Cavendish Update 9/18/20 : Election/ Construction/Fire Depts

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9/18/20

1. Cavendish Info

2. Letter Regarding November Election

3. Construction Update 131

4.  Covid-19 Update

5.  Events

1. CAVENDISH INFO

Cavendish Fire Dept. defends automatic mutual aid decision: The Cavendish Fire Dept (CFD) has recently ended a longstanding automatic mutual aid agreement with the Proctorsville Fire Dept (PFD). CFD will now manually call on PFD if they deem it necessary. Assistant Fire Chief Abraham Gross has defended the decision with a formal statement saying, “In the judgement of the new chief, Rebecca Nareau, pursuit of an improved relationship through automatic aid is, at this time, untenable, and not in the best interest for the public safety of the district we serve. Our priority is to maintain and increase our roster of highly trained and certified volunteers and supplement our staffing needs with paid personnel.” VT Journal

Thank You Students, Volunteers, BRAT, American Pie and Community: Once again our students did an incredible job helping to care for the Black River by participating in RiverSweep. In the morning, CTES grades 5 & 6 tackled Greven Field. Because water levels are so low, they were able to do a good check of the river and banks for items that don't belong there. They then proceeded to tackle the Knot Weed. Greven is particularly prone to flooding, so knot weed can easily be deposited there and it can also be a source for it down the river. In the afternoon, our home learners cleaned the Mill St. Bridge area-found a part of a dumpster, which the town removed on Wednesday, the estuary by the water plant and the most frequented swimming hole, below the power dam. We're thrilled to report that care continues at the popular swimming hole and we have had very little to clear out of there the last two years. Thank you to: Black River Action Team (BRAT), for organizing this event, our teachers, staff and volunteers for helping to do this annual clean; and a special thanks to American Pie for once again providing a delicious lunch of pizza for everyone to enjoy. Last but not least, we want to thank our community for taking the time to keep our streams and rivers clean so they are safe for recreation purposes.

Sean Whalen Withdraws from WDR-2 Race: Whalen, who was running as a progressive/independent for VT State Rep for Weathersfield/Cavendish has withdrawn from the race. His name will still appear on the ballot. The candidates running to replace Annemarie Christianson are John Arrison (D) and Mike Kell (R).

2. LETTER FROM CAVENDISH TOWN CLERK REGARDING NOV. VOTE: There has been some confusion around the upcoming General Election on November 3, 2020 and I would like to provide clarification as to the voting process for Cavendish and Proctorsville voters.

The Secretary of State’s Office is automatically mailing ballots to all residents who were registered voters as of September 1, 2020. Mailing of ballots will take place beginning September 21, 2020 with all ballots delivered by October 5th. These ballots will be mailed to the address on record in the election management system unless you requested a different mailing address. Anyone who registered to vote after 09/01/2020 will automatically be mailed a ballot by the Town Clerk.

The Secretary of State’s office will be posting a daily listing beginning 09/21/20 as to which towns have been mailed ballots. You can access their website at sos.vermont.gov. You can also track the status of your ballot here by registering on My Voter Page.

Your ballot can be returned by mail, delivered to the Town Office during office hours or brought to the polls on election day between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Anyone can return your ballot for you.

If you prefer to vote in person on 11/03/20, you will be able to even if you do not bring the ballot that was mailed to you. You will be required to sign an “Affidavit of No Ballot Cast” so that you can receive a new ballot. Both the State of Vermont and the Town of Cavendish have measures in place to prevent any person from voting more than once.

 If you are not currently registered to vote, you can do so at the Town Clerk’s office, by mail or online at the Secretary of State’s website, sos.vermont.gov. We have same day registration in the State of Vermont so you can register to vote and vote on Election Day at the polling location.

 If you have any questions or concerns about voting on November 3, 2020, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 226-7292. This year, it is not “voting as we know it” and all of us here at the office are happy to answer your questions and assist you in making sure your vote is counted!

