION OVER CONTAGION: Maybe more serious than the virus itself, is the fear and panic surrounding it. Both are highly contagious. Limit news, just so you get the jest of things, and focus more on talking to friends, family, neighbors by phone, Facetime, Skype, Facebook etc.

For our parents that are overseeing that kids are on-line (did you ever think you’d be saying, “you’re not spending enough time on your iPad?”) doing school work, we know it can be a challenge but it may also give you an opportunity to be a bit more hands on with your child’s education. Let us know how it’s working out.

We are now starting an “events” section of what’s going on virtually (and for free), so join in cause lots of us are going to be watching and doing.

 If you are feeling overly stressed, connect don’t disconnect. Let someone know. We’re all in this together and we’re making it work. You aren’t alone in worrying about finances, whether family and loved ones are okay, if you’re being a good parent, or if you can eat the last Oreo without getting caught. This will not last forever and remember, we’re all wired for resiliency. More on that one tomorrow.

 Before I forget, check out Item 5. Denise has posted her upcoming free on-line classes. She thinks the yoga class tonight is a must do. Thank you Denise, Kata and Lori. You are what makes Cavendish so incredible!

3.WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS: New resource guide on-line at the Dish.

• And the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) has made yet another change to reporting data. It will be divided by residential status (VT or other) and they will no longer provide information about location. Heard the craziest rumor about various people being infected. Really? Just assume everyone has it, and act accordingly -from a distance of at least six feet. Anybody want to write a song about that.

• Special information for Cavendish Station Transfer Users: The Transfer station is open regular hours, 8-5 Wed and Sat, 10-5 Sun. Singleton's continues to sell transfer station tokens and you can write checks at the transfer station if they don't have tokens. You can also mail checks to the town office (PO Box 126, Cavendish VT 05142) and they’ll mail you tokens.

• You can delay tax payment for 90 days past the April 15th deadline!! Now that’s some great news because I know I haven’t gotten my taxes done for this year. However, you do need to file by April 15. Learn more.

• Medical/Dental non urgent appointments and procedures are being delayed. Hospitals are delaying non urgent elective procedures and dentists are asking that you only call for emergent situations. Call and talk to your providers about anything you might have selected or need done.

• Economic relief bills are working their way through Congress.

• VT Labor Dept. Adds an online option to make it easier to apply for unemployment claims. By phone: Full-Service Filing of Claims: 1-877-214-3330 (individuals should try this line first) Supplemental Initial Claim Intake: 1-888-807-7072. By internet:
Electronic Form for Initial Intake
Vermont Department of Labor

• Berkshire Bank announced it yesterday but expect it to be true of all banks. You can use ATMs, drive thru windows and on-line banking as usual, but branch lobbies will be closed to unscheduled walk-in customers. Call to make an appointment for in person banking.

• Really, what is this guy thinking! VT Man Charged After Falsely Claiming he Had Coronavirus.

• Darn Tough Socks has closed temporarily but Ben & Jerry’s is still cranking out your favorites.

• Fish & Wildlife would like you to take down bird feeders as the bears are out and about.

4. SANITY TIP FOR THE DAY: Exercising is always good, but right now it can be a life saver. Thanks to Denise of dgBodyworks you can work out with her and her team on-line. Walking outside is not only refreshing, but it will give you a whole new perspective. The one thing about Cavendish you can walk for miles and not see anyone, but for safety’s sake, if you do, don’t be a fool and remember the 6 foot rule. Yikes I need some better lines!

5. TAKE A BREAK: You can always go back to obsessing, but give yourself a break. Each post will now offer a “take a break” feature.

We’ve heard some of you were captivated by hunkering at the International Space Station, but today let’s go to Carnival in Rio.

There is no place like Rio for Carnival! The floats, samba, songs, music and more Wow! Just as New Orleans is known for Mardi Gras, Brazil has earned the distinction of being “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Enjoy the parade, it’s like nothing you’ll see anywhere but Rio.

6. UPCOMING EVENTS

3/19 (Thursday): dgBody Works These are Facebook Live Classes and free. Will be post to Cavendish Facebook page the next day

• 5 pm Barre with Kata

• 6 pm Yoga with Lori

3/20 (Friday): 7 am Boot Camp with Denise. dgBody Works These are Facebook Live Classes and free. Will be post to Cavendish Facebook page the next day

Be smart. Do your part. Stay home or 6 feet apart. 

                        Stay healthy to protect yourself and Cavendish.

IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

In honor of back to school day, Jane Hart’s “Home schooling can be exhausting but worth it.”