Cavendish Update 11/25/08

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 Cavendish Update Contains
1. Water Board Meeting
2. Turkey Trot-5 K Fun Run/Walk
3. Need Plowing this Winter?
4. Cavendish Tree Lighting and Carol Sing
5. Holiday Fair
6. December Calendar
7. Local holiday movie to air Saturday

1. Water Board Meeting
At the November 24 Water Board meeting, Rich Svec, town manager, provided an update on the progress of the water filtration project. Since the state has given approval for the town to oversee the project in house, a construction manager has been identified, who will be hired as a consultant, not as a town employee, and will be insured. Svec was planning to work out a contract with this individual this week, with the Water Board’s approval, and he would begin work the week of Dec. 7.

Daniels Construction, the company that defaulted during the October construction bid process, has sent the town a check to cover the cost of the default. Even though this company has been working on various aspects of the water project, the state will not permit them to be involved in the final phase.

The state is allowing the use of town employees for some of the work and will not require the various projects to go through the formal bid process as these are small bids and the town has already gone through the formal bid process. Some of the companies, such as Wright Construction and the electrical sub contractors, who were part of two of the four bid applications, can be hired for various aspects of the project.

Infilico Degremont, Inc http://www.infilcodegremont.com/, the company responsible for the water filtration system, initially said the delivery date of the filtration equipment would be Dec. 12. However, they are now saying the filter will not be ready for shipping until December 19, meaning that the delivery date would be Christmas week.

Given the state of the economy, and the fact that clean water from the tap will not occur until spring/early summer 2009, the question was raised if the Water Board would consider ways to help residents who found themselves now unable to afford bottled water. Svec and the board basically said they were sympathetic to the issue, but were not in a position to help, as they needed all of their funds to pay for the filtration project.

When it was suggested that people with wells were willing to provide their water, and could the town provide them with containers, Svec said that the town, because it was municipal water, could not help in this regard. Other suggestions raised, such as involving fire departments and area churches, were not met with favor by the board. However, by the end of the meeting, the board agreed that if people wanted to donate sealed bottled water, the town would see that those residents on town water, who would be receiving Christmas baskets through the Cavendish Family Fund, would receive the water.

The school, which has been using bottled water since 2006, when the health advisory on the water was issued, has received some limited help from a special Select Board fund. However, the school is now paying for the water, which means they are going into deficit spending.

At the upcoming Holiday Fair, the money raised from the Children’s Table will be used to help offset bottled water costs at the school. Persons wishing to donate bottled water should contact the town office at 226-7292.

2. Turkey Trot-5 K Fun Run/Walk
Once again there will be a 5K Fun Walk/Run to benefit Toys for Tots. The Turkey Trot begins at 9 am, Thanksgiving Morning, at Dorsey Park in Ludlow. Please bring a donation of a gift, suitable for a child, and/or money.

3. Need Plowing this Winter?
Plowing, snow shoveling, salting and sanding. Early clean up so you can get out of your driveway. Affordable prices. Call Lance at 802-226-7824 or 802-353-5280

4. Cavendish Tree Lighting and Carol Sing
The Cavendish Tree Lighting and Carol Sing will take place on December 7 (Sunday). Starting at 6 pm, the tree and gazebo on the Proctorsville Village Green will be lit. From there, the group will walk the short distance to the Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES), to continue the carol sing and to light Riley’s Tree. The tree, which stands directly in front of the school, is in memory of Riley Bourgois, who died from cancer while a student at CTES. Immediately following will be hot chocolate and cookies at the School. The Cavendish Respect Club, the Cavendish Historical Society, CTES and the town of Cavendish are joint sponsors of this event. All are invited and encouraged to attend.

5. Holiday Fair Saturday at CTES
The Annual Holiday Fair, featuring the local churches and community groups, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 29 from 9-3 at the Cavendish School. Lots of local treasurers to be had including home made jams, cookies and candies; The 2009 Cavendish Calendar; publications and photographs of Cavendish; and a special kids area. The Proctorsville Fire Department will be selling wreaths and the junior fire fighters will be helping with face painting and selling their T-shirts.

6. December Cavendish Calendar
If you have an item you would like included on the December Cavendish Calendar, please send it by Nov. 29 to margoc@tds.net

7. Local holiday movie to air Saturday
Rutland Herald November 26, 2008 By Josh O'Gorman Herald staff
Note: People from Cavendish were extras for the film
CHESTER — With the early season snowfall, Vermonters are feeling the Christmas spirit, and a locally filmed holiday movie will reinforce that feeling when it makes its world television premiere this weekend.

The Hallmark Channel's "Moonlight & Mistletoe" will air at 9 p.m. Saturday. The film was shot during several weeks in May and June in Chester, with a casting call that drew hundreds of locals who, despite the heat, bundled up in winter wear for large crowd shots on the Chester town green.

Filmmakers used white blankets and sprayed the trees with foam to simulate a holiday atmosphere.

The film tells the story of a man named Nick — played by actor Tom Arnold — who operates a Christmas theme park that is threatened by a real estate developer.

His daughter, Holly, played by Candace Cameron Bure, who starred in the 1980s sitcom "Full House," returns to help her father keep the park and in doing so rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas.

"The filmmakers went out of their way to capture the spirit of a close-knit Vermont community. The film showcases many locations in Chester from quaint inns to the historic town center, which gives viewers a sense of the town's wonderful character," Joe Bookchin, executive director of the Vermont Film Commission, said in a statement. "Green Mountain Railroad supplied the vintage locomotive along with the historic train depot to give the movie a timeless quality. All of these elements came together to create a Hallmark holiday classic that is uniquely Vermont."

The film is one of many Christmas-themed movies offered by the Hallmark Channel, with others including "A Grandpa for Christmas" starring Ernest Borgnine and "Our First Christmas" starring John Ratzenberger.

"Moonlight & Mistletoe" made its theatrical world premiere at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland Sept. 20, the first film screened there in 27 years. More than 600 people turned out to watch the film, and the event was a fundraiser to buy projection equipment to allow the theater to screen films on a regular basis.

Those who still want to see the film on a big screen will have two opportunities in December, with the first at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at American Legion Post 67 in Chester. The second will be 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Bellows Falls Opera House.