Cavendish Update 9/4/20: Cabinet/131 Constructions/News/Events

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9/4/20

1. Cavendish Info

2. Construction Update 131

3. CHS Cares Cabinet Open 24/7

4.  Covid-19 Update

5.  Events

1. CAVENDISH INFO

• Water Testing on the Black River: This is the last week for water testing. All levels are fine, including Little Ascutney which has run high all summer. Thank you Black River Action Team (BRAT) for helping to keep our river safe and available for recreational use this summer. Special thanks to the “water dippers” who did the weekly testing and to the sponsors who helped fund this initiative. See ya next summer.

• High Speed Chase in Cavendish: On August 26, 2020 at approximately 2:34 pm a white Ford Mustang Cobra led a high speed chase from Chester through Cavendish. Chester and state police pursued the Mustang down back roads and ultimately terminated the pursuit on High Street in Cavendish due to the erratic operation. The vehicle was later found abandoned by the Cavendish Revolutionary Cemetery. Jake B. Sweeney (32) of Claremont, NH and Timothy J. Arbuckle (39) of Chester, Vermont are wanted for questioning in this matter. If anyone has information or knows the whereabouts of either of them, they are asked to call the Chester Police Department at 802-875-2035 or dispatch at 802-875-2233.

• News Analysis: Is GMUDS No Raises for anybody stance in flux?  Two recent resignations appear to point to some dissension over the Green Mountain Unified School District’s (GMUSD) position in bargaining with its teachers. Until recently, the board had taken a “no raises” stance due to the budget uncertainty brought on by the economic damage done by the Covid-19 pandemic. Disagreement within the GM board on its no-raise position that ended up with board member Doug McBride, Cavendish representative, and negotiator Marilyn Mahusky resigning one day apart. McBride, who has long advocated containing the growth of the school budget and critical of paying for Chris Leopold, an education attorney, to attend all of the bargaining meetings, resigned his position on the GM board. McBride would not comment on his resignation. Teacher salaries follow a schedule in the form of a step chart based on education and years of experience and for the 2019/2020 school year ran from $41,400 for a starting teacher with a bachelor’s degree to $89,400 for a teacher with a certificate of advanced graduate studies and 28 years of experience. Not included in those numbers are a benefit package of  medical and dental coverage and a Vermont state pension plan. Chester Telegraph

• Black River High School Building to house childcare hub and BRIS: Two separate education tenants, including a childcare center run by the TRSU afterschool program leader, were approved to take over the first and second floors of the former Black River High School building by the Ludlow Selectboard. The town of Ludlow purchased the building for one dollar from the Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU) last year after Black River High School closed. The Black River Independent School was approved to occupy the second floor of the building with a two-year lease TRSU afterschool program director Venissa White has requested to lease the first floor on a month-to-month basis for a childcare center in response to Gov. Phil Scott’s push to establish 73 childcare hubs throughout the state. The program will serve 70-75 kids on Wednesdays, which is the established remote learning day for all TRSU schools. The schedule may change in the future depending on whether more remote learning days are needed due to flexible response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first day for the program is Wednesday, Sept. 16. VT Journal

• Vt. utilities and police warn of widespread scam calls: Officials say scammers are saying they are calling from Green Mountain Power, Burlington Electric Department, VGS, Vermont Electric Cooperative, Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, and Washington Electric Cooperative, and then demand immediate payment and threaten to cut off power. Customers also are encouraged to report this scam to the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424 (in state) or 802-656-3183 or online at https://ago.vermont.gov/cap/.

• $30 ‘Buy Local’ coupon signups start Tuesday: Starting on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 11:00 a.m., residents can sign up online to be “matched” with participating local businesses through the #BuyLocalVermont program.  The Agency of Commerce and Community Development is launching the program to help businesses that have suffered losses during the Covid-19 pandemic. The program will use $425,000 of funding from the federal CARES Act. The Agency of Commerce and Community Development is inviting eligible businesses to sign up for the program now. To be eligible, businesses must be based in Vermont and must have suffered losses due to Covid-19. A separate proposal by the Scott administration to provide Vermonters $150 gift cards to use locally is under consideration by the Legislature.

