Open Positions for Cavendish Elected Positions

Below is a listing of the open positions for elected officials in Cavendish.

Due to Covid, unlike in previous years, candidates do not need to collect signatures. Instead they need to complete a Candidate Consent Form and return to the Cavendish Town Clerk, Diane McNamara by 5:00 pm on January 25, 2021.

OPEN POSITIONS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS

POSITION                             TERM                         CURRENT OFFICE HOLDER

Town Moderator                             1 year                        Michael J. Ripley   

Town Agent                                     1 year                        Vacant

Auditor                                              1 year                        Peter J. Labelle

Auditor                                              1 year                         Kem Phillips   (remainder of 2 yr term)

Auditor                                              3 years                      Vacant

Select Board                                   1 year                        Sandra Russo

Select Board                                   1 year                        Stephen Plunkard

Select Board                                   3 years                      Michael J. Ripley

Town Grand Juror                         1 year                        Theresa H. McNamara

Library Trustee                               5 years                      John White 

Library Trustee                               3 years                      David Gallagher (remainder of 5 yr term)  

Library Trustee                               4 years                      Sandra Russo (remainder of 5 yr term)

Trustee of Public Funds              3 years                      Jane Pixley

Trustee of Public Funds              2 years                      Vacant  (remainder of 3 yr term)      

GMUSD Director                             3 years                      Vacant

GMUSD Director                             2 years                      Vacant   (remainder of 3 yr term)     

GMUSD Director                             1 year                        Dennis Reilly  (remainder of 3 yr term)

Cavendish Update 1/8/21: Calendar Contest/Covid/History of Capital Violence

Photo from 2008 CCCA Calendar

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

1/8/21

1. Cavendish Info

2. Has the U.S. Capital Been attacked/stormed before?

3. Covid update

4. Events

1. CAVENDISH INFO

• Cavendish Village PO Repair: Repairs were being made to the driveway and parking area of the Cavendish Village post office on Thursday. While long overdue, it’s hoped that more extensive renovations will be made this summer when 131 is repaved.

• Cavendish set to go live with their EV Charging Station: Cavendish’s new Electric Vehicle Charging Station is expected to be up and running by the end of the week, marking the successful achievement of a five-year goal and offering free electric vehicle charging for at least the first year. The EV charging station, a Level 2 240-volt unit, is installed next to a single designated parking space along the Proctorsville Green on Depot Street and is the pride of the town’s Energy Committee, which includes Board Chair Peter LaBelle, Mary Ormrod, and the late Dan Sullivan. VT Journal

• Cavendish Calendars Looking for Photos: Once again it’s time for the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association calendar contest. The theme for 2022 is Bees and Beekeepers in Cavendish. If you have a photo you would like to submit relating to bees and that was taken in Cavendish, and you are a resident, (and that includes second homeowners) there are several ways to submit it to CCCA. You can use snail mail by sending it to P.O. Box 605, Cavendish VT 05142, or you can drop it off at Crows Bakery on Depot St. in Proctorsville. Alternatively you can email it as an attachment to cavendishcommunityconservation@gmail.com.  Submission deadline is April 1, 2021. All photos must be in landscape format. Print photos should be on 8”x10” non-glossy finish paper, digital photos should be minimum 3MB. All photos become the property of CCCA upon submission. All pictures received will be considered for publication. Actual photos may not be returned and all photos may be used in products created by the CCCA. For more information, please call Robin at 802-226-7736 or email cavendishcommunityconservation@gmail.com.

• New Vermont Laws in 2021: Abenaki hunting licenses, state parks signs, higher minimum wage.

• Gov. Phil Scott’s Inaugural Address: In his third inaugural address Thursday evening, Gov. Phil Scott (R) pledged to focus this legislative session on “weathering the remaining storm” of the Covid-19 pandemic and “laying a foundation” to rebuild the state’s economy. Scott’s speech came one day after supporters of President Donald Trump descended on the U.S. Capitol and participated in violent riots that sparked national unrest. In response to the chaos in Washington, D.C., Scott called Wednesday for Trump to resign or be removed from office. VT Digger

2. HAS THE US CAPITAL BEEN ATTACKED/STORMED BEFORE?: Wednesday’s storming of the U.S. Capital building by extremist Trump supporters was a horrifying sight to witness, with some comparing it to 9/11, and many questioning whether anything like this has ever happened before.

In its 220 year history, this is not the first time the Capital building has been scarred by violence.

