Cavendish Update 11/14/08

This issue of the Cavendish Update is made possible by the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA), a non-profit membership organization that is dedicated to the conservation of land and natural resources and to the preservation of historic sites within the context of sustainable economic growth. FMI: PO Box 605, Cavendish VT 05142 or 802-226-7736

The 11/14/08 Cavendish Update Contains
1. Cavendish Water Project
2. Events
3. Ullr Fest: Insure a Winter Fit for a Ski God & Help Local Youth
4. Hill and Provance receive Scholarships for Snow Sports
5. East-west bus service kicks off

1. Water Project
At the Monday Nov. 10 Select Board meeting, Rich Svec, town manager, provided an update on the Cavendish water filtration project. Please note that LPC TV did not video this portion of the Meeting.

At the Oct. 27 Water Board Meeting, Svec explained that the lowest bidder for the installation of the filter system had defaulted on their bid. In addition, the next closest bid was $302,623, well above the $246,500 available to the town from the water bond passed in March 2007. Svec suggested that to save money, the project be overseen by the town, using a construction manager and to have the town crew do some of the work. This suggestion was met by concern from those in attendance. Among the issues raised were liability and taking town crew away from other necessary town projects, potentially creating problems elsewhere. More than one community member present thought the approach would be “penny wise and pound foolish,” meaning that it might save some money initially, but there was a real possibility that it could ultimately cost the town more.

Since the water board meeting, Svec has met with the state and the decision was made to have the project done “in-house,” using a construction manager and to use town personal to save money where possible. The money for the project will be as follows: $246,500 from the original bond, $11,000 from the default on the bid by Daniel’s Construction and $70,00 in discretionary funds. The total $327,500 should be sufficient to complete the water project, including the connection to the second well. In fact, it is anticipated that the project will cost less.

Approval of the second well connection has been given by the state, pending testing for water quality. Some testing has already been done, with good results.

The time frame for the project, because of the delay in the October bid process, is expected to be only 2-4 weeks, with clean water from the taps slated for spring 2009. It is important to note that even though the filtration equipment will be installed, getting it fully operational, plus cleaning of existing pipes, tanks etc. will take time. Further, the change in water quality will be gradual. Users should not expect to turn on the water and find that it is fine, rather they will start noticing changes over time.

It is important for water users to remember that the Vermont Health Department’s Health Advisory has been in place since 2006 and states “The Cavendish Public Water System has concentrations of manganese which exceed the Environmental Protection Agency and Vermont Department of Health lifetime Health Advisories of 0.3 mg/L. In 2005 and 2006, the levels of manganese in the Cavendish system were 2.5 mg/L and 2.1 mg/L, respectively. Manganese is an essential element. However, most of the manganese needed on a daily basis comes from the food we eat. Long-term consumption of high concentrations of manganese in drinking water may cause adverse neurological health effects. Children and people with liver disease are more susceptible to the health effects of manganese. If you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.”

If you are in need of a source for clean drinking water, including water for pets, please contact margoc@tds.net. Since the water can have a negative impact on pets, be sure to provide them clean water and keep bathroom doors and toilet seats closed.

2. Events
Week of Nov. 17: Book Fair at the Cavendish Library. FMI: 226-7503

Nov. 18 (Tuesday): GMUHS Parents Group, 5 pm at the GM Conference Room Topics
for discussion include: Recruitment for group; technology in math; science fair; auditorium
renovations; foreign language website; student survey

Nov. 29 (Saturday): Holiday Fair at the Cavendish Elementary School
• Ullr Fest to benefit McCostis Scholarship Fund (see article 3 below)

3. Ullr Fest: Insure a Winter Fit for a Ski God & Help Local Youth
The Norse God Ullr (Ooh-ler) was the god of the hunt, winter, archery, the shield & skis. In fact, Ullr’s command of the powder was so great that he would streak across the sky leaving the brilliant stars as his trails. He also had a fondness for the goddess as well as an enjoyment of good times. He was married to Skadi the giant goddess of winter, who left her former husband Njord, the god of the winds, sea and fire for Ullr. A bit on the fickle side, he seemed to abandon Skadi for the goddess Hel during the summer months.