• Mail-In Ballots to be sent out the last 2 Weeks in September

2. CONSTRUCTION UPDATE 131: The box culvert near Glimmerstone has been installed and the roadway was reopened to traffic ahead of schedule. Work remains to be completed at this site and motorists should expect one-way alternating traffic in the vicinity of the Glimmerstone Mansion.

Mesh installation has been completed and general site clean-up along this area of the project will continue next week. This work will be completed behind the barriers located within the signalized portion of the project between Lindberg Drive and Brook Road. It is anticipated that the temporary signals and traffic barrier will be removed by the end of next week.

Drainage work and installation of headwalls has resumed and will continue for the remainder of the construction season until all new structures are installed.

Previously completed pipe crossings will remain as a gravel surface for several weeks until paving is scheduled. The traveling public is urged to use caution when traveling on gravel surfaces at the location of any pipe crossings that remain unpaved.

Traffic Impacts: One-way alternating traffic patterns should be expected at various locations along the project during work hours (approximately 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) There will be several work zones throughout the project and the traveling public should expect longer than average delays when traveling through the project. Each work zone will keep traffic flowing as freely as possible; however it is recommended that extra time be added to travel plans/schedules.

3. CHS CARES CABINET NOW OPEN 24/7: Due to Covid restrictions, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) has been looking at a variety of ways to continue to offer programs and activities for the community. Needing a place to put things-like directions for walking tours and hands on history projects-the idea of an outdoor cabinet or mini library was discussed.

Thanks to Dave Gallagher and Ana for building, from recycled items, a unique and one of a kind cabinet. Open the doors and pick up a mask (cloth or surgical), books (children and adult), DVDs, CDs and information. Lift the chest lid for puzzles, games, hands on history projects, craft supplies, toys and more. Installed next to the steps of the Museum, everything is free for the taking.

A few ground rules:

-       Please close all doors and the lid of the chest after use

-       Do not leave anything there. If you have something you wish to donate, please e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com or call 802-226-7807.

-       Be Covid smart and use hand sanitizer before and after using the Cabinet.

Right now the “library” part of the cabinet has some wonderful DVDs and CDs, including a number of CDs from the Great Courses. The toy chest contains some Tonka trucks, puzzles (adult & children) and more.

 If you are looking for one of the state’s free cloth masks, they are on the upper shelf on the left side. Available 24/7, take what you need. The Cabinet is checked daily and we’ll be regularly stocking and posting contents to the Cavendish VT Facebook page.

4. COVID UPDATE: With schools opening in just a few days and wild reports that the number of deaths from Covid-19 are way less than what’s being reported, people are getting their freak on in new ways. The virus isn’t going to “woosh” and magically disappear. Rather it will  take a vaccine, lots and lots of testing, contact tracing and good old Covid prevention-mask, social distance, frequent hand washing, and so forth. So before the latest and greatest, a reality check on facts.

• Covid is three times more contagious than seasonal flu with a higher rate of mortality. To avoid a Covid/flu combo, please get your flu shot, which should be available the end of this month.

• Hydroxychloroquine is not useful nor approved for Covid.

• Herd immunity-at risk people are protected from infection because they are surrounded by immune people-needs to be around 60-70% for Covid. At least one poll has shown that 67% of Americans will be happy to be vaccinated, so come on vaccine! The CDC is asking States to Plan for Potential Vaccine Distribution in Late October. While this may be an unrealistic timeline, by pushing health departments to prepare now for widespread vaccination, chances are they’ll actually be prepared when it’s more realistically available after the first of the year.

