Cavendish Update 10/2/20: Flu/Voting/News/Events
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Please note that ballots for Cavendish/Proctorsville voters were mailed out 09/30 from the Vermont Secretary of State’s office. For election information, and voting by mail, please visit the state’s website , VT Digger’s Voter Guide or contact Cavendish’s Town Clerk, Diane McNamara 226-7291. Note that you will have a choice of 21 Presidential candidates.
10/2/20
1. Cavendish Info
2. Flu Shots at Ludlow Health Center
3. From Smallpox to Covid-19: The Impact of Pandemics/Epidemics on the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
4. Covid-19 Update
5. Events
1. CAVENDISH INFO
Solzhenitsyn’s Journey from Oppression to Independence: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008), one of the great writers of the 20th century, helped to inform the world about the evils of the Gulag, the Soviet prison-camp system, in books such as “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” and “The Gulag Archipelago.” Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1970, he was forced to leave the Soviet Union four years later, and in 1976 he settled with his family in Cavendish, Vt., where he lived for the next 18 years. In this excerpt from his memoir, written in 1982 and published here in English for the first time, Solzhenitsyn describes the pleasure he took in his American life, communing with nature and working undisturbed on his magnum opus, “The Red Wheel,” a cycle of historical novels about Russia during World War I and the Revolution. This selection is adapted from “Between Two Millstones, Book 2: Exile in America, 1978-1994,” translated by Clare Kitson and Melanie Moore, which will be published by University of Notre Dame Press in November. Wall St. Journal
• Great Maple in Ludlow to be removed: One of the most memorable foliage scenes in Ludlow's Veterans Memorial Park is the great maple that stands next to the gazebo. This will be the last time its glorious foliage will be seen. Due to the rotting trunk, the town has decided to remove the tree before it becomes a hazard - but not until it has been allowed to show its magnificent foliage to everyone. Municipal Manager for Ludlow, Scott Murphy noted, "It’s certainly "It’s certainly beautiful this time of year and its unfortunate it has to be taken down. However, we plan to plant a replacement next spring and look forward to new life.”
• Grant Opportunities from Windham/Windsor Housing Trust for Apartment Repair: The state of Vermont is funding apartment repairs for up to $30,000 per unit through the Rehousing Recovery Program. The funds are part of the Covid-19 relief package and will be available only to the end of the year. For more information, go to https://www.homemattershere.org/covid-19-updates/. If you are a tenant, please inform your landlord. If you are a landlord, we look forward to helping you improve your property and the health, comfort, and safety of the people who live there. FMI: Jeremy Paquette at the Windham Windsor Housing Trust at jpaquette@homemattershere.org.
• Praise for Ludlow Ambulance Services coming in many forms: The Ludlow Ambulance Service, a career staffed Advanced Life Support ambulance service that services Ludlow, Cavendish, Proctorsville and Plymouth, has received over $80,000 in local and federal grants in recent weeks, as well as having received two letters of commendation for two team members in praise of services going above and beyond. VT Journal
• Vermont DMV opens three more branches including Springfield: The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles is now opening their Bennington, Newport, and Springfield branches to the public by appointment only. The DMV Commissioner says their reopening of the other three branches went so well that they decided to reopen these additional locations.Appointments can be scheduled online starting Thursday. The first appointments won’t be available until Monday, October 5.All three locations will be open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Bennington, Newport and Springfield branches will offer regular office transactions, operator exams and CDL permit exams. They won’t be doing motorcycle skills or CDL skill exams right now.
• Black River Innovative Campus Opens Scholarship Program Enrollment for Rural Residents: The Black River Innovation Campus announces its involvement in the Future is Digital Challenge, an initiative focused on upskilling rural Americans interested in learning new digital skills to help them participate in the nation’s growing tech economy. BRIC is partnering with the Center On Rural Innovation, a national nonprofit action tank working to advance economic prosperity in small towns across the country, and Udacity, a worldwide digital career advancement education platform, to make Udacity Nanodegree Program scholarships available for residents living in one of CORI’s Rural Innovation Network areas. To learn more about the scholarship program and sign up for a foundational course, visit www.ruralinnovation.us/the-future-is-digital-challenge.
• Survey finds many of Vt. COVID refugees short-timers: The survey from the Vermont Futures Project, the Center for Research on Vermont, and UVM shows 35 percent of the more than 200 respondents are likely or very likely to stay in Vermont. It found 70% live in rural areas and 40% are younger than 35. Motivated in part by Covid-19, they are a diverse group from children moving back in with parents, second-home owners, some who had been thinking of relocating and others with family or strong connections to the state.
• Amtrak Hasn't Run In Vermont Since March, And The State Won't Commit To A Restart Date. VPR
• Legislation provides $1,200 for all Vermonters, including Migrant Farm Workers: The budget on Gov. Phil Scott’s desk contains $5 million to provide $1,200 payments for Vermonters who were excluded from CARES Act funding, including migrant workers and their families. VT Digger
2. FLU SHOTS AT LUDLOW HEALTH CENTER: The following information is from the Ludlow Health Center (LHC): We are currently rolling out our Flu Clinics - which will be held at Ludlow Health Center on Saturdays in October from 10am to 1pm and are by appointment only. Individuals can also call and schedule an appointment on a different day if it is more convenient for their schedule. Individuals do not need to be a patient of Ludlow Health Center to request and receive a flu shot. Due to the pandemic, we are not accepting walk-in requests for the flu shot.
