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. Cavendish Municipal Water Update
2. Solar Motion Security Light
3. Elijab Zimmer Artist of the Month
4. Classifieds: ISO
1. Cavendish Municipal Water Update
On Monday, December 15, the Cavendish Water Board met. Rich Svec, Town Manager, introduced the newly hired Clerk of the Works, Randy Shimp, who will be the construction manager for the completion of the filtration project. Shimp has extensive experience in this capacity, including overseeing the construction projects at The Castle Hill Resort and Spa.
While an electrical contractor has been hired, the bid process is currently underway for a construction contractor. The Town is purchasing a number of items including waste tanks, chemical storage facility and a number of the necessary lines have been laid.
The filtration equipment is due to be shipped on January 7. It is hoped by this time the construction company will be on board and the building, which will house the filtration unit, will be finished sufficiently so the equipment will only need to be moved once.
Shimp indicated that by the next Water Board meeting, they should be able to provide a time line by and when to anticipate clean water from the tap.
The Town has sent out a “Water Filtration Update-December 2008” to homeowners on Cavendish Municipal water. If you have not received a copy, contact the Town Office 802-226-7292.
2. Solar Motion Security Light
In view of the most recent theft of catalytic converters on Depot Street in Proctorsville, (see Cavendish Update 1217/08) it has been suggested that having a motion sensitive light, where you park your car, may help to deter criminals. The Solar Store in Cavendish has a selection you can choose from:
Solar Motion Security Light: black Dual-head- 10 LED $79.95
Solar Motion Security Light: black -10W Halogen $89.95
Solar Motion Security Light: gray -24 LED $99.95
FMI: Call.226.7093 or e-mail cavendish@usasolarstore.com.
3. Elijab Zimmer Artist of the Month
Cavendish artist Elijah Zimmer is December’s artist of the month at the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library. Elijah, a 17 year old, is a self-trained folk artist working primarily in acrylics. His works harkens back to the American Primitive painters of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, such as Ami Philips and Rufus Porter, and to
such contemporary artists as Warren Kimble.
“I find my inspiration in the beautiful Vermont landscapes, which have preserved more of its early American spirit than other parts of America.” says Elijah. “Vermont’s hills and brooks, barns and old farmhouses, its picturesque villages and back roads with meandering stone walls, provide the perfect materials for folk art.”
Over the past year, Elijah’s paintings have been shown at the Miller Art Center in Springfield and the Maple Sugaring Festival in Gaysville.
“I also enjoy expanding my art into the physical realm by building dry laid stone walls and gardens as pictured in my paintings.”
A collection of eleven paintings is on display at the Redfield Proctor Room, of the Cavendish Library until Mid-January. An assortment of note cards and prints will also be available for sale.
4. Classifieds: In Search Of
• A dog crate, 36x24x28 (for 30 lb dog) . Please call Barbara, 226-7187
Part of Cavendish Connects, the Cavendish, VT Blog archives the weekly e-mails, "Cavendish Update" and provides on-going information about current activities.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
CAVENDISH BREAK IN ALERT 12/17/08
The following information was received from a resident of Depot Street in Proctorsville this afternoon:
Thought I might use your contacts to send out an alert for the town. We had Catalytic converters stolen from two cars parked in front of our house last night. So I guess our converter thieves are back and in our town right now. Please let everyone know to keep an eye out.
We have contacted the Vermont State Police and learned that this is an isolated event. Until recently, the metal from the converters was worth quite a bit of money, and so it was worth the risk for some criminals to steal and sell them. Since the price of metal has dropped recently, there has been a significant reduction in this type of crime.
When asked how to prevent this type of crime, the State Police said the only safe measure is to keep your car in a locked garage. Using a battery operated Sawzall; the criminal can cut through the metal and be on their way in short order. There is one product being marketed called Cat Clamp http://catclamp.com/how.php
Thought I might use your contacts to send out an alert for the town. We had Catalytic converters stolen from two cars parked in front of our house last night. So I guess our converter thieves are back and in our town right now. Please let everyone know to keep an eye out.
We have contacted the Vermont State Police and learned that this is an isolated event. Until recently, the metal from the converters was worth quite a bit of money, and so it was worth the risk for some criminals to steal and sell them. Since the price of metal has dropped recently, there has been a significant reduction in this type of crime.
When asked how to prevent this type of crime, the State Police said the only safe measure is to keep your car in a locked garage. Using a battery operated Sawzall; the criminal can cut through the metal and be on their way in short order. There is one product being marketed called Cat Clamp http://catclamp.com/how.php
Friday, December 12, 2008
Cavendish Update 12/12/08
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. Cavendish Flood Photograph for Sale
2. Cavendish Library News
3. Eco Friendly Ways to Keep Walkways and Driveways Clear
1. Cavendish Flood Photograph for Sale
The Cavendish Historical Society is pleased to announce that copies of the panoramic photograph of the 1927 flood are now available for sale, thanks to the help of Stantec and Stephen Plunkard. The photograph is from 1927 and was taken by H.A. Boss. Measuring approximately 37 1/2 “ X 6”, the cost is $30 plus $5 shipping and handling. If you prefer, you can make arrangements to pick up the photograph in Cavendish. This is a limited edition, so it is suggested that you order now. To order a photograph, send a check payable to CHS and mail to CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142. FMI: margoc@tds.net or margoc@tds.net
2. Cavendish Library News
The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library has exceeded its goal of $2000 for the fall Scholastic Book Fair. This means that Cavendish Town Elementary School principal George Thomson will be dressing up as “George of The Jungle” sometime in January.
The Library is seeking donations of DVDs, CDs and VHS tapes to expand their collection. FMI: 226-7503
3. Eco Friendly Ways to Keep Walkways and Driveways Clear
There are numerous problems with the use of salt as a means of keeping walkways clear. If you have a dog, you probably already know how it can hurt their paws. In fact, pets are routinely poisoned or injured from deicers. Be sure to use a damp towel to wipe your pet's paws and underside after being outside. Children can also be injured by salts, so it is important to supervise them while they are outside and check them carefully when they come in.
The heavy use of road salts can lead to damage to vegetation, to organisms in soil, to birds, and to other wildlife. Almost all chloride ions from road salts eventually find their way into waterways, whether by direct run-off into surface water or by moving through the soil and groundwater. In surface water, road salts can harm freshwater plants, fish, and other organisms that are not adapted to living in saline waters.
The following tips from Envirocast http://www.stormcenter.com/envirocast/2003-01-01/envirocast-article4.php can help you choose the best deicing product for your home and the environment:
1. Buy Early ~ Make sure to buy your deicing product well before the big storm hits; otherwise, you could be looking at empty shelves and have few, if any, environmental choices to make at the store.
2. Check the Label ~. Check the package label closely to see what you are buying. Experts recommend using calcium chloride over sodium chloride (rock salt).
3. Avoid Kitty Litter and Ashes ~ Although these products are environmentally friendly, they aren't very effective. While they provide some traction, they do not melt snow and ice. Also, they tend to get real gooey and messy when it warms up, which often tracks in onto the floors of your home. If traction is what you want, then stick with sand, which is much cheaper and easier to sweep up.
4. Shovel Early and Often ~ When it comes to snow removal, there is no substitute for muscle and elbow grease. Deicers work best when there is only a thin layer of snow or ice that must be melted. Get out the snow shovel and move as much snow as you can during the storm. A flat hoe can also help to scrape ice off the surface before any deicers are applied. Be careful when chopping the ice build-up that you don't damage your sidewalk. Also, be careful when shoveling snow. Snow is heavy and overexertion can lead to heart attacks.