• If you’ve had Covid, do you have immunity and for how long? Health experts generally believe people who had COVID-19 will have some immunity against a repeat infection. But they don't know how much protection, or how long it would last. This is important because if immunity wears off, it could pose a challenge for vaccines. Some experts say booster shots may be needed. It's also unclear whether reinfected people would be able to spread the virus to others. That's another reason scientists say people should continue to wear masks, social distance and practice good hygiene.

• Wearing masks is an effective way to control Covid and no, you aren’t going to suffer adverse effects from wearing one. While we’re discussing masks-face shields are not as effective as masks. Neck gaiters and bandanas not so much.

• The US has had over 180,000 deaths from Covid, and not 9,000. The latter figures represents those whose death certificate only listed Covid as cause of death. It’s standard practice to list all the underlying conditions a person had on a death certificate.  As Dr. Levine, VT’s Health Commissioner noted during the recent press conferences, “armchair epidemiologists” need to stop spreading false information about the COVID-19 death toll. Chronic disease is a major issue, with 40% of all Americans having at least one. Many of those with underlying health conditions could have lived for longer if it weren’t for the virus. “These are people who have died that wouldn’t have died otherwise if there were no COVID on the planet, “ said Levine. Epidemiologist are noting that the death toll in the US is most likely higher as not all cases are being reported.  

From the recent press conferences:

• Gov Scott says the state and regions COVID data will continue to dictate if he can continue to open the economic spigot. “It builds upon that trust to further open up the economy, to further open up in-person instruction in our K-12 schools and so forth. We have to build upon our success to get back to some sort of normalcy.” Currently, 40,000 employees are unemployed, 40 percent fewer visitors are visiting VT and businesses are hurting.

• Starting this week, thousands of front line workers are slated to receive hazard pay benefits. Learn more qualifying for this program.

• 3 Squares VT will increase their maximum food benefits. Current recipients don’t need to do anything different to receive the benefits.

• Strict testing on VT college campuses is much more rigorous than other states and so far is going very well. There have been very low numbers of positive cases.

• While the CDC has made changes to their testing and travel requirements, VT is not changing their approach to either, as Health Commissioner Dr. Levine noted, “The whole strategy of containment-- testing, isolating, contact tracing and quarantining-- has been fundamental to our success in Vermont and needs to continue. And underpinning its success is testing,” .He says Vermont’s travel quarantine policies have served us well and will not be changing.

• The Governor and his administration are considering requiring mandatory flu vaccination of children.

• 12 new education “hubs” have been established in VT to provide child care services, with another 20 in progress. The hubs are designed for students whose schools do not fully open for in-person learning. Many of the new centers are located at schools which will do distance learning or will only partially reopen next week. Parents are expected to pay for the child care service, although some state subsidies are available based on a sliding income scale

• Scott said he will not announce additional steps to relax COVID restrictions on businesses and public gatherings until he sees how the state does with schools reopening next week.

Outbreaks/Numbers: There has been an outbreak of Covid-19 stemming from a private party of 40 at Summit Lodge in Killington on Aug. 19. The number of positive cases was 15 as of Wednesday and is expected to rise as pop up testing started on Wednesday and continues through Friday. Since last week, there have been 51 new Covid cases, bringing the state’s total to 1,637. There have been no new deaths (58 total) with only one person hospitalized.

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 5 (SATURDAY): Volunteers needed. Trail clearing for the Piper Proctor Forest. Meet at 9 am at the Proctorsville entrance (off of Pratt Hill). FMI and to confirm. Tim Calabrese <goodearthvt@gmail.com> or 802-345-2781.

-       Annual GFWC Okemo Valley Women's Club tag sale on the front lawn of Okemo Mountain School 9-1

SEPTEMBER 7 (MONDAY): Labor Day. Federal holiday-Town, state and federal offices closed. The unofficial start of fall.

SEPTEMBER 8 (WEDNESDAY): Schools open

SEPTEMBER 12 (SATURDAY): VT Golden Honey Festival, Golden Stage Inn

- 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

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