Diane McNamara Cavendish Town Clerk

3. CONSTRUCTION UPDATE 131-Week of Sept. 21 Planned Construction Activities: 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 by the end of this week. Any roadway areas within the ledge area that were damaged will be paved with a shim coat of asphalt.

River bank restoration has begun at the Cavendish/Weathersfield town line. The traveling public should expect one-way alternating traffic in this area.  Minor delays should be expected.

4. COVID UPDATE: On Tuesday, Dr. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke to Vermonters via the Governor’s bi-weekly press conference. “The message that I’d like all of the citizens of the state to hear is that this virus is a formidable foe, you give it an opportunity to reemerge its ugly head, whether you’re in the beautiful rural area of Vermont or in the middle of Manhattan or the Bronx, that virus is going to take advantage of that. This becomes particularly important as we enter the colder season of the fall in the winter. Let’s everybody keep our guard up and not be complacent.” To the question of a “second wave,” Fauci noted “I don’t think you inevitably are going to have a second wave. It’s going to be challenging as you get into the fall and the winter but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to have a problem — if you do the kind of prudent public health measures that you’ve been doing.” When it came to the question of a vaccine and it’s safety, it summed it up by saying, “I, for one, would not hesitate to take it,” he said. Earlier this week, Dr. Fauci reported nationally that about 40-50% of infections are asymptomatic. Fauci’s portion of the Governor’s Press Conference is available on uTube.

 From the Governor’s Press Conferences

• Governor Phil Scott on Friday extended the state of emergency to October 15

• if the state’s COVID numbers continue to look good with schools reopening and college students returning, the spigot might turn even more, possibly by Sept. 18 and most likely affecting the hospitality industry.

• The state is predicting good numbers ahead as it continues to maintain its status as having the lowest incidence in the country. Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine says the CDC acknowledged Vermont as having the best contact tracing in the country.

• Levine reminded Vermonters to get their flu shots because getting the flu along with COVID could be “devastating.” For the record, Dr. Fauci was asked during an Instagram Live program when he gets his flu shot. He gets the vaccine “towards the middle and end of October.” “I wouldn’t necessarily get it now, in September, because there is evidence that, in fact, the immunity might wear off when you get to February and early March...,” he said, calling the advice his “unofficial” suggestion on timing. 

Halloween: The candy displays are definitely reminding us that Trick or Treating is arriving soon. This past Friday, Dr. Levine said that, as long as health precautions are followed, Vermonters can likely still look forward to Halloween. Check out some interesting ways to celebrate. If you have some ideas we could do town wide, please e-mail them to cavendishconnects@gmail.com

Covid 19 Vaccination Interim Playbook: Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense on Sept 16th held a call with reporters and then released documents on the distribution plans that it is sending to the states and local public health officials. "Our goal at Operation Warp Speed, is that 24 hours after (regulatory authorization) is issued, we have vaccine moving to administration sites," one of the officials said. The federal government will allocate vaccines for each state based on the critical populations recommended first for vaccination by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Closing: Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts until June 2021

Schools reporting Covid in the last week: Hartford High, Crossett Brook Middle School (Duxbury)

Canceled: Ludlow Rotary Annual Chili Cook Off; Lake Placid Bobsled & Skeleton Championships 2021

Outbreaks/Numbers: This past week there have been 44 new cases, bringing the state total to 1,705 cases. There have been no deaths since the July 28 and two people are hospitalized with Covid.

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 For other masks, please e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com or call 802-226-8044 or 226-7807.

5. UPCOMING EVENTS:

SEPTEMBER 18-SEPTEMBER 20 (FRIDAY-SUNDAY): Rosh Hashanah

SEPTEMBER 27 (SUNDAY): Yom Kippur

OCTOBER 5 (MONDAY): Black River Good Neighbors is extending their shopping days to 6 days a week.

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

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