5. Know Your Salt Risk Zone ~ You wouldn't want to kill your favorite tree, shrub or grass, so check out the plants that grow within five or ten feet of your driveway and sidewalk (and the road, for that matter). The table below summarizes some of the salt sensitive plants that might be at risk. If you have salt-sensitive trees, shrubs or grasses in this zone, you should avoid any deicing product that contains chlorides (rock salt and calcium-, potassium-, or magnesium- chloride), or use very small doses. You may want to use CMA as a safer alternative, or stick with sand for traction.
6. Avoid Products that Contain Urea ~ Some folks recommend the use of urea as a safer alternative to more common deicing products, arguing that it does not contain chlorides and, as a form of nitrogen, will help fertilize your yard when it washes off. In reality, urea-based deicing products are a poor choice. To begin with, urea is fairly expensive and performs poorly when temperatures drop below -6°C. More importantly, the application rate for urea during a single deicing is ten times greater than that needed to fertilize the same area of your yard. Of course, very little of the urea will actually get to your lawn, but will end up washing into the street and storm drain. Given that nitrogen is a major problem in our waterways, it doesn't make sense to use nitrogen-based products, such as those containing urea, for deicing.
7. If You Must Use Salt: Apply it Early, but Sparingly ~ Remember what your Mom may have told you at the dinner table: "A little salt goes a long way." The recommended application rate for rock salt is about a handful per square meter treated (after you have scraped as much ice and snow as possible). Using more salt than this won't speed up the melting process. Even less salt is needed if you are using calcium chloride (about a handful for every three square meters treated - or about the area of a single bed). If you have a choice, pick calcium chloride over sodium chloride. Calcium chloride works at much lower temperatures and is applied at a much lower rate.
The Cavendish Update Contains
1. Cavendish Flood Photograph for Sale
2. Cavendish Library News
3. Eco Friendly Ways to Keep Walkways and Driveways Clear
1. Cavendish Flood Photograph for Sale
The Cavendish Historical Society is pleased to announce that copies of the panoramic photograph of the 1927 flood are now available for sale, thanks to the help of Stantec and Stephen Plunkard. The photograph is from 1927 and was taken by H.A. Boss. Measuring approximately 37 1/2 “ X 6”, the cost is $30 plus $5 shipping and handling. If you prefer, you can make arrangements to pick up the photograph in Cavendish. This is a limited edition, so it is suggested that you order now. To order a photograph, send a check payable to CHS and mail to CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142. FMI: margoc@tds.net or margoc@tds.net
2. Cavendish Library News
The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library has exceeded its goal of $2000 for the fall Scholastic Book Fair. This means that Cavendish Town Elementary School principal George Thomson will be dressing up as “George of The Jungle” sometime in January.
The Library is seeking donations of DVDs, CDs and VHS tapes to expand their collection. FMI: 226-7503
3. Eco Friendly Ways to Keep Walkways and Driveways Clear
There are numerous problems with the use of salt as a means of keeping walkways clear. If you have a dog, you probably already know how it can hurt their paws. In fact, pets are routinely poisoned or injured from deicers. Be sure to use a damp towel to wipe your pet's paws and underside after being outside. Children can also be injured by salts, so it is important to supervise them while they are outside and check them carefully when they come in.
The heavy use of road salts can lead to damage to vegetation, to organisms in soil, to birds, and to other wildlife. Almost all chloride ions from road salts eventually find their way into waterways, whether by direct run-off into surface water or by moving through the soil and groundwater. In surface water, road salts can harm freshwater plants, fish, and other organisms that are not adapted to living in saline waters.
The following tips from Envirocast http://www.stormcenter.com/envirocast/2003-01-01/envirocast-article4.php can help you choose the best deicing product for your home and the environment:
1. Buy Early ~ Make sure to buy your deicing product well before the big storm hits; otherwise, you could be looking at empty shelves and have few, if any, environmental choices to make at the store.
2. Check the Label ~. Check the package label closely to see what you are buying. Experts recommend using calcium chloride over sodium chloride (rock salt).
3. Avoid Kitty Litter and Ashes ~ Although these products are environmentally friendly, they aren't very effective. While they provide some traction, they do not melt snow and ice. Also, they tend to get real gooey and messy when it warms up, which often tracks in onto the floors of your home. If traction is what you want, then stick with sand, which is much cheaper and easier to sweep up.
4. Shovel Early and Often ~ When it comes to snow removal, there is no substitute for muscle and elbow grease. Deicers work best when there is only a thin layer of snow or ice that must be melted. Get out the snow shovel and move as much snow as you can during the storm. A flat hoe can also help to scrape ice off the surface before any deicers are applied. Be careful when chopping the ice build-up that you don't damage your sidewalk. Also, be careful when shoveling snow. Snow is heavy and overexertion can lead to heart attacks.
5. Know Your Salt Risk Zone ~ You wouldn't want to kill your favorite tree, shrub or grass, so check out the plants that grow within five or ten feet of your driveway and sidewalk (and the road, for that matter). The table below summarizes some of the salt sensitive plants that might be at risk. If you have salt-sensitive trees, shrubs or grasses in this zone, you should avoid any deicing product that contains chlorides (rock salt and calcium-, potassium-, or magnesium- chloride), or use very small doses. You may want to use CMA as a safer alternative, or stick with sand for traction.
6. Avoid Products that Contain Urea ~ Some folks recommend the use of urea as a safer alternative to more common deicing products, arguing that it does not contain chlorides and, as a form of nitrogen, will help fertilize your yard when it washes off. In reality, urea-based deicing products are a poor choice. To begin with, urea is fairly expensive and performs poorly when temperatures drop below -6°C. More importantly, the application rate for urea during a single deicing is ten times greater than that needed to fertilize the same area of your yard. Of course, very little of the urea will actually get to your lawn, but will end up washing into the street and storm drain. Given that nitrogen is a major problem in our waterways, it doesn't make sense to use nitrogen-based products, such as those containing urea, for deicing.
7. If You Must Use Salt: Apply it Early, but Sparingly ~ Remember what your Mom may have told you at the dinner table: "A little salt goes a long way." The recommended application rate for rock salt is about a handful per square meter treated (after you have scraped as much ice and snow as possible). Using more salt than this won't speed up the melting process. Even less salt is needed if you are using calcium chloride (about a handful for every three square meters treated - or about the area of a single bed). If you have a choice, pick calcium chloride over sodium chloride. Calcium chloride works at much lower temperatures and is applied at a much lower rate.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Cavendish Update 12/6/08 Okemo Sold
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 12/6/08 Cavendish Update Contains:
1. Okemo sells for $132 M
2. Select Board Agenda 12/8/08
3. Cavendish Tree Lighting and Carol Sing on Sunday 12/7
4. Other Events
1. Okemo sells for $132M
Rutland Herald 12/6/08 By Bruce Edwards
Okemo Mountain Resort, one of Vermont's oldest and largest ski resorts, was sold Friday to CNL Lifestyle Properties of Orlando, Fla.
Triple Peaks owners Tim and Diane Mueller sold the Ludlow resort along with Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado and Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire for $132 million.
The sale was first reported in Friday's Wall Street Journal.
