Cavendish Update 12/28/18: 103/Recycling Christmas/News

This issue of the Cavendish Update has been made possible in part by a donation from Liz Bammerito. Thank you for your continued support.

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12/28/18 Cavendish Update

1.Cavendish Related News

2. Recycling Christmas Cavendish Style

3. What’s Going on with Route 103?

4. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Olive Kingsbury: It is with sadness that we note the passing of Olive Kingsbury, the last of the Kingsbury family of Chubb Hill. Olive Esther Kingsbury was born Aug. 19, 1926, to Alfred and Ellen Kingsbury in Cavendish, Vermont, and passed away at the age of 92 on Dec. 11, 2018. After attending schools in Cavendish and Chester, Olive graduated from Nyack College and earned her nursing degree (RN) from Laconia (New Hampshire) Hospital School of Nursing in 1950. From 1952 to 1975, Olive served with the Christian and Missionary Alliance as a nurse in Vietnam, caring for leprosy patients in Ban Ma Thuot. After leaving Vietnam, Olive was assigned to the Philippines where she taught at a Bible school in Davao City until 1990, when she retired from mission work. Olive returned to the home farm in Cavendish, where she lived until two months before her death. Olive was very active in her local church, Ludlow Baptist, and in the surrounding community. She kept in close touch with many missionary friends, family members and neighbors, and was able to live alone at her home because of the kindness and caring of church family and neighborhood friends. Olive was preceded in death by her brothers Paul and Ansel, and her sister, Miriam. She is survived by her nieces Ellen (Rob) Stearns, Grace (Mike) Muzzo, Esther (Peter) Sexton and Alice Kingsbury. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Ludlow Baptist Church in Ludlow. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to Compassion & Mercy Associates, 8595 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, or www.CAMA.org.

After Outcry, Vail Reinstates Reduced Prices at Okemo for Low Income Kids: After a week of public outcry and scrutiny, Vail Resorts has reinstated discounted prices for low-income schoolchildren participating in snow sports programs at Okemo Mountain Resort. Vail Resorts had told snow sports coordinators at public schools in the Ludlow area that the mountain would charge all children a standardized price of $35 for the pass, and $65 for equipment rentals for a total of $100 for the eight-week program. After a week of online fundraising and public outcry, Vail reversed its decision.  Vail officials said they were continuing to learn about the Okemo community and feel strongly about “promoting a passion for the outdoors amongst kids.” VT Digger

 Russian Ambassador Sends Letter of Appreciation to the People of Cavendish: On Christmas Eve, the Cavendish Historical Society received a letter of appreciation from Anatoly Antonov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the USA. In response to the letter sent to the People of Russia from the People of Cavendish in honor of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's 100th birthday, Antonov noted, "On our part, we are grateful to the citizens of Cavendish for supporting the prominent writer, philosopher and patriot of his Motherland for many years that he spent in your town. Taking good care of the Solzhenitsyn family was itself a contribution to preserving and promoting of the great visionary." Both letters appear at the CHS blog.

 State Approves GMP Rate Hike for Fall 2019: Green Mountain Power customers will pay slightly less for their electricity next year before rates rise 5.43 percent in September, according to a ruling from state utility regulators. The Public Utility Commission said the rate hike is justified because the state’s largest power company faces increasing costs, including wholesale transmission charges. But GMP’s 265,000 customers will not see the increase until September. Until then, a windfall from corporate tax cuts will actually result in a nearly 1 percent decrease. VPR

 

2. RECYCLING CHRISTMAS CAVENDISH STYLE: Real Christmas trees can be recycled at the Cavendish Transfer Station along with plain wrapping paper (a little tape is okay) along with plain cards and cardboard boxes. Anything with metallic, glitter or velvety flocking, Styrofoam, as well as bows, ribbons and anything stringy needs to go in the regular trash compactor. Left overs from Christmas dinner can be composted in the marked bin at the Transfer Station. Broken lights go to the electronics shed along with dead batteries and other electronic devices. Learn more about what can be recycled and what goes where at The Dish.

3. WHAT’S GOING ON WITH 103?: Many people are complaining about the condition of Route 103. Lines are melting, potholes are appearing and in some places, it seems the road is worse than before the repaving project began.

In response to the Cavendish Connects Facebook posting on route 103- Friday, December 21-there were over 100 comments, with the primary concerns being:

• Can’t see the lines and that creates a dangerous situation particularly when the weather is bad or if it’s dark.

• 103 isn’t as bad as 131.

• Asphalt is not supposed to be paved at temps below 35, the last coat put down was done when it was below freezing. The temporary pavement is coming up faster than they laid it down.

• Who’s going to be responsible for all the damage to vehicles and accidents? Pike? Vtrans?

• By the tracks 103 & 131 do not line up. Several people stated they have come close to accidents in this location. Lining up with driveways and other roadways to a problem.

Pike Industries was awarded a contract by Vermont’s Agency of Transportation (Vtrans) to repave 103 from Rockingham to Rutland starting in the late spring of 2018 and ending by Oct. 2018. Established in 1872, this is the largest asphalt and aggregate producers in New England, with corporate offices in New Hampshire.

Vtrans has used Pike for various projects. However, this year, Pike “botched” four jobs in Vermont, including the 103 project.

In October it was announced that the Route 103 project would have to be halted because of the approaching winter and it would begin a new in the spring of 2019. While the reason given was rainy weather, the actual cause was due to paving equipment being pulled from the job for another project. For six weeks, during prime summer construction season, nothing took place.

While Pike has put in temporary road lines, people are complaining that the recent sleet/rain and snowstorm is causing the lines to basically disappear. Many are very concerned that the last ditch efforts are making the roads worse instead of better.

According to Vtrans, two state inspectors were sent out Dec. 21 to compile a list of problems Pike must correct in order to secure road safety for the winter. It is important to note that Pike has a signed contract with the state. This is a set fee so it’s not costing the taxpayer anymore because of the over runs.

 

4. EVENTS

DECEMBER 31 (MONDAY): NEW YEAR’S EVE

JANUARY 1 (TUESDAY): HAPPY NEW YEAR

JANUARY 8 (TUESDAY): GMUSD Finance Committee Meeting, 5:30 pm at CTES

For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.  

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