Cavendish Update 9/11/20: Construction 131/Gage/Covid/News
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9/11/20
1. Cavendish Info
2. Construction Update 131
3. Annual Phineas Gage Walk & Talk
4. Covid-19 Update
5. Events
1. CAVENDISH INFO
• New Hours for Cavendish Library: The library hours are now Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00-6:30 and Saturday from 10:00-4:00. Patrons must wear a mask and social distance to visit the library.
• Please Return Equipment to DG BodyWorks: During the lock down phase of Covid-19, DG Bodyworks ran daily free exercise classes via their Facebook page and offered the community their equipment to use during this time. With-in person classes resuming, the equipment is needed. If you borrowed equipment, you can return it Friday mornings before or after the 10 am Bootcamp class or Monday/Wednesday before or after the 6 pm Boot Camp class. FMI 802-554-0006.
• GMUSD schools seem more prepared for reopening than NEA statewide grades indicate: The Vermont NEA – the union that represents public school teachers in the state – released a “report card” for “overall preparation for safe start of school” as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. The Chester Telegraph conducted its own survey of the Green Mountain Unified School District (CTES, Chester Andover Elementary and GMUHS) and assigned them an overall grade of B+.
• GMUSD Approves hiring two positions as schools prepare to open
• Okemo Valley TV changes and upgrades
• Okemo Outlines Covid 19 Changes for Ski Season
• SWCRPC Changes Name: The Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission (SWCRPC), of which Cavendish is part of, has changed its name to Mt. Ascutney Regional Planning Commission (MARC) effective Jan. 1, 2021.
• Ballots will be mailed to every "active, registered" voter in Vermont between Sept. 21 and Oct. 1 according to the Secretary of State. And it's changing the way campaigns are conducting outreach.
• Financial sustainability behind Vermont PBS and Vermont Public Radio merger
2. CONSTRUCTION UPDATE 131: Week of Sept.14- Planned Construction Activities: Mesh installation and clean-up of the ledge removal area of the project has been completed. The temporary traffic signal and barrier are being removed today. Temporary line striping in this area will occur tomorrow (9/11).
Drainage work and installation of headwalls has resumed and will continue for the remainder of the construction season until all new structures are installed.
All remaining gravel pipe crossings as well as the roadway area located at the culvert replacement near Glimmerstone Mansion will be paved next week. Any roadway areas within the ledge area that were damaged will be paved with a shim coat of asphalt.
The contractor is scheduled to begin river bank restoration at the Cavendish/Weathersfield town line next week. The traveling public should expect one-way alternating traffic in this area. . Traffic control personnel will be onsite to assist with the flow of traffic . Minor delays should be expected.
3. ANNUAL PHINEAS GAGE WALK & TALK Each year the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) holds a "walk & talk" on the famous accident in Cavendish that ushered in the field of neuroscience and a clearer understanding of how the brain functions. This year's emphasis will be on the "walk" portion, as the program will be held entirely outside. On the 172nd date of the accident, September 13 (Sunday), meet at 2 pm at the CHS Museum, 1958 Main St (Route 131). Included in the walk will be the boarding house where Gage stayed, the site of the accident, Dr. Harlow's surgery and more.
While blasting for the new railroad, Phineas Gage had a tamping rod blow through his head, yet lived for 12 more years. Thanks to the pains taking work of Dr. John Harlow, the Cavendish physician that treated him, the accident and Gage's injuries and recovery continue to be studied.
The site of the accident is approximately three quarters of a mile from the Museum and by the time other sites of interest are visited and we return to the museum, you will have walked for close to 2 miles. Participants can stop at any time. It’s recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes.
This event is free and open to the public. Masks and social distancing are required.
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4. COVID UPDATE: There are lots of reasons to wear a mask. It’s way better than concealer for acne or skin blemishes. Didn’t have time to brush your teeth or use mouth wash? The mask has you covered. Don’t feel like smiling at people, wear that frown all day. Whose to know you aren’t little Miss Sunshine. Oh and lipstick. Why bother with that expense. It offers the perfect disguise for loading your shopping cart with junk food or snagging the last role of TP in the store. Now this is a little gross, but our allergy sufferers already know how wonderful a catcher a mask can be when you forgot to take your antihistamine. In short, there are lots of positives to masking, with the most important one being it reduces Covid transmission.