The Muellers will continue to manage the three resorts under a 40-year lease-back arrangement with CNL Lifestyle Properties, with Triple Peaks LLC making lease payments to CNL.
"Although we're selling the assets, we're maintaining obviously all the operations and control of the resort and signed a long-term lease," Tim Mueller said Friday in a phone interview from Florida, where he and his wife closed on the sale. "As I say, we look at it as more of a financing arrangement as much as anything since we'll still be in control of the operations."
He also said Triple Peaks retains ownership of much of the developable land around Okemo.
Mueller said the deal with CNL was the best financing option available.
"We could have continued going on the way we were going but we just thought bringing in long-term, stable capital was a better option for us," Mueller said, "particularly in this economic environment where bank financing is relatively short term, the short-term rates and the instability of the market …"
The acquisition gives the Muellers additional capital to build the Red Lady Lodge at Crested Butte and to move forward with the Okemo conference center. CNL is also expected to fund improvements at Mount Sunapee.
CNL Lifestyle spokeswoman Carolyn Gosselin said the Muellers' successful management style caught the attention of the company, making the resorts an attractive acquisition. Gosselin also said Okemo in particular is ideally located near major metropolitan areas.
"The second interest is these are affordable drive-to ski resorts that are very popular," she said. "In particular in this economy many skiers are not flying out west … but they're not going to give up their passion for snow skiing."
In the long-term, Gosselin said CNL's capital infusion will enhance Okemo and make it more of a four-season destination.
She said no changes in personnel or employment at the three resorts are anticipated.
At Ludlow's municipal offices, Town Manager Frank Heald, himself an experienced veteran of the Vermont ski industry, said the news of Okemo's sale and lease-back to the Muellers was a good sign of the area's future health.
"I think we will see very little change as I understand it," said Heald, adding that Okemo executives started calling key people in the Ludlow community Thursday afternoon to tell them of the pending sale.
"When all is said and done, this is a refinancing transaction," said Heald. "Tim and Diane have a total and firm hand on the tiller. Their tenure here in this town, when you add everything up, has been a great thing for Ludlow."
Over at the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, executive director Marji Graf sent an e-mail saying that despite the sale, the Muellers were committed to Okemo.
"Tim and Diane are here to stay," she said.
Parker Riehle of the Vermont Ski Areas Association also views Friday's sale as a positive development.
"It gives Okemo the financial infusion that they need to move ahead with a lot of their strategic on-mountain projects and also other developments such as their conference center which would be a dynamic addition to their resort," said Riehle, the VSAA executive director.
Commissioner Bruce Hyde of the state Department of Tourism and Marketing said the added benefit of the deal is that the Muellers retain management control.
"The Muellers have done a great job of bringing Okemo from really a small skier-day, obscure operation to one of our leading resorts," Hyde said.
Okemo opened in January 1956. The Muellers purchased the ski area in 1982 when it had eight or nine lifts (only three double chair lifts) and 26 trails. Over the last 26 years, the couple has turned the once sleepy ski area into a major ski industry player with 19 lifts and 119 trails and glades. The resort also owns Okemo Valley Golf Club.
"We just had a philosophy of continued but steady, relatively constant growth of building up the product," Mueller said.
He also said CNL has a sound track record in owning ski resorts and golf courses. "They are very good people and we have a lot of confidence in them as well," he said.
The three Triple Peaks resorts had a combined 1.1 million skier visits during the 2007-08 ski season.
CNL Lifestyle Properties is part of CNL Financial Group, one of the nation's largest, privately held real estate investment and development companies. Headquartered in Orlando, Fla., CNL has formed or acquired companies with more than $23 billion in assets, including hotel, retail, restaurant, senior citizen housing and lifestyle properties.
CNL Lifestyle is a real estate investment trust that owns 115 properties in the United States and Canada, including 13 ski areas and eight village-centered retail developments. The portfolio includes Bretton Woods Mountain Resort and Loon Mountain Resort in New Hampshire, Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA in Maine, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort and Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort in California.
2. Select Board Agenda 12/8/08
The SB will meet on Monday, Dec. 12 at 6: 30 pm in the Town Office. The Agenda will include:
• Update on water filtration project progress and activities since the previous month’s Selectmen’s meeting of November 10th, 2008.
• Continue discussion regarding the status of the Cavendish First Responders, Cavendish Ambulance and disposition of the ambulance vehicle.
• Discuss schedule for budget meetings and Town Manager goals for the FY09-10 Budget. Begin FY09-10 Budget Process: Select Board to hear requests from various organizations for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 appropriations
• Review and consider draft of a Town of Cavendish Purchasing Policy which was distributed to the Selectmen at the 11/10/08 meeting.
• Updates on various Town projects and activities including: Heald Road Greven Road Extension reclamation work ,winter highway maintenance, highway personnel, follow-up n FD #2 dry hydrant installations
• Review Winter Parking Regulations
3. Cavendish Tree Lighting and Carol Sing on Sunday 12/7
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.
4. Other Events
December 6 (Saturday): Peace Rally, 3 p.m. in front of the Fletcher Library in Ludlow
December 18 (Thursday): Community Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. at St James United Methodist Church, Main Street, Proctorsville. The menu will consist of turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce, butternut squash, peas, a tossed salad and hot rolls, with pumpkin and apple pies for dessert. Beverages will include coffee, hot tea or cider.
A suggested donation of $3.00 for seniors or $4.50 for those under 60 years of age will help defray the cost of this meal.
The 12/6/08 Cavendish Update Contains:
1. Okemo sells for $132 M
2. Select Board Agenda 12/8/08
3. Cavendish Tree Lighting and Carol Sing on Sunday 12/7
4. Other Events
1. Okemo sells for $132M
Rutland Herald 12/6/08 By Bruce Edwards
Okemo Mountain Resort, one of Vermont's oldest and largest ski resorts, was sold Friday to CNL Lifestyle Properties of Orlando, Fla.
Triple Peaks owners Tim and Diane Mueller sold the Ludlow resort along with Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado and Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire for $132 million.
The sale was first reported in Friday's Wall Street Journal.
The Muellers will continue to manage the three resorts under a 40-year lease-back arrangement with CNL Lifestyle Properties, with Triple Peaks LLC making lease payments to CNL.
"Although we're selling the assets, we're maintaining obviously all the operations and control of the resort and signed a long-term lease," Tim Mueller said Friday in a phone interview from Florida, where he and his wife closed on the sale. "As I say, we look at it as more of a financing arrangement as much as anything since we'll still be in control of the operations."
He also said Triple Peaks retains ownership of much of the developable land around Okemo.
Mueller said the deal with CNL was the best financing option available.
"We could have continued going on the way we were going but we just thought bringing in long-term, stable capital was a better option for us," Mueller said, "particularly in this economic environment where bank financing is relatively short term, the short-term rates and the instability of the market …"
The acquisition gives the Muellers additional capital to build the Red Lady Lodge at Crested Butte and to move forward with the Okemo conference center. CNL is also expected to fund improvements at Mount Sunapee.
CNL Lifestyle spokeswoman Carolyn Gosselin said the Muellers' successful management style caught the attention of the company, making the resorts an attractive acquisition. Gosselin also said Okemo in particular is ideally located near major metropolitan areas.
"The second interest is these are affordable drive-to ski resorts that are very popular," she said. "In particular in this economy many skiers are not flying out west … but they're not going to give up their passion for snow skiing."
In the long-term, Gosselin said CNL's capital infusion will enhance Okemo and make it more of a four-season destination.