 In 1814, the British occupied, looted and burned the U.S. Capital, though it wasn’t fully destroyed thanks to a sudden rain storm. Since then, the following attacks have taken place:

• July 4, 1915: Erich Muenter, former professor of German at Harvard University, exploded three sticks of dynamite in the Senate reception room. There was building damage but no one died. Muenter said his attack was in response to American financiers aiding Britain against Germany in World War I.

• March 1, 1954, a group of armed Puerto Rican nationalists fired onto the House Floor from the public galleries wounding five U.S. Representatives. Within a matter of moments, normal House proceedings were thrown into chaos creating a scene etched into the memories of Members, staff, and Pages.

• Nov. 7, 1983: an explosion ripped through the second floor of the Senate. Just minutes before the explosion, someone claiming to be from a group named the Armed Resistance Unit called a Capitol switchboard warning of a pending attack, saying it was in retaliation for US military actions in Grenada and Lebanon.

• 1998: A mentally ill man fired at a checkpoint and killed two Capitol Police officers. A nearby statue of Vice President John C. Calhoun still bears a bullet mark from the incident.

As troubling as these current events are, particularly since the last time such a large scale attack happened was over 200 years ago and then it was by a foreign power, the Capital Building and the American people have weathered through and will do so again.

3. COVID UPDATE: While much is competing for our attention, please take note that the new variant strain of Covid has been detected in Saratoga Springs, just a hop, skip and a jump from VT. On Wednesday University of VT Medical President Stephen Leffler, said, “We should assume it’s already in Vermont.”

New Covid Strain: This strain is at least 50% more transmissible, though mortality and morbidity are the same and the vaccines currently being administered are believed to be effective against it. A new report from Imperial College London found that a greater proportion of children were infected with the new strain compared to the older version of the virus. It's not clear yet if its mutations make it better at infecting children, or if younger people were just more likely to be exposed to it.

Viruses like to self-replicate in order to increase their transmission rate, so a new variant isn’t surprising and in fact, there are now a lot of variant strains of Covid. This one grabs our attention because: it spreads quickly; has a higher “secondary attack rate,” which means each case infects more people; and those infected appear to have a higher viral load, carrying perhaps 10-100 times more virus in their nose and throat.

The prevention message hasn’t changed. By following the Covid 3-mask on faces, 6 faces, avoid crowded spaces along with the state’s requirement of no social gatherings, and avoiding any non-essential travel, you will significantly reduce your risks and help to slow the spread.

Covid in Cavendish: On January 2, dGBody Works in Proctorsville posted that they would be Closing for two weeks. COVID positive for Denise. All clients and close contacts were notified immediately and Denise choose to make her status known in order to help reduce the shame that so often accompanies such a diagnosis. On Dec. 24, Cavendish appeared for the first time on the state’s table of towns with 6 or more cases. The majority of these cases occurred in the prior two weeks. As of Dec. 30, Cavendish is registering 8 cases, which means in the last week alone, two more residents tested positive for the virus. Incidence by town is published on Friday afternoons, and will be posted to the Cavendish VT Facebook page as soon as it’s available.

Covid in Windsor County/Statewide: Southern VT is becoming a bit of a hotspot and Windsor County is now among the top 3 counties in the daily reports. The state’s seven day positivity rate is 2.7%. This means that 2.7% of all tests are coming back positive. While higher than previous months, it hasn’t reached the state’s threshold of 5%. As of yesterday, there have been 8,403 cases in VT and 155 deaths. There are 36 patients in VT hospitals, with 8 in the ICU.

Modeling: The state’s modeling, as of January 5 shows a 20% increase in new Covid cases in the Northeast region. Note that there was a drop off in testing during the holidays, so the data is a bit skewed. While travel was down by 50% by Vermonters, there were more out of state visitors during the recent holiday period than at any point during the pandemic.  

"When can I get my Covid vaccine?" : If you are a front line health care worker, or a resident of a long term care facility (i.e. nursing home), you are part of Group 1A and vaccinations of this group should be completed by the end of January. There is no longer a "group B." Instead, VT is going with an "age band" system whereby the first group will be those aged 75+ and/or who have a serious underlying health condition(s), e.g. heart disease, cancer, COPD etc. The state will be issuing a list of who qualifies as having a pre-existing condition shortly.

The VT Dept. of Health (VDH) has asked that people not call their primary care provider, hospital of health department, as "when it's your turn" you will be notified. There is no "list" that you can get your name on.

Currently, the state is using both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Health Commissioner Levine noted Tuesday that both the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are rapidly approaching approval, which will significantly increase availability.