We are in the process of planning Flu Clinics in November as well, but don't have any dates firmed up at this time. We'd also like to emphasize that individuals who are eligible should request and receive their pneumonia vaccine as well.
LHC’s phone number is 228-8867. Be sure to let them know if you have allergies to eggs, are 65+ and/or have a medical condition where your primary provider recommends a specific vaccine.
3.FROM SMALL POX TO COVID-19: The Impact of Pandemics/Epidemics on the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. In 1492, when Columbus arrived in the Caribbean, 100% of north and south American were populated by native peoples. Today, only 1% of the United States is occupied by Indians while 8% account for Latin America’s population and 4.9% of Canada’s.
On October 11 (Sunday), the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) will host a talk on the role pandemics/epidemics, including smallpox, malaria, cholera and other diseases played in the de population of the Americas.
While the Americas primarily dealt with chronic disease, and where unprepared for the pandemics/epidemics brought by colonizers, disease in and of itself could and was used as a weapon. However, disease alone was not the only factor in the colonizing of the Americas. As with most aspects of history, it is complex showing the range of human capabilities from extreme violence to compassion.
This event will be held at the Cavendish Stone Church on Main St (Route 131) at 2 pm. Parking is available across the street at the Cavendish Baptist Church. Due to the indoor location, this program is limited to 25 people. Social distancing and wearing a mask is required. The talk is free and open to the public, but is not recommended for young children.
4. COVID UPDATE: Both the President and first lady have tested positive for Covid.
Tragically, another benchmark was reached this week-more than a million people have died worldwide from Covid-19 since the pandemic began nine months ago. This figure is most likely much higher as many deaths have gone unrecorded. The United States leads the world in both new cases and deaths, largely due to a number of states moving too quickly to re-open. Other hot spots include Brazil, India, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Fortunately, VT continues to keep its numbers low, with no new deaths in two months and in fact is seeing the lowest active case count since May.
Latest info about Treatments/Vaccines
• Only a Small Minority of Covid patients are Asymptomatic: Approximately 20% of asymptomatic people who test positive for COVID-19 will remain symptom-free over time, according to two studies published September 22 in different journals. The researchers propose, therefore, that most asymptomatic patients should be considered presymptomatic.
• Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Produces Strong Immune Response in Early Trial: A single dose of Johnson & Johnson's experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced a strong immune response against the novel coronavirus in an early-to-mid stage clinical trial, according to interim results published last week. A single shot, versus a rival two-dose approach being tested by Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc, could simplify distribution of the vaccine. The company said it expects results of that so-called Phase 3 trial by the end of the year or early next year.
• A Real Vaccine Before the Election? It'd Take a Miracle: While President Trump promises a vaccine before the election, any potential vaccine would have to clear a slew of scientific and bureaucratic hurdles in record time. It would require clinical trials to confirm that the vaccine is better than a placebo. Data then would be compiled to the FDA who needs to confirm its safety, effectiveness, and can be readily manufactured. That process can take weeks to a month.
• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Appears Safe, Shows Signs of Working in Older Adults
• Fewer Deaths in Hospitalized COVID Diabetes Patients on Sitagliptin
• Hydroxychloroquine Shows No Benefit in COVID-19 Prevention
• High Prevalence of Fatigue Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection Independent of COVID-19 Severity
Press Conference
• While VT continues to do well, surrounding areas are showing an increase in cases, particularly Quebec which has had a six-fold increase since the beginning of September.
• A new study shows VT is the safest place to reopen schools
• The feds are sending VT 12,000 antigen tests now and the state is to receive 180,000 by the end of the year. Looking like a pregnancy test, coming in card form, they only require a saliva sample and provide results in 15 minutes. The goal of the federal government is to have these tests used in places like nursing home and long term care facilities as a monitoring device. While Health Commissioner Levine noted that the test are notoriously unreliable, as was seen in Manchester, this summer, yet, frequent use of antigen tests in congregate living facilities can be a very useful tool for monitoring Covid presence.
• Vt’s unemployment is down to 30,000 from it’s all time high of 90,000.
5. UPCOMING EVENTS:
OCTOBER 5 (MONDAY): Black River Good Neighbors is extending their shopping days to 6 days a week.
OCTOBER 6 (TUESDAY): Vermont Mask Day Founded and organized by Masks4Missions.org Vermont Mask Day is a one-day, state-wide celebration of Vermonters coming together virtually and in mask-protected socially-distant gatherings to celebrate our shared commitment to healthy communities.
OCTOBER 11 (SUNDAY): From Smallpox to Covid-19: The Impact of Pandemics/Epidemics on the American Indigenous Peoples. Will be held at the Cavendish “Stone” Universalist Church on Main St. in Cavendish Village. Parking is available across the street at the Cavendish Baptist Church (2258 Main St.). Masks and social distancing required.
OCTOBER 12 (MONDAY): Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly Columbus Day). Legal Holiday. Town Office Closed. Select Board Meeting postponed until next Monday.
OCTOBER 19 (MONDAY); Cavendish Select Board meeting will take place at 6:30 via Zoom.
NOVEMBER 30 (MONDAY): Deadline for the GMP Covid 19 assistance. FMI: Department of Public Service website.
CA❤︎ENDSH-A SAFER SIX COMMUNITY
Covers mouth & nose
Always masks in public
Vermonters keep each other safe
Elbow coughs
Never forgets to wash hands
Disinfects common surfaces
Is alert for symptoms
Stays 6 feet apart
Has respect for personal space