She said no changes in personnel or employment at the three resorts are anticipated.
At Ludlow's municipal offices, Town Manager Frank Heald, himself an experienced veteran of the Vermont ski industry, said the news of Okemo's sale and lease-back to the Muellers was a good sign of the area's future health.
"I think we will see very little change as I understand it," said Heald, adding that Okemo executives started calling key people in the Ludlow community Thursday afternoon to tell them of the pending sale.
"When all is said and done, this is a refinancing transaction," said Heald. "Tim and Diane have a total and firm hand on the tiller. Their tenure here in this town, when you add everything up, has been a great thing for Ludlow."
Over at the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, executive director Marji Graf sent an e-mail saying that despite the sale, the Muellers were committed to Okemo.
"Tim and Diane are here to stay," she said.
Parker Riehle of the Vermont Ski Areas Association also views Friday's sale as a positive development.
"It gives Okemo the financial infusion that they need to move ahead with a lot of their strategic on-mountain projects and also other developments such as their conference center which would be a dynamic addition to their resort," said Riehle, the VSAA executive director.
Commissioner Bruce Hyde of the state Department of Tourism and Marketing said the added benefit of the deal is that the Muellers retain management control.
"The Muellers have done a great job of bringing Okemo from really a small skier-day, obscure operation to one of our leading resorts," Hyde said.
Okemo opened in January 1956. The Muellers purchased the ski area in 1982 when it had eight or nine lifts (only three double chair lifts) and 26 trails. Over the last 26 years, the couple has turned the once sleepy ski area into a major ski industry player with 19 lifts and 119 trails and glades. The resort also owns Okemo Valley Golf Club.
"We just had a philosophy of continued but steady, relatively constant growth of building up the product," Mueller said.
He also said CNL has a sound track record in owning ski resorts and golf courses. "They are very good people and we have a lot of confidence in them as well," he said.
The three Triple Peaks resorts had a combined 1.1 million skier visits during the 2007-08 ski season.
CNL Lifestyle Properties is part of CNL Financial Group, one of the nation's largest, privately held real estate investment and development companies. Headquartered in Orlando, Fla., CNL has formed or acquired companies with more than $23 billion in assets, including hotel, retail, restaurant, senior citizen housing and lifestyle properties.
CNL Lifestyle is a real estate investment trust that owns 115 properties in the United States and Canada, including 13 ski areas and eight village-centered retail developments. The portfolio includes Bretton Woods Mountain Resort and Loon Mountain Resort in New Hampshire, Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA in Maine, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort and Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort in California.
2. Select Board Agenda 12/8/08
The SB will meet on Monday, Dec. 12 at 6: 30 pm in the Town Office. The Agenda will include:
• Update on water filtration project progress and activities since the previous month’s Selectmen’s meeting of November 10th, 2008.
• Continue discussion regarding the status of the Cavendish First Responders, Cavendish Ambulance and disposition of the ambulance vehicle.
• Discuss schedule for budget meetings and Town Manager goals for the FY09-10 Budget. Begin FY09-10 Budget Process: Select Board to hear requests from various organizations for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 appropriations
• Review and consider draft of a Town of Cavendish Purchasing Policy which was distributed to the Selectmen at the 11/10/08 meeting.
• Updates on various Town projects and activities including: Heald Road Greven Road Extension reclamation work ,winter highway maintenance, highway personnel, follow-up n FD #2 dry hydrant installations
• Review Winter Parking Regulations
3. Cavendish Tree Lighting and Carol Sing on Sunday 12/7
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.
4. Other Events
December 6 (Saturday): Peace Rally, 3 p.m. in front of the Fletcher Library in Ludlow
December 18 (Thursday): Community Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. at St James United Methodist Church, Main Street, Proctorsville. The menu will consist of turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce, butternut squash, peas, a tossed salad and hot rolls, with pumpkin and apple pies for dessert. Beverages will include coffee, hot tea or cider.
A suggested donation of $3.00 for seniors or $4.50 for those under 60 years of age will help defray the cost of this meal.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Cavendish December 2008 Calendar
This issue of the Cavendish Update is made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society www.cavendishhistory.org
The 12/1/08 Cavendish Update Contains
1. Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Newsletter on-line
2. December Cavendish Calendar
1. CCCA NEWSLETTER AND CALENDAR
The Fall 2008 CCCA Newsletter is now on-line at http://cavendishvt.blogspot.com/
The 2009 Cavendish Calendar is now on sale for $10 at Crow’s Corner Bakery.
2. DECEMBER CAVENDISH CALENDAR
December 2 (Tuesday): Cavendish Fire Department Work Detail at the Fire House 6:30 pm
December 3 (Wednesday): Planning Commission Meeting, Cavendish Town Office 6:30 pm. FMI: 226-7292
December 4 (Thursday): Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373
• Feldenkrais workshop, 6:00 pm in Ludlow. Discounts for Cavendish/Proctorsville residents. FMI: 226-7783
December 6 (Saturday): Stuff a Bus to benefit Black River Good Neighbor Services. The bus will be parked in the Shaw’s Parking lot. All items donated will be used to provide holiday baskets to over 125 area families. Items needed include: canned fruit, cranberry sauce, pickles, olives, mac & cheese, hot chocolate, cookies, frozen turkeys, carrots, peas, corn, green beans, yams, gravy, soup, stuffing mix, tea, cereal (oatmeal), coffee, candy and margarine. Donations of money are always welcome. FMI: 228-3663
• The Christmas Tree and Wreath sale to benefit the Proctorsville Vol. Fire Department, 9-4 at the Fire Hall in Proctorsville. Trees start at $25 and up based on size.
• Glad Tidings of Joy, Songs of Christmas directed by Proctorsville’s Candace Montesi, and featuring other Cavendish residents who are part of the Springfield Community Chorus. 7:30 pm at the First Baptist Church, Chester VT.
December 7 (Sunday): The Christmas Tree and Wreath sale to benefit Proctorsville Vol. Fire Department, 9-4 at the Fire Hall in Proctorsville. Trees start at $25 and up based on size.
• Cavendish Tree Lighting and Carol Sing: 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. 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.
• Glad Tidings of Joy, Songs of Christmas directed by Proctorsville’s Candace Montesi, and featuring other Cavendish residents who are part of the Springfield Community Chorus. 3:00 pm at the First Congregational Church, Springfield, VT.
• Cavendish Volunteer Fire Department Drill 2pm, and Business Meeting 6:30 pm at the Fire House in Cavendish
December 8 (Monday): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm Cavendish Town Office. This is telecast on LPC-TV. FMI:226-7292
December 9 (Tuesday): Cavendish School Board Meeting, 5 pm Cavendish Elementary School in Proctorsville. FMI: 226-7758
• Cavendish Fire Department Work Detail at the Fire House 6:30 pm
December 11 (Thursday): Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373
• Feldenkrais workshop, 6:00 pm in Ludlow. Discounts for Cavendish/Proctorsville residents. FMI: 226-7783
December 13 (Saturday): The Christmas Tree and Wreath sale to benefit the Proctorsville Vol. Fire Department, 9-4 at the Fire Hall in Proctorsville. Santa arrives at 10 and stays until noon. Hot chocolate, coffee and donuts will also be on sale. Trees start at $25 and up based on size.