Living in his castle Ydal (Yew Dales) Ullr hunted with his long bow made from yew, traveled using his shield that could become a boat, or wooden slats that would someday evolve into skis, dispensed justice and was the god to call on when in a dual.

In order to insure a winter fit for Ullr (lots of snow and great conditions) Killarney’s in Ludlow is sponsoring the first annual Ullr Festival on November 29, Saturday, starting at 6pm. The idea is that if we show Ullr, and his lovely goddess Skadi, a good time, they will grace us with a winter fit for a god and goddess.

The Fest is a benefit for the McCostis Scholarship Fund (MSF), a non-profit organization, whose purpose is to assist Okemo Valley youth in their pursuit of excellence through skiing and snowboard training. MSF provides scholarships to area youth for snow academies and weekend training programs. The Fund also includes the Peter Noyes Ski Scholarship and the Kevin Stillwell Snowboarding Scholarship.

Lots of fun activities are in store for Ullr Fest, including a prize for the best dressed Ullr and Skadi.

4. Hill and Provance receive Scholarships for Snow Sports
Rainie Hill, of Proctorsville is the 2009 Peter Noyes Ski Scholarship recipient. She is a freshman at GMUHS and attends the Okemo Mountain School for the winter months to pursue alpine skiing. Her younger brother Addison Provance is a McCostis Scholarship recipient and a member of the Okemo Mountain Council Team for alpine racing. Addison is in the 6th grade at Cavendish Town Elementary School

5. East-west bus service kicks off
Rutland Herald November 10, 2008 By Josh O'Gorman Herald Staff

LUDLOW — For travelers looking to cross the state, the trip just got a whole lot easier. Today, the Marble Valley Regional Transit District and Connecticut River Transit began their partnership to transport riders along Route 103 between Rutland and Bellows Falls, the first east-west public transportation route in the southern part of the state since Vermont Transit eliminated service between Rutland and White River Junction.

The partnership is possible thanks to a $220,000 grant from the state's Agency of Transportation, said CRT Executive Director Gary Fox.

CRT and MVRTD received the bulk of $350,000 available through the Agency of Transportation for regional public transportation enhancements, with transit services in Randolph and the Northeast Kingdom also receiving grant awards this year, said MVRTD Community Outreach Coordinator Ellen Atkinson.

"We had a lot of support from both communities, which is why we were successful in our first application," Atkinson said, referring to support from Rutland and the Springfield-Bellows Falls area. "Usually, you have to apply two or three times before you're approved."

Fox said CRT and MVRTD sent out surveys to employers along the route — such as the Vermont Country Store in North Clarendon, Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow and Sonnax in Bellows Falls — to learn employee schedules. They then sent out surveys to those employees to learn if they would want to ride the bus, when they would like to ride and how often. That feedback was used to create the bus schedule, Fox said.

"For employers, it's going to help them recruit employees from further distances, and for employees it's going to allow them to work further from home without having to worry about filling their gas tanks every few days," Fox said.

Early-bird riders can catch a 5 a.m. bus out of Bellows Falls and arrive in Rutland at 6:54 a.m. Rutland riders can catch a 5:10 a.m. bus and arrive in Bellows Falls at 7:05 a.m. MVRTD and CRT buses meet at Okemo's base area and riders transfer from one bus to the other.

In the evening, the last bus leaves Rutland at 6:15 p.m., with the last scheduled stop at Springfield Hospital 7:50 p.m.; however riders can request to go all the way to Bellows Falls. The last bus departs Bellows Falls from T-Bird Mini Mart at 6:10 p.m., with riders arriving in Rutland at 8:09 p.m.

Service is available Monday through Friday.

While there are 23 scheduled stops along the Route 103 corridor, Fox said riders can stand by the side of the road and flag down a bus, which will stop as long as it is safe to do so.

CRT and MVRTD are starting service with midsize buses that accommodate 20 to 25 riders, but anticipate running 40-passenger buses by winter, Atkinson said.

Riders are asked to pay a suggested donation of $3 each way, or $2.50 a ride for passengers who purchase four-weeks' worth of tokens. Fox emphasized that the fare is a suggested donation, and no rider will be turned away for lack of money.

For a complete bus schedule, visit MVRTD's Web site www.thebus.com or CRT's Web site www.crtransit.org.