From the recent press conferences:
• VT is prepared to distribute Covid vaccine if it is available by November. State epidemiologist Patsy Kelso says they’re working on identifying which people need the vaccine first because they estimate when it is ready, they will only get small shipments to start. “There’s lots of work going on, we’re pretty well-prepared to begin with, and we’ll be ready when the vaccine is,” she said. This week the AstraZeneca’s Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial ground to a halt when a participant experienced neurological symptoms consistent with a rare but serious spinal inflammatory disorder called transverse myelitis. It has been confirmed that this patient was injected with the company’s vaccine and not placebo. The AstraZeneca vaccine is one of nine that have either started or are about to start being tested in large number of volunteers around the world.
• Numbers out Friday show that despite thousands of college students returning to Vermont, there have been very few COVID-19 cases on campus.
• The governor announced updated recreational sports guidance for kids and adults. It lines up with the guidance that they’re already requiring for schools this falls about masks and distancing.
• Projected increases for new cases in VT for September will be due to students returning to school and more people returning to work.
• Once school opening has gone well, the Governor said the next sector to open further will be the hospitality industry.
• The VT Department of Health released new options for being tested and receiving results for COVID-19. Kinney Drugs is now partnering with VT in providing tests and it will now be possible to get test results e-mailed to you. Learn more at VDH's testing website. In VT, if you want a test, you can get one. Note testing is free but you may be asked for insurance information for the Kinney Drug tests.
• The state has received $35.8 million from the federal government to pay a $300 supplement per week to unemployment insurance claimants. The money is intended to go part of the way in replacing the $600 federal unemployment insurance supplement that ended in late July. Lawmakers were considering an additional $100 to bring the supplement up to $400. Checks could start going out as early as next week. But they will only cover the first three weeks of August.
• The state created child care program is using $12 million from the VT’s share of the federal Covid-19 CARES act in order to provide up to 9,000 child care spots to assist working parents whose children are participating in hybrid learning programs. Once the schools return to five day a work in person classes, this system will be dismantled.
• An online system has been launched to take care of temporary registrations and license plates for private vehicle sales.
Cancelled: Black River Good Neighbor Services’ Stick Season Social
Closing: Thomas Dairy
Outbreaks/Numbers: The number of cases connected to the Killington outbreak rose to 18 Vermonters as of Tuesday. This past week there have been 24 new cases, bringing the state total to 1,661 cases. There have been no deaths since July 28 and only one person with Covid is in the hospital
Mask Give Away: Pick up free cloth or surgical masks from the new CHS Cares Cabinet, located by the steps of the CHS Museum. They are on the top left shelf and are available 24/7. Cloth masks are available from the Cavendish Fire Dept, Mon-Friday, 8-4. Phone # 226-7790. They will also be available at the Honey Festival this Saturday. For other masks, please e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com or call 802-226-8044 or 226-7807.
5. UPCOMING EVENTS:
SEPTEMBER 12 (SATURDAY): VT Golden Honey Festival, Golden Stage Inn, from 10-4. Face masks are required by state law. Social distancing will be practiced. In accordance with Vermont regulations, the number of guests allowed into the festival at any one time will be regulated. The VT Dept of Health cloth masks, as well as surgical masks and cloth masks for children, will be available.
- RiverSweep
SEPTEMBER 13 (SUNDAY): Annual Phineas Gage Walk & Talk, 2 pm at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, 1958 Main St. The walk is about a mile and a half. Walking shoes are recommended. Masks and social distancing required. FMI: margocaulfield@icloud.com or 802-226-7807
SEPTEMBER 14 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board meeting, 6:30 pm
SEPTEMBER 15 (TUESDAY): Property taxes due
- Hazardous Waste Collection, 2-6 pm at the Springfield Transfer Station. Residents and businesses from all member towns of the Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste District (Cavendish is a member town) may participate. Businesses will be charged a fee and must pre-register. No pre-registration required for residents. To learn what you drop off, go to the SWWCSWD 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