• Summit Soapworks Gift Shop Fundraiser and Holiday Party for Stepping Stones Preschool. Twenty percent of all store sales will be donated to the Pre School. The Store is located at 106 Main Street in Ludlow. FMI 228-4900, sales@summitsoapworks.com or www.summitsoapworks.com
December 14 (Sunday): The Christmas Tree and Wreath sale to benefit the Proctorsville Vol. Fire Department, 9-4 at the Fire Hall in Proctorsville. Trees start at $25 and up based on size.
December 16 (Tuesday): Cavendish Fire Department Work Detail at the Fire House 6:30 pm
December 18 (Thursday): Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373
• Feldenkrais workshop, 6:00 pm in Ludlow. Discounts for Cavendish/Proctorsville residents. FMI: 226-7783
December 23 (Tuesday): Cavendish Fire Department Work Detail at the Fire House 6:30 pm
December 25 (Thursday): Merry Christmas
December 30 (Tuesday): Cavendish Fire Department Work Detail at the Fire House 6:30 pm
December 31 (Wednesday): New Year’s Eve
The 12/1/08 Cavendish Update Contains
1. Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Newsletter on-line
2. December Cavendish Calendar
1. CCCA NEWSLETTER AND CALENDAR
The Fall 2008 CCCA Newsletter is now on-line at http://cavendishvt.blogspot.com/
The 2009 Cavendish Calendar is now on sale for $10 at Crow’s Corner Bakery.
2. DECEMBER CAVENDISH CALENDAR
December 2 (Tuesday): Cavendish Fire Department Work Detail at the Fire House 6:30 pm
December 3 (Wednesday): Planning Commission Meeting, Cavendish Town Office 6:30 pm. FMI: 226-7292
December 4 (Thursday): Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373
• Feldenkrais workshop, 6:00 pm in Ludlow. Discounts for Cavendish/Proctorsville residents. FMI: 226-7783
December 6 (Saturday): Stuff a Bus to benefit Black River Good Neighbor Services. The bus will be parked in the Shaw’s Parking lot. All items donated will be used to provide holiday baskets to over 125 area families. Items needed include: canned fruit, cranberry sauce, pickles, olives, mac & cheese, hot chocolate, cookies, frozen turkeys, carrots, peas, corn, green beans, yams, gravy, soup, stuffing mix, tea, cereal (oatmeal), coffee, candy and margarine. Donations of money are always welcome. FMI: 228-3663
• The Christmas Tree and Wreath sale to benefit the Proctorsville Vol. Fire Department, 9-4 at the Fire Hall in Proctorsville. Trees start at $25 and up based on size.
• Glad Tidings of Joy, Songs of Christmas directed by Proctorsville’s Candace Montesi, and featuring other Cavendish residents who are part of the Springfield Community Chorus. 7:30 pm at the First Baptist Church, Chester VT.
December 7 (Sunday): The Christmas Tree and Wreath sale to benefit Proctorsville Vol. Fire Department, 9-4 at the Fire Hall in Proctorsville. Trees start at $25 and up based on size.
• Cavendish Tree Lighting and Carol Sing: 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. 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.
• Glad Tidings of Joy, Songs of Christmas directed by Proctorsville’s Candace Montesi, and featuring other Cavendish residents who are part of the Springfield Community Chorus. 3:00 pm at the First Congregational Church, Springfield, VT.
• Cavendish Volunteer Fire Department Drill 2pm, and Business Meeting 6:30 pm at the Fire House in Cavendish
December 8 (Monday): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm Cavendish Town Office. This is telecast on LPC-TV. FMI:226-7292
December 9 (Tuesday): Cavendish School Board Meeting, 5 pm Cavendish Elementary School in Proctorsville. FMI: 226-7758
• Cavendish Fire Department Work Detail at the Fire House 6:30 pm
December 11 (Thursday): Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373
• Feldenkrais workshop, 6:00 pm in Ludlow. Discounts for Cavendish/Proctorsville residents. FMI: 226-7783
December 13 (Saturday): The Christmas Tree and Wreath sale to benefit the Proctorsville Vol. Fire Department, 9-4 at the Fire Hall in Proctorsville. Santa arrives at 10 and stays until noon. Hot chocolate, coffee and donuts will also be on sale. Trees start at $25 and up based on size.
• Summit Soapworks Gift Shop Fundraiser and Holiday Party for Stepping Stones Preschool. Twenty percent of all store sales will be donated to the Pre School. The Store is located at 106 Main Street in Ludlow. FMI 228-4900, sales@summitsoapworks.com or www.summitsoapworks.com
December 14 (Sunday): The Christmas Tree and Wreath sale to benefit the Proctorsville Vol. Fire Department, 9-4 at the Fire Hall in Proctorsville. Trees start at $25 and up based on size.
December 16 (Tuesday): Cavendish Fire Department Work Detail at the Fire House 6:30 pm
December 18 (Thursday): Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373
• Feldenkrais workshop, 6:00 pm in Ludlow. Discounts for Cavendish/Proctorsville residents. FMI: 226-7783
December 23 (Tuesday): Cavendish Fire Department Work Detail at the Fire House 6:30 pm
December 25 (Thursday): Merry Christmas
December 30 (Tuesday): Cavendish Fire Department Work Detail at the Fire House 6:30 pm
December 31 (Wednesday): New Year’s Eve
CCCA Newsletter Fall 2008
Our Vision: CCCA is committed to a vibrant Cavendish/Proctorsville community that supports its human and natural resources, building a legacy of health, integrity and vitality for future generations.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Fall 2008 Newsletter
Volume No. 5, Issue No. 4
A Message from Robin
Winter is almost here again and we hope that everyone is adjusting to the fast-coming cold. This is a time of accelerated change, and while it may be a time of hardship it is also a time of opportunity. This Newsletter covers many of the ventures to which we have given our energies during the year 2008. It was a year of deepening commitment to many of the projects that we started in 2007 – Historic Barns Preservation and the Cavendish Community Fund, as well as new projects such as the Community Garden.
My favorite project has always been the Community Calendar. From the beginning I felt that the calendar supported a growing awareness of our environment, which is the very foundation of conservation. The act of taking photographs of our historic and natural environment engenders appreciation. If we delight in the view of an open field and look out across the same field at dawn to see deer grazing in the rising mist – if we hunt and see the young buck in the woods that our father, and perhaps our grandfather once walked in – if we love the changing leaves and the starry sky, unpolluted by external lighting – if we can still look out over a field of native corn or squash, or see the harvesting of a forest for its trees – if we marvel at the old stone walls; all these things and more are part of the foundations of conservation. We value our environment. This does not mean that we are against development; it means that we are in favor of wise development. There are many new, exciting “green” models for development that are springing up all over the country. Many models are for building in such a way that safeguards our heritage and quality of life, keeping historic sites, woodland and agricultural or wildlife habitat intact.
This year was the first year of the Cavendish Community Calendar Contest! And it was a great success with over 25 entries. The judge’s choice photos are currently hanging on display in the Cavendish Town Offices. The photos in the calendar were selected by community vote. Twenty Mile Stream Road in summer, Knapp Pond, a quarry wall, a sunflower or snow on an old apple tree, community members took out their cameras and captured what they loved and chose to share with us all. If you have not already seen the 2009 calendar, check it out! It is for sale at the Town Offices and at Crow’s Bakery. And if you have a camera, please take pictures for next year’s contest. Remember, the best quality photos give the best result. All photos must be in horizontal outlay. Digital photos should be copied to their own disc or keep a copy of your negative. And don’t hesitate to call or see me with your questions.