Vaccines will be distributed via health centers, health departments, hospitals and designated vaccine sites. For more information, see VDH’s Vaccine page.

Note that VT has been significantly hampered in distributing the vaccine due to reduced doses from the federal government and inconsistencies on deliveries. None the less, VT has one of the highest vaccine rates in the country and as of Tuesday has given a first dose to 3.1% (close to 18,000) of the population over 16 years of age.

Local Resources: If you need to quarantine either from exposure or because you have Covid, local resources are available to help you: 

-       Cavendish Resource Guide

-       CHS Cares Closet: Masks (cloth and disposable), books, toys, craft supplies. Open 24/7. All free. Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum.

3. UPCOMING EVENTS:

JANUARY 11 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board meeting via Zoom

JANUARY 15 (FRIDAY): Municipal Utility Payment Due

JANUARY 18 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day Town office closed

FEBURARY 3 (WEDNESDAY): The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library's Spoilers Club. will meet via zoom on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 to discuss the modern western "Yellowstone" starring Kevin Costner. All three seasons of which are available to borrow from the library. FMI: 226-7503

FEBRUARY 15 (MONDAY): President’s Day, Town Office Closed.

Cavendish Update 1/1/21: Happy New Year/News/Covid/Events

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Cavendish Connects wishes you and yours a healthy, safe and joyous New Year.

1/1/21

1. Cavendish Info

2. Covid Update

3. Events

1. CAVENDISH INFO

• Thank you Cavendish Town Crew: Between 4 feet of snow on Dec. 17 and close to three inches of rain on Christmas, all sorts of records have been set. Unfortunately, the heavy snow and flooding has required the town crew to be working long hours in harsh conditions. They’ve managed to keep roads open and passable. Our thanks to them and town manager Brendan McNamara for a job well done. 

• 3 GM board members eschew re-election, annual meeting in flux: All three positions from Cavendish to the GMUSD board are open. Both Fred Marin and Kate Lamphere have stated they will not run again. Unlike previous years, you do not need to collect signatures to be on the March ballot. Please call the town clerk, Diane McNamara, 226-7291 If you are interested in running for the GMUSD board. Chester Telegraph

• GMUSD Board Decides to Hold Annual Meeting in Person: During a special meeting Monday, Dec. 28, the Green Mountain Unified School District Board determined that they would hold their upcoming annual meeting in person at the Green Mountain High School auditorium, adhering to all Covid-19 health and safety protocols including social distancing and mandatory mask usage.

• Recycling Christmas Cavendish Style: Your holiday greens (trees, wreaths, swags etc.) can be recycled at the Cavendish Transfer Station, cut up and used for mulch in a garden, placed in the yard for the birds to enjoy, or cut up and saved for an outdoor fire pit. DO NOT BURN IN A FIREPLACE OR WOOD STOVE. Pines, firs and other evergreens have a high content of flammable turpentine oils.  Burning may contribute to creosote buildup and risk a chimney fire. Learn more ways about recycling items, including food compost at The Dish.

• Cavendish Library’s Spoiler’s Club: Do you love to read books, watch movies and binge on TV series? Are you dying to talk about them? This is for you. The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library's Spoilers Club will meet via zoom on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 to discuss the modern western "Yellowstone" starring Kevin Costner. All three seasons of which are available to borrow from the library. Once you start watching you can't stop. Once you finish it you will want to talk about it. Contact the library at 226-7503 to borrow the series or for a link to the Zoom meeting.

• Stimulus will support vaccination, broadband, performing arts in Vermont: Vermonters will see changes to broadband investment and to higher education funding as a result of the $900 billion in Covid-19 relief coming its way next year. VT Digger

• VT’s Minimum Wage increased on New Year’s Day: Starting on Jan. 1, 2021, the minimum wage in Vermont is set to go up $.79, from $10.96 to $11.75 an hour. "Tipped employees" minimum wage is also increasing to $5.88.

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance extension goes into effect Jan. 2

2. COVID UPDATE: Yesterday’s Governor’s press conference marked the 100th media briefing since the start of the pandemic. The lead off message wasn’t what anyone wanted to hear-the government is sending less vaccine than originally allocated. Expecting 5,850 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the allotment was cut to 3,900 for next week and the Moderna vaccine from 4,000 to 3,900. As of Thursday, 14,000 Vermonters have been vaccinated. This includes 21 of the state’s 37 long-term care facilities. The plan is to have all facilities vaccinated with the first dose by January 8 and the second by the end of January.

