Cavendish Update 1/12/18 SB/Flu/GMUSD
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Yucky Weather Ahead
Today’s Cavendish Update has been made possible by donations from Peggy Svec and two donors who wish to remain anonymous. Cavendish Connects thanks them for their support, as without it, the various forms of digital outreach to Cavendish would not be possible.
A Winter Weather Advisory (9 pm this evening Jan. 12 to Sat. Jan 13 at 4 pm) has been issued for our area, by the National Weather Service in Burlington. Sleet, snow, and freezing rain expected. Scattered power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel will be hazardous. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations up to one quarter of an inch are expected. In addition a flood watch from 7 am on Friday Jan. 12 to Sat. Jan. 13. A combination of moderate to locally heavy rainfall, snow melt, and potential for ice jams may cause flooding on rivers and streams.
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1/12/18 Cavendish Update
1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting
2. Town of Cavendish: Ballot Positions Open for Election
3. Cavendish Related News
4. Got Flu? Cavendish Cares Packages
5. CTES in Need of Mentors
6. Home Weatherization Workshop
7. Events
1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING Select board (SB) meetings are recorded by Okemo Valley TV and are available at their website and on Comcast Television. Written minutes are available at the town’s website.
The focus of Monday’s meeting was preparing for Town Meeting Day (March 5). Voters should be aware that for the first time there will be no informational meeting for the school. Instead, this will be covered by an informational meeting for the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD), which Cavendish is part of, on Feb. 27 (Tuesday) in Chester. Voting for school budgets is by Australian ballot. Other items discussed at the meeting included:
• TDS did not respond to request to attend the January meeting
• Town manager Brendan McNamara will be contacting VTrans regarding calming measures for the intersection of 103/131 as a result of a recent accident involving a school bus.
• Agreed that a Town Constable position is no longer necessary. It will be up to the voters to decide at town meeting whether to eliminate this position. Reviewed other positions for election. (see item 2 below)
• Set date for warning adoption of Town Plan (Jan. 27 at 5:30 pm at the Town office) and removed two Planning Commission members who have not been active on the committee.
For a more in-depth report on the SB meeting see The Dish.
2. CAVENDISH BALLOT POSITIONS FOR ELECTION: If you are interested in seeking an elected office, petitions are available at the Town Clerk’s Office, Monday-Friday, 9-4. Deadline for filing with the Town Clerk nominating petitions for town offices to be voted on by Australian ballot is January 29, 2018 by 5pm. Election will take place on March 6 by Australian Ballot. Positions open are as follows:
Town Moderator 1 year
School District Moderator 1 year
Select Board 3 year and 2 openings for 1 year term
Town Agent 1 year
Lister 1 and 2 year terms
Auditor 1, 2 and 3 year terms
Library Trustee 5 year
Trustee of Public Funds 3 year
Town Grand Juror 1 year
Constable 1 year (Need for this position to be voted on)
Town School Director 2 positions for 3/6/18-6/30/18
GMUHS 1 position for 3/6/18-6/30/18
Note that the school board positions end June 30 as the Green Mountain Unified School District goes into effect on July 1, 2018.
3. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
GMUSD: Are we getting what we voted for? As part of Act 46, Cavendish voters were encouraged to vote for the formation of the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) in order to save money and improve educational opportunities for students. As the GMUSD is being formed-it takes effect July 1, 2018- not only are there no savings, the per pupil cost is increasing and none of the increases are in programming to benefit students. Read the full story at The Dish
Cumberland Farms in Ludlow No Longer Serving Gas: The gas pumps at the Ludlow Cumberland Farms are no longer operational. As of Jan. 1, all gas tanks in VT must be double lined and their tanks are single lined. There was a rumor that they would be relocating to Sam’s Steakhouse, which closed this past summer. However, that appears to have fallen through.
Shovel off your roof before cold returns: Warm temperatures now and freezing rain on the way. Experts say if you haven't gotten your snow off your roof yet, you're going to want to soon. Keep in mind-Snow drifts, so some parts of the roof may have more than others. Clear your pipes. That helps your appliances work correctly. Have working alarms. This could save your life if there is a carbon monoxide buildup or a fire. WCAX
Frigid Temperatures May Reduce Tick Population: Even in the dead of winter, ticks stay deep in the woods hiding until much warmer months return. But when faced with sub-zero temperatures, like much of our region is experiencing now, there's a good chance quite a few of them won't make it to spring. "We're cautiously optimistic that the severe cold and the dryness is going to have some sort of negative impact on the tick population," Vermont Agency of Agriculture's Eliza Doncaster said. MYNBC
4. GOT FLU? CAVENDISH CARES PACKAGES: This year’s flu is off to a roaring start, and early indications are it’s going to be a banner year-and not in a good way.
To help with both flu awareness and to provide some comfort to those affected, the Cavendish Homeschool community in conjunction with the Cavendish Historical Society, Cavendish Connects and the Cavendish Baptist Church are preparing Cavendish Cares Packages (CCPs). The packages contain items to help prevent the spread of flu as well as provide comfort to those who already have it. These are available now through April (flu season).
Packages are available by e-mailing cavendishconnects@gmail.com or calling 226-7131. Please specify if a child is ill.
If you would like to help with this project, you can drop off the items below for the CCPs at the Cavendish Baptist Church between 7am and 7pm every day through the side entrance at the back of the church - through the double doors under the porch supported by crosses. There is a bin labeled "Cavendish Cares Donations" just inside those doors.
• Tissues, toilet paper, paper towels
• herb teas
• honey
• cough drops
• lip balm
• hand sanitizer
• disinfectant
• Water
• Electrolyte solutions, such as Gatorade and Powerade
• ibuprofen
• acetaminophen
• children’s acetaminophen
If you would like to help in other ways, such as being a distribution or collection point, please e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com or call 802-226-7807. See the Dish for tips on flu prevention.
5. CTES IN NEED OF MENTORS: Cavendish Town Elementary School is seeking mentors. Mentoring shows young people that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges, and makes them feel like they matter. Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. You can be the difference in a child’s life.
Mentoring is a two-way street. You can learn just as much from your mentee as they learn from you. You can also have new experiences and pass on what you’ve learned in your life.
Mentoring is friendship-based, meaning that matches choose fun activities to do each week like play outside, arts and crafts, board/card games or just sit and talk. Matches meet one hour a week throughout the year, while school is in session, either during the mentee’s lunch hour or after school between 3-5:30 pm at the school
CTES provides mentors with ongoing training and support. If you interested in becoming a mentor, contact Kristen Billings, CTES School Counselor Kristen.billings@trsu.org or call (802) 875-7723
6. HOME WEATHERIZATION WORKSHOP: The Cavendish Energy Committee will host a weatherization workshop on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the town office meeting room, 37 High Street in Cavendish. Residents of Cavendish or any other town are invited to attend.
The workshop will consist of a presentation and discussion by Steve Spatz, Residential Energy Consultant with Efficiency Vermont, who will speak on weatherizing homes and how to finance projects. Spatz's presentation will be both informational and educational. There will be plenty of time for questions. Information will also be provided on how to secure a home energy assessment or audit.
Refreshments will be served. FMI:Cheryl Leiner 802-226-7820 or Peter LaBelle 802-226-7250.
7. EVENTS
JANUARY 15 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day. Legal Holiday Town office
JANUARY 16 (TUESDAY): Joint school board meeting of CTES and Chester Andover Elementary, 6 pm at CTES
JANUARY 17 (WEDNESDAY): GMUSD Finance Committee Meeting (5 pm) and board meeting (6pm) both at GMUHS
For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.