Robin Timko, Chair
How Our Garden Grows
A Future CCCA Garden
The first season of the Cavendish Town Community Garden has been deemed a success. The garden had approximately six full time volunteers that helped plant, weed and gather produce, including potatoes, beans, tomatoes, broccoli, squash and basil. Beneficiaries of the bountiful produce included members of the Gethsemane Episcopal Church and the Cavendish Town Elementary School lunch program, which received over one hundred fresh tomatoes. At the end of the season the gardeners gathered for a Harvest Pot Luck Picnic by the garden, which turned out to be a fitting culmination of the all the hard work contributed to the cause.
Next year the organizers would like to attract more volunteers. They plan to provide seeds and space and advice for "Grow a Row", which will benefit CTES. Also, they plan to dedicate a portion of the garden as a pumpkin patch for local children to help plant and harvest.
The organizers particularly want to thank the Gethsemane Episcopal Church for the use of their land and their support for this community project.
.
The Event of the Summer!
The Playbill
The 2008 Cavendish Community Theater season was an abbreviated two night affair; but what a fabulous two nights it was! The Cavendish Inn barn was packed – SRO – and people were turned away on both nights. The truly original play, based wholly on the history of Cavendish, was acted by a company of local residents who made up for their lack of experience with a barn full of enthusiasm. And the audience appreciated their efforts lustily.
Tim and Peter Jefferson, ever the elegant hosts, provided a light dinner for those wanting a dinner theater experience, and presented their old barn in its best light. The Cavendish Community Fund, now in its second year of funding local events, proudly provided the necessary financing for the play.
Entitled “The Cavendish Chronicles of Town and the River”, the play was written by the cast, guided by Director Lauryn Axelrod, Director of Education and Resident Dramaturgist at the Weston Playhouse in Weston. It was produced by Bridget Leicester and the musical score was composed and directed by Diane McNamara.
Narrated by Lu Choiniere, Act I told of the early settlers, legends of the valley, and the first towns of Duttonsville and Proctorsville. The local mills took center stage since they formed such a huge part of Cavendish history, and the 1927 flood loomed large as a pivotal point in so many lives. Act II took us through the depression, the war, and the end of the mills as an economic base. With a nod to famous resident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the play took us to the present.
Since this was the second summer session for Community Theater in Cavendish, there is every hope that we will see a third event in the future.
Button-Up Vermont Holds Energy Saving Workshop
On October 6th, Cavendish citizens were treated to one of the first workshops in a series of over a hundred planned for Vermont. “Button-Up Vermont” was produced by Central Vermont Community Action Council with funding from the Vermont Agency of Human Services in partnership with Efficiency Vermont and the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network. The session was really an information-filled presentation on conserving energy through better weatherization and improving home efficiency. The workshop goal was to convey information on how a home losses heat; on some of the more cost-effective solutions for saving energy; on energy saving do-it-yourself projects; on health and safety issues with improving efficiency; and on available technical and financial resources.
The discussion focused on debunking four myths and providing facts and solutions to related problems. First was the myth that you should not turn down the thermostat because it takes more energy to bring it up. This is a false conclusion since heat loss increases with temperature difference and bringing the home back to temperature takes less energy that maintaining a higher temperature.
The second myth was that the “off” button turns products “off”. Modern appliances and products consume energy even after being turned off. If it has a transformer it uses energy all the time. Unplug it to turn it off.
Another myth debunked was that adding attic insulation is the most cost effective method to stop heat loss. The problem is that loose or fiberglass insulation doesn’t stop air flow either through or around it. The most cost effective way to stop heat loss is to seal the house – stop the air flow.
Finally, it is also a myth that replacing windows is a good investment for saving energy. Most windows can be effectively sealed for much less cost than buying new. Added energy savings from improved glass is much less than most people assume.
For more information on energy savings and related matters, and for a list of workshops that you can attend, go to www.efficiencyvermont.com and click on “Button-Up Vermont”.
CCCA Holds Legislative Candidates Night
Continuing a tradition begun in 2006, the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association held a Candidates’ Night at the Cavendish Town Elementary School on October 28. Both candidates for State Representative from Cavendish and Weathersfield (incumbent Democrat Ernie Shand and Republican challenger Ed Williams) attended, as did three of the seven candidates for State Senate from Windsor County (incumbent Democrats Alice Nitka and Dick McCormack and Independent challenger Mark Blanchard). Former Sen. Will Hunter served as moderator.
Topics of discussion included criminal justice, particularly the legislative changes proposed in the aftermath of the sexual assault and murder of a 13-year-old girl in Randolph this summer. While some candidates said they were in favor of a law imposing a mandatory minimum sentence, all spoke of the need to legislate carefully in this area. Sen. Nitka, who as a member of the Judiciary Committee participated in hearings around the state this summer on the topic, spoke of the difficulty that many child witnesses have in describing what may have been done to them. Long mandatory sentences will result in more cases going to trial, rather than being resolved by plea agreement. If children are not able to testify effectively, the result may be more acquittals, she pointed out.
The Entergy nuclear power plant in Vermont and Vermont's energy future was also discussed at length. Challenger Williams favored relicensing the plant, but perhaps for a period of less than the 20 years that has been proposed. Rep. Shand said he was awaiting the report of a special committee established by the Legislature, and would not favor continuing the plant in operation after the current license expires in 2012 if the plant cannot be shown to be reliable. He also noted that Entergy has not put aside sufficient money to pay for the decommissioning of the plant. All speakers favored having the State do more to harness the power of the sun and wind in meeting future energy needs.
The discussion was filmed by LPCTV and shown several times before the election. CCCA plans to sponsor future discussions of current political issues, and will hold a review of budgets and candidates prior to the March 2009 Town Meeting.
Cavendish Community Fund News
The Cavendish Community Fund is off to a running start in this, its second year. Applications for fall 2008 grants were received by the Fund before the November 1st deadline and were under consideration by the selection board as of the time this Newsletter was being written and compiled. The selection board consists of three prestigious local residents, Dr. Eugene Bont, Gloria Leven, and Rolf van Schaik. The CCF is sponsored by and is operated as a committee of the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association. It is chaired by Barbara Dickey.
For more information about CCF please call Peter J. LaBelle at 226-7250, or Barbara Dickey at 226-7187.
Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Board of Directors
Robin Timko
Deborah Harrison O’Brien
Will Hunter
Tim Jefferson
Barbara Dickey
Peter LaBelle
Jennifer Stowell
Sandra Russo
CCCA Historic Barn Preservation Committee Joins with Vermont Dept. of Historic Preservation
Regier Barn on Quarry Road
The State of Vermont has asked all towns to conduct a survey of their agricultural barns. To encourage volunteers to help, the state has held several workshops about the history and architectural features of our barns. Peter LaBelle attended one in Tunbridge this summer and Barbara Dickey attended one in Cornwall early this fall. Both Peter and Barbara have been active the past year photographing and documenting all the barns in Cavendish so we knew that most of our survey work was already done. The State asked for more information about the condition and history of the barns than we had, so we are now revisiting each barn to collect more information. If anyone would like to help us, we welcome volunteers. The work is not difficult and participation brings its own rewards: better understanding of the history of Cavendish, and expert knowledge of the back highways and byways of our town.
In addition to expanding our census information for our own use and for the State, we have also worked with historic barn owners, Alan and Wendy Regier, who submitted a proposal to the Vermont Department of Historic Preservation for funds to aid in the restoration of their 200 year old English three-bay barn. Please call 226-7187 for more information or to volunteer!