December was the deadliest month on record from the pandemic. Almost 70% of those who died were in long term care settings.

Town Map: For the first time, on Dec. 24, Cavendish appeared on the state’s table of towns with 6 or more cases, the majority of those cases occurred in the prior two weeks. As of Dec. 31, Cavendish is registering 8 cases, which means in the last week alone, two more residents tested positive for the virus.

Modeling: The state’s modeling, presented on Dec.28 shows that for the second straight week, Vermont's case growth and positivity rate are dropping and there's a slight decline in regional case growth. However,  it’s too early to see the impact of holiday travel and gatherings. Air travel was significantly down through Christmas Eve, but cellphone data indicates that visitors to VT increased. Dah, as if we didn’t know that, particularly since Shaw’s has had a line around the block through the holiday season.

Vaccinations: The VT Department of Health (VDH) launched a new Vaccine Dashboard, which is updated on Wednesdays. 

While both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations require two shots given three weeks a part, the research shows that strong protection occurs as early as 12 to 13 days following the first dose. However, to ensure longer term immunity the second dose is required. The efficacy of the two shot regiment is 95% for Pfizer and 94.1% for the Moderna vaccine. Both vaccines are now being given in VT.

As the state nudges closer to completing phase 1A, the second phase will be implemented based on age groups, with anyone, regardless of age, having a pre- existing/chronic condition going to the head of the line. The state is in the process of defining who will qualify as having underlying health conditions, e.g. people with transplants and COPD. The CDC has issued guidelines for “People who have Weakened Immune Systems.

With the availability of sufficient vaccine, distribution will occur at primary care offices, pharmacies, the state’s 12 health department sites, and mass vaccine sites. The notification system is still being developed, but it will most likely be by the media, social media, and the state’s website. Note: The Ludlow Health Center keeps Cavendish Connects informed about various community health issues. We will make this available via our various outlets-Facebook, update, website-as soon as we receive it.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health recently released a “School House Rock” style cartoon “I’m a Vaccine,” to help explain how a vaccine goes from an idea to reality.

Schools: Cavendish students don’t return to school until Jan. 11. However, at Friday’s press conference the Governor went over the protocols:

1. Winter sports teams may begin practicing as long as they follow the guidance, and we’ll continue to watch the data with hopes of restarting games as soon as possible.

2. Schools do not have to include a question about multi-household gatherings on daily health checkers.

3. Regular testing of school employees continues, with almost every staff member having the opportunity to get tested each month. Since this program launched, a 0.26% positivity rate (for comparison, the general population is about 10 times that rate at 2-2.5%). This shows that the risk of transmission is lower in schools than the general community, school-based cases are not driving outbreaks.

Mutating virus: A mutant strain of Covid has now occurred in three states (Florida, California and Colorado) and is expected to spread throughout the country in the coming weeks. VT’s Health Commissioner Dr. Levine noted that while B117 is more contagious, and will continue to spread, symptoms and severity appear to be about the same. Indications are that the current vaccines will be effective against the new strain.

Disinfecting: The risk of getting infected from touching a surface contaminated by the virus is low. "In hospitals, surfaces have been tested near COVID-19 patients, and no infectious virus can be identified.” What’s found is viral RNA which is akin to the “corpse of the virus”- what’s left over after the virus dies. "They don't find infectious virus, and that's because the virus is very fragile in the environment — it decays very quickly… all the evidence points toward breathing in the virus from the air as being the most important route of transmission." Bottom line: To avoid infection, follow the VDH recommendation of 6 foot spaces, masks on faces and avoid crowded spaces. Only “swap air” with members of your immediate household.  Note: There are other diseases you can get from surfaces such as norovirus. Frequent hand washing is important, spraying down your groceries, not so much. Read more.

Local Resources: If you need to quarantine either from exposure or because you have Covid, local resources are available to help you:  

-       Cavendish Resource Guide:

-       CHS Cares Closet: Masks (cloth and disposable), books, toys, craft supplies. Open 24/7. All free. Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum.

3. UPCOMING EVENTS:

JANUARY 1 (FRIDAY): HAPPY NEW YEAR-Town office closed

JANUARY 11 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board meeting via Zoom

JANUARY 15 (FRIDAY): Municipal Utility Payment Due

JANUARY 18 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day Town office closed

FEBURARY 3 (WEDNESDAY): The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library's Spoilers Club. will meet via zoom on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 to discuss the modern western "Yellowstone" starring Kevin Costner. All three seasons of which are available to borrow from the library. FMI: 226-7503

FEBRUARY 15 (MONDAY): President’s Day, Town Office Closed.  

CA❤︎ENDSH-A SAFER SIX COMMUNITY

Covers mouth & nose
   Always masks in public & washes hands
     Vermonters keep each other safe
       Elbow coughs
         Never socializes with those outside their immediate household
          Disinfects common surfaces
            Is alert for symptoms
             Stays at least 6 feet apart from others
               Has respect for personal space 

    IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

Cavendish Update 12/18/20: SB Mtg/News/Covid/Events

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

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no Cavendish Update on Christmas, Dec. 25, Friday. Check the Cavendish VT Facebook page for daily updates. Cavendish Connects wishes you and yours a happy, joyous and safe holiday season.

12/18/20

1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 12/14/20

2. Cavendish Info

3. Covid update

4. Events

1.CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING 12/14/20 The Select Board (SB) continues to Zoom meet, and Okemo Valley TV is now streaming and archiving the meeting via uTube. Minutes are available at the Town’s website.

Approved: Reduced assessment on three parcels of land that no longer have mobile homes on them. The Grand List will be modified to reflect this change; An Emergency Health Order to the owner of 223 Cavendish Gulf Rd, which is now a health risk due to renters, who have since vacated, leaving trash and debris.

 Covid: With increases in cases statewide and locally, the Town office is closed except to staff. The Cavendish Library has moved to curbside pick-up (see more information under Item 2). Town manager, Brendan McNamara, discussed his concern if members of the town crew should become sick or need to quarantine due to exposure and is considering possible options. In the meantime, the town crew is prepped and ready for winter weather.  

Budget: Town budget planning meetings in January will be held by Zoom and are open to the public.  The issue of the Cavendish Library was discussed. SB member, Sandra Russo, who is also a library trustee said they are looking at three options about funding and will be meeting with both McNamara and the library board this coming week.

Town Meeting: Looking at options for town meeting, which will most likely be held by Zoom with Australian and potentially mail-in ballots for voting on town budgets.

Other town business:

-       Utility bills just went out.

-       Discussed removal of what appears to be an abandoned truck on Depot St. in Proctorsville.

-       Follow up continues on a person that appeared to be casing various properties several weeks ago. It’s currently a police investigation.

2. CAVENDISH INFO

• Cavendish has record breaking snowfall: Between late Wednesday evening until Thursday afternoon, close to 4 feet of snow fell. The town office, post offices, library, various businesses, and even some roads were closed. Note that the Cavendish Town Office will not open until noon today. The town crew has been out trying to clear roadways and will continue today. The one thing that didn’t get cancelled was school as students are currently remote learning until Jan. 11 in our area. Please clean away deep snow around outdoor vents for home heating and water heater.

• CHS Cares Cabinet: Lots of new items in the chest, including a cake decorating kit, new puzzles and even a pedometer. A path to the CHS Cabinet (next to the Museum steps) should be cleared later today. It’s open 24/7 and everything is free. If you’d like to donate, please e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com or call 802-226-7807.

• Cavendish Library Reverting to Curbside pick-up/expanded WIFI range: Due to the rising number of COVID cases in the area, the Cavendish Library has returned to curbside service and has expanded its range for WIFI up to 400 feet from the library.  There is no password. The library will continue to distribute Everyone Eats Meal-ring the bell for take-out. virtual programming such as story time on Facebook live and other programming  for your entertainment and education. Patrons may borrow eBooks, movies, TV series, audiobooks and music online via Hoopla and Libby.  FMI: 226-7503, website or Facebook. On Christmas Eve the Library will have a Tuck in Story Time at 7:30 pm

• Cavendish Christmas Eve Ghost Story: Since Covid made it impossible for the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) to offer a Christmas Ghost Walk, they’ve provided a Christmas Eve ghost tale featuring local ghosts, with follow up information about Cavendish’s favorite spirits. The story is available at the CHS Blog.

• Three Open Seats on the GMUSD: Cavendish needs to fill three open seats on the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) board, that represents CTES, GMUHS and CAES. Petitions need to be filed in January and will be voted on as part of Town Meeting in March.  