The CCCA Mission Statement
The CCCA is 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. Its commitment is to promote understanding and learning that engages and benefits all members of the Cavendish/ Proctorsville community, now and in the future.
Follow-up on Our Internet Survey: Are You Still Stuck With Dial-Up Technology?
We have been talking with TDS and Comcast about the potential for expanding internet access in the less served areas of Cavendish. TDS has told us that they expect to provide DSL to all of Cavendish within the next two years. (Please note that they told us this last spring.) Comcast is currently analyzing the town to determine where they might expand cable service, which would, of course carry high speed internet service as well.
So far we have gathered the names and addresses of approximately 35 people who would like to have DSL or cable internet service, but who are still stuck with dial up technology. If you are one of those unfortunate few, and you have not yet responded, please e-mail Sandra Russo (sandra.russo@yahoo.com) with your name and Vermont house address. Comcast is using the list of names we provide them to determine their next move, so it is important that we have an accurate list.
The 2009 Cavendish Community Calendar is for Sale
CCCA has the new 2009 Cavendish Community Calendars for sale. These are the pictures taken by your friends and neighbors and include the community’s selection of the best photos submitted to the first Annual Calendar Photo Contest. The scenes are a wonderful collection of Cavendish views and the calendars will make great gifts for family and friends, near and far. Give everyone a reminder this holiday season of what they are missing by not living in Cavendish. Or remind them of why they enjoy living here if they do! Calendars are for sale at the Cavendish Town Offices on High Street in Cavendish, or at Crow’s Bakery and Opera House Café on Depot Street in Proctorsville. For further information on the calendars, or on next year’s calendar photo contest call Robin Timko at 802-226-7736.
CCCA Membership Report and Joining CCCA
By Deb O’Brien, Membership Chair
Over the last couple of months, the CCCA Membership committee has been putting much energy into increasing our members’ involvement in our activities and events. From fundraisers to educational forums, members are becoming more active and more involved in the meat and potatoes of our work. It is always a great experience for us to meet members who were previously only a name on our rolls, and we appreciate any and all help that people can give. If you are a member, or even if you are not, and you have an hour, a day or a weekend to help out, contact any member of the Board, or contact me at info@cavendishcca.org, and we will find a task for you!
The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association is a membership organization open to all individuals who are concerned with the welfare of the Cavendish community. Dues are a nominal $35 per year for full membership.
In order to join CCCA, please fill out the information below and send with a check payable to Cavendish Community and Conservation Association to:
Deborah Harrison O’Brien
c/o: P.O. Box 605
Cavendish, VT 05142
Name_________________________
Address_______________________
______________________________
Telephone______________________
E-mail_________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Fall 2008 Newsletter
Volume No. 5, Issue No. 4
A Message from Robin
Winter is almost here again and we hope that everyone is adjusting to the fast-coming cold. This is a time of accelerated change, and while it may be a time of hardship it is also a time of opportunity. This Newsletter covers many of the ventures to which we have given our energies during the year 2008. It was a year of deepening commitment to many of the projects that we started in 2007 – Historic Barns Preservation and the Cavendish Community Fund, as well as new projects such as the Community Garden.
My favorite project has always been the Community Calendar. From the beginning I felt that the calendar supported a growing awareness of our environment, which is the very foundation of conservation. The act of taking photographs of our historic and natural environment engenders appreciation. If we delight in the view of an open field and look out across the same field at dawn to see deer grazing in the rising mist – if we hunt and see the young buck in the woods that our father, and perhaps our grandfather once walked in – if we love the changing leaves and the starry sky, unpolluted by external lighting – if we can still look out over a field of native corn or squash, or see the harvesting of a forest for its trees – if we marvel at the old stone walls; all these things and more are part of the foundations of conservation. We value our environment. This does not mean that we are against development; it means that we are in favor of wise development. There are many new, exciting “green” models for development that are springing up all over the country. Many models are for building in such a way that safeguards our heritage and quality of life, keeping historic sites, woodland and agricultural or wildlife habitat intact.
This year was the first year of the Cavendish Community Calendar Contest! And it was a great success with over 25 entries. The judge’s choice photos are currently hanging on display in the Cavendish Town Offices. The photos in the calendar were selected by community vote. Twenty Mile Stream Road in summer, Knapp Pond, a quarry wall, a sunflower or snow on an old apple tree, community members took out their cameras and captured what they loved and chose to share with us all. If you have not already seen the 2009 calendar, check it out! It is for sale at the Town Offices and at Crow’s Bakery. And if you have a camera, please take pictures for next year’s contest. Remember, the best quality photos give the best result. All photos must be in horizontal outlay. Digital photos should be copied to their own disc or keep a copy of your negative. And don’t hesitate to call or see me with your questions.
Robin Timko, Chair
How Our Garden Grows
A Future CCCA Garden
The first season of the Cavendish Town Community Garden has been deemed a success. The garden had approximately six full time volunteers that helped plant, weed and gather produce, including potatoes, beans, tomatoes, broccoli, squash and basil. Beneficiaries of the bountiful produce included members of the Gethsemane Episcopal Church and the Cavendish Town Elementary School lunch program, which received over one hundred fresh tomatoes. At the end of the season the gardeners gathered for a Harvest Pot Luck Picnic by the garden, which turned out to be a fitting culmination of the all the hard work contributed to the cause.
Next year the organizers would like to attract more volunteers. They plan to provide seeds and space and advice for "Grow a Row", which will benefit CTES. Also, they plan to dedicate a portion of the garden as a pumpkin patch for local children to help plant and harvest.
The organizers particularly want to thank the Gethsemane Episcopal Church for the use of their land and their support for this community project.
.
The Event of the Summer!
The Playbill
The 2008 Cavendish Community Theater season was an abbreviated two night affair; but what a fabulous two nights it was! The Cavendish Inn barn was packed – SRO – and people were turned away on both nights. The truly original play, based wholly on the history of Cavendish, was acted by a company of local residents who made up for their lack of experience with a barn full of enthusiasm. And the audience appreciated their efforts lustily.
Tim and Peter Jefferson, ever the elegant hosts, provided a light dinner for those wanting a dinner theater experience, and presented their old barn in its best light. The Cavendish Community Fund, now in its second year of funding local events, proudly provided the necessary financing for the play.
Entitled “The Cavendish Chronicles of Town and the River”, the play was written by the cast, guided by Director Lauryn Axelrod, Director of Education and Resident Dramaturgist at the Weston Playhouse in Weston. It was produced by Bridget Leicester and the musical score was composed and directed by Diane McNamara.
Narrated by Lu Choiniere, Act I told of the early settlers, legends of the valley, and the first towns of Duttonsville and Proctorsville. The local mills took center stage since they formed such a huge part of Cavendish history, and the 1927 flood loomed large as a pivotal point in so many lives. Act II took us through the depression, the war, and the end of the mills as an economic base. With a nod to famous resident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the play took us to the present.
Since this was the second summer session for Community Theater in Cavendish, there is every hope that we will see a third event in the future.
Button-Up Vermont Holds Energy Saving Workshop
On October 6th, Cavendish citizens were treated to one of the first workshops in a series of over a hundred planned for Vermont. “Button-Up Vermont” was produced by Central Vermont Community Action Council with funding from the Vermont Agency of Human Services in partnership with Efficiency Vermont and the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network. The session was really an information-filled presentation on conserving energy through better weatherization and improving home efficiency. The workshop goal was to convey information on how a home losses heat; on some of the more cost-effective solutions for saving energy; on energy saving do-it-yourself projects; on health and safety issues with improving efficiency; and on available technical and financial resources.
The discussion focused on debunking four myths and providing facts and solutions to related problems. First was the myth that you should not turn down the thermostat because it takes more energy to bring it up. This is a false conclusion since heat loss increases with temperature difference and bringing the home back to temperature takes less energy that maintaining a higher temperature.
The second myth was that the “off” button turns products “off”. Modern appliances and products consume energy even after being turned off. If it has a transformer it uses energy all the time. Unplug it to turn it off.
Another myth debunked was that adding attic insulation is the most cost effective method to stop heat loss. The problem is that loose or fiberglass insulation doesn’t stop air flow either through or around it. The most cost effective way to stop heat loss is to seal the house – stop the air flow.
Finally, it is also a myth that replacing windows is a good investment for saving energy. Most windows can be effectively sealed for much less cost than buying new. Added energy savings from improved glass is much less than most people assume.
For more information on energy savings and related matters, and for a list of workshops that you can attend, go to www.efficiencyvermont.com and click on “Button-Up Vermont”.
CCCA Holds Legislative Candidates Night
Continuing a tradition begun in 2006, the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association held a Candidates’ Night at the Cavendish Town Elementary School on October 28. Both candidates for State Representative from Cavendish and Weathersfield (incumbent Democrat Ernie Shand and Republican challenger Ed Williams) attended, as did three of the seven candidates for State Senate from Windsor County (incumbent Democrats Alice Nitka and Dick McCormack and Independent challenger Mark Blanchard). Former Sen. Will Hunter served as moderator.
Topics of discussion included criminal justice, particularly the legislative changes proposed in the aftermath of the sexual assault and murder of a 13-year-old girl in Randolph this summer. While some candidates said they were in favor of a law imposing a mandatory minimum sentence, all spoke of the need to legislate carefully in this area. Sen. Nitka, who as a member of the Judiciary Committee participated in hearings around the state this summer on the topic, spoke of the difficulty that many child witnesses have in describing what may have been done to them. Long mandatory sentences will result in more cases going to trial, rather than being resolved by plea agreement. If children are not able to testify effectively, the result may be more acquittals, she pointed out.
The Entergy nuclear power plant in Vermont and Vermont's energy future was also discussed at length. Challenger Williams favored relicensing the plant, but perhaps for a period of less than the 20 years that has been proposed. Rep. Shand said he was awaiting the report of a special committee established by the Legislature, and would not favor continuing the plant in operation after the current license expires in 2012 if the plant cannot be shown to be reliable. He also noted that Entergy has not put aside sufficient money to pay for the decommissioning of the plant. All speakers favored having the State do more to harness the power of the sun and wind in meeting future energy needs.
The discussion was filmed by LPCTV and shown several times before the election. CCCA plans to sponsor future discussions of current political issues, and will hold a review of budgets and candidates prior to the March 2009 Town Meeting.
Cavendish Community Fund News
The Cavendish Community Fund is off to a running start in this, its second year. Applications for fall 2008 grants were received by the Fund before the November 1st deadline and were under consideration by the selection board as of the time this Newsletter was being written and compiled. The selection board consists of three prestigious local residents, Dr. Eugene Bont, Gloria Leven, and Rolf van Schaik. The CCF is sponsored by and is operated as a committee of the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association. It is chaired by Barbara Dickey.
For more information about CCF please call Peter J. LaBelle at 226-7250, or Barbara Dickey at 226-7187.
Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Board of Directors
Robin Timko
Deborah Harrison O’Brien
Will Hunter
Tim Jefferson
Barbara Dickey
Peter LaBelle
Jennifer Stowell
Sandra Russo
CCCA Historic Barn Preservation Committee Joins with Vermont Dept. of Historic Preservation
Regier Barn on Quarry Road
The State of Vermont has asked all towns to conduct a survey of their agricultural barns. To encourage volunteers to help, the state has held several workshops about the history and architectural features of our barns. Peter LaBelle attended one in Tunbridge this summer and Barbara Dickey attended one in Cornwall early this fall. Both Peter and Barbara have been active the past year photographing and documenting all the barns in Cavendish so we knew that most of our survey work was already done. The State asked for more information about the condition and history of the barns than we had, so we are now revisiting each barn to collect more information. If anyone would like to help us, we welcome volunteers. The work is not difficult and participation brings its own rewards: better understanding of the history of Cavendish, and expert knowledge of the back highways and byways of our town.
In addition to expanding our census information for our own use and for the State, we have also worked with historic barn owners, Alan and Wendy Regier, who submitted a proposal to the Vermont Department of Historic Preservation for funds to aid in the restoration of their 200 year old English three-bay barn. Please call 226-7187 for more information or to volunteer!
The CCCA Mission Statement
The CCCA is 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. Its commitment is to promote understanding and learning that engages and benefits all members of the Cavendish/ Proctorsville community, now and in the future.
Follow-up on Our Internet Survey: Are You Still Stuck With Dial-Up Technology?
We have been talking with TDS and Comcast about the potential for expanding internet access in the less served areas of Cavendish. TDS has told us that they expect to provide DSL to all of Cavendish within the next two years. (Please note that they told us this last spring.) Comcast is currently analyzing the town to determine where they might expand cable service, which would, of course carry high speed internet service as well.
So far we have gathered the names and addresses of approximately 35 people who would like to have DSL or cable internet service, but who are still stuck with dial up technology. If you are one of those unfortunate few, and you have not yet responded, please e-mail Sandra Russo (sandra.russo@yahoo.com) with your name and Vermont house address. Comcast is using the list of names we provide them to determine their next move, so it is important that we have an accurate list.
The 2009 Cavendish Community Calendar is for Sale
CCCA has the new 2009 Cavendish Community Calendars for sale. These are the pictures taken by your friends and neighbors and include the community’s selection of the best photos submitted to the first Annual Calendar Photo Contest. The scenes are a wonderful collection of Cavendish views and the calendars will make great gifts for family and friends, near and far. Give everyone a reminder this holiday season of what they are missing by not living in Cavendish. Or remind them of why they enjoy living here if they do! Calendars are for sale at the Cavendish Town Offices on High Street in Cavendish, or at Crow’s Bakery and Opera House Café on Depot Street in Proctorsville. For further information on the calendars, or on next year’s calendar photo contest call Robin Timko at 802-226-7736.
CCCA Membership Report and Joining CCCA
By Deb O’Brien, Membership Chair
Over the last couple of months, the CCCA Membership committee has been putting much energy into increasing our members’ involvement in our activities and events. From fundraisers to educational forums, members are becoming more active and more involved in the meat and potatoes of our work. It is always a great experience for us to meet members who were previously only a name on our rolls, and we appreciate any and all help that people can give. If you are a member, or even if you are not, and you have an hour, a day or a weekend to help out, contact any member of the Board, or contact me at info@cavendishcca.org, and we will find a task for you!
The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association is a membership organization open to all individuals who are concerned with the welfare of the Cavendish community. Dues are a nominal $35 per year for full membership.
In order to join CCCA, please fill out the information below and send with a check payable to Cavendish Community and Conservation Association to:
Deborah Harrison O’Brien
c/o: P.O. Box 605
Cavendish, VT 05142
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