• Cavendish Siblings Win Ghost Story Contest: Saugus.net has announced the winners for its 23rd annual Halloween Ghost Story contest, and two of them are Cavendish locals, Lorien and Luke Strange, who won third place in the Middle School category and second place in the Interactive Fiction Category respectively with their stories “They Fly Out In Winter” and “Spooky Times.” This is Lorien’s second time winning the contest as she was a first place winner last year with her story “Bayou Fog.” The stories can be found online at www.saugus.net/Contests/Halloween

• Three-quarters will lose unemployment benefits: The 18,000 Vermonters receiving benefits through the two CARES Act programs will lose access to that program Dec. 26. Another 885 Vermonters will lose benefits this week as the federal government ends extended benefits.

3. COVID UPDATE: The Pfizer vaccine is now being administered to front line health workers in VT.  While a light at the end of the tunnel, we’ve a ways to go and sadly VT has had 105 deaths, ten this week alone, and it’s taken only 10 days to jump from 5,000 to over 6,000 cases,

Governor Scott noted at the Tuesday press conference, “One thing I’ve always appreciated about Vermonters is our perseverance. It probably comes from those long, tough, cold winters, followed by difficult and still cool mud seasons. But that’s what’s so special about being a Vermonter. We know just around the corner is a beautiful summer. … So we toughen up, put our head down and carry on.”

We’ve made strides: It’s easy to get lost in the blaring Covid headlines and miss some of the incredible strides that have been made in dealing with this disease:.

-       The ICU fatality rate has dropped 60%-70%, as intensivists gain a better understanding of basic treatments such as how to oxygenate a patient and avoid ventilators, and the use of steroids and even aspirin to prevent clotting which can lead to severe cardiac and brain damage.

-       One approved and about to be approved vaccines which are already being administered.  

-       Prevention strategies, such as VT Health Dept giving pulse oximeters to newly diagnosed people with Covid and registering them with Sara Alert, which helps to avoid inpatient admissions

-       Vermonters heeding the Governor’s advice and staying put at Thanksgiving, thereby avoiding a surge in cases

Town Map: While Cavendish had no new Covid cases as of Dec. 9, Ludlow had three, bringing their total to 21, with the majority occurring in the last three weeks. Chester had seven cases from Dec. 2-9.

Modeling: The state’s modeling, presented on Dec.15 is forecasting a 70% increase in new cases over the next three weeks-the holiday period- if people don’t adhere to the prevention guidelines. Currently, the health department is monitoring 225 “situations” and 37 outbreaks.

VT’s State of Emergency has been extended to Jan. 15.

Close Contact Information: The state has launched a new webpage to help those who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid 19.

Vaccines: The state’s goal is to have 34,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by the end of the month, which will be given to high-risk healthcare workers and patients at certain long-term care facilities. The next group to be vaccinated will include people with underlying health conditions and more front line workers.

In order to reach “community immunity,” often referred to as herd immunity, 75% of the population needs to be vaccinated. Data from the latest Kaiser Family Foundation survey  indicates 71% of the public is willing to be vaccinated.

The VT Dept. of Health has set up a special webpage on Covid Vaccination.

Register for VT Alert: To help Vermonters stay up to date on the latest Covid-19 guidance and information, Gov. Phil Scott encourages Vermonters to register for Vermont Alert, the state’s emergency notification system. Register for VT-ALERT by visiting www.vtalert.gov and selecting the alerts they would like to receive. Current subscribers may update their notifications by visiting www.vtalert.gov.

STOP SWAPPING AIR: It’s very simple, if you don’t want to get Covid, don’t swap air with anyone outside your immediate household.

Local Resources

-       Cavendish Resource Guide

-       CHS Cares Closet: Masks (cloth and disposable), books, toys, craft supplies. Open 24/7. All free. Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum.

4. UPCOMING EVENTS:

DECEMBER 18 (FRIDAY): Last day of Hanukah

DECEMBER 21 (MONDAY): Winter Solstice

DECEMBER 24 (THURSDAY): Christmas Eve Tuck in Story Time at 7:30 pm. Check the Library’s Facebook page for more information.

DECEMBER 25 (FRIDAY): MERRY CHRISTMAS-Town office closed

DECEMBER 26-31 (SATURDAY-THURSDAY): HAPPY KWANZAA

DECEMBER 31 (THURSDAY): New Year’s Eve

JANUARY 1 (FRIDAY): HAPPY NEW YEAR-Town office closed

CA❤︎ENDSH-A SAFER SIX COMMUNITY

Covers mouth & nose
   Always masks in public & washes hands
     Vermonters keep each other safe
       Elbow coughs
         Never socializes with those outside their immediate household
          Disinfects common surfaces
            Is alert for symptoms
             Stays at least 6 feet apart from others
               Has respect for personal space

    IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS