Cavendish Update 1/9/09 Events/News

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 1/9/09 Cavendish Update Contains
1. Notice
2. Local Foods: Beef for sale
3. Black and White Film Series Returns
4. 21 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle
5. Catalytic converter thefts on the rise
6. Homeowners can save by cutting state firewood

1. Notice
The Cavendish Update is e-mailed and posted to the website on Friday. Items, such as agendas for Select Board Meeting and Water Board Meetings, received after the posting, will appear on www.cavendishvt.blogspot.com

2. Local Foods: Beef for Sale
Moonlite Meadows in Cavendish has locally grown, grass fed beef for sale: ground, stew meat and 1/4 share. FMI: 226-8077

3. Black and White Film Series Returns
After two seasons of trying to show “Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” only to be “snowed out,” the much anticipated Cavendish Black and White Film Series is back, with the first film starring Humphrey Bogart. All films begin at 7:00 pm on Friday from January 30 to March 6. The films are free and will be shown at the Cavendish Elementary School in Cavendish. The 2009 schedule will be as follows:
January 30: Treasure of the Sierra Madre
February 6: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
February 13: The Hustler
February 20: The Grapes of Wrath
February 27: On The Waterfront
March 6: King Kong (the original)

4. 21 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle
1. Appliances: www.recycle-steel.org
2. Batteries: www.batteryrecycling.com
3. Cardboard Boxes: www.usedcardboardboxes.com
4. CDs/DVDs/Game Disks: www.auraltech.com or greendisk.com
5. Clothes: www.dressforsuccess.org
6. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs: www.ikea.com or at the Transfer Station
7. Compostable Bio-Plastics: www.findacomposter.com
8. Computers and Electronics: www.ban.org/pledge/Locations.html
9. Exercise Videos: www.videofitness.com
10. Eyeglasses: Local Lion's Club or eye care chain
11. Foam Packing: www.epspackaging.org/info.html
12. Ink/Toner Cartridges: www.recycleplace.com or 6th grade class at Cavendish Elementary School. FMI: 226-7758
13. Miscellaneous: _www.freecycle.org
www.craigslist.org_
www.throwplace.com_
www.ireuse.com
14. Oil: www.recycleoil.org
15. Phones: _www.collectivegood.com _www.donateaphone.com _www.reclamere.com
16. Sports Equipment: www.playitagainsports.com
17. "Technotrash": www.greendisk.com
18. Tennis Shoes: _www.nikereuseashoe.com _www.oneworldrunning.com
19. Toothbrushes and Razors: www.recycline.com
20. Tyvek Envelopes: _For quantities less than 25, send them to: _Shirley Cimburke, Tyvek Recycling Specialist _5401 Jefferson Davis Hwy. _Spot 197, Room 231 _Richmond, VA 2324 For quantities larger than 25, call 866-33-TYVEK
21. Stuff You Just Can't Recycle: When practical, send such items back to the manufacturer and tell them they need to manufacture products that close the waste loop responsibly.

5. Catalytic converter thefts on the rise
Rutland Herald, 1/3/09 by Josh O’Gorman
SPRINGFIELD — Police are investigating the theft of auto parts in the Connecticut River Valley.

Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston said between eight and 10 catalytic converters have been stolen from parked vehicles during the past few months.

Johnston said the thefts were not confined to Springfield. Residents in other towns have also been struck by the thefts, he said.

"I guess there's materials that can be sold for salvage," Johnston said.

A catalytic converter limits the toxicity of automobile emissions. While the parts are typically made of stainless steel, they also contain a small amount of the precious metal platinum, which closed at $911 an ounce Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The value of platinum has dropped this year, from a high of $2,254 an ounce earlier this year.

Johnston said it does not appear vehicles have been targeted by where they are located, nor by the vehicles' make or model. Johnston did not have an estimate for how much money the thefts have cost the auto owners, but replacement parts retail between $63 for a late-model Toyota to $263 for a Dodge Stratus.

It appears the thief or thieves are well-equipped to steal the catalytic converters, which are located beneath the body of the vehicle, Johnston said.

"My understanding is they have a tool that will cut the part out pretty quickly," he said.

Catalytic converter thefts in the state are not confined to the Connecticut River Valley, said State Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Tara Thomas.

"It's actually a statewide problem," Thomas said. "It goes in spurts, where it's quiet for a while and then there will be a bunch all at once."

Like Johnston, Thomas said it does not appear vehicles are targeted by either location or make and model.

"The parts are worth a lot and I don't know if this has to do with the drug rings taking the parts and selling them to get money to buy drugs or not," Thomas said.

There have been numerous reports this year surrounding theft of catalytic converters. Earlier this month, two catalytic converters were stolen from parked vehicles on Depot Street in Proctorsville. In August, several of the parts were stolen from R. Brown & Sins Inc. in Pittsford. Between March and April, nine catalytic converters were stolen from White River Toyota in White River Junction.

Chief Johnston asked anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity to call Springfield Police at 885-2112.

6. Homeowners can save by cutting state firewood
Rutland Herald 1/6/09 by Josh O'Gorman
WATERBURY — Homeowners looking to save money on their fuel bills are invited to sign up to cut their own wood on state forest land in the Rutland and Springfield areas.

The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has given residents until Feb. 6 to sign up for one of 80 wood lots in the area. Each lot contains about 3 cords of wood, and for $30 residents can come and cut it and take it home.

The program has been in place since the 1970s, and Gov. James Douglas highlighted the program during the Food and Fuel Partnership, a taskforce dedicating to dealing with rising fuel costs.

"While the price of gasoline and heating fuel may have temporarily declined, other costs of living continue to climb," Douglas said in a statement. "We know that there is no one cause of this economic downturn and there is no one solution. Programs like Wood Warms are great steps to help Vermonters control their heating costs and break their dependence on foreign oil."

Officials have seen an increased demand for the program and expect that increase to continue.

"We've been doing this since the '70s, but there was never a lot of interest until the cost of fuel oil ballooned last summer," said Paul Frederick, wood utilization forester for the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

Under the program, forest officials mark trees with paint to designate them for cutting. The trees are chosen for removal to encourage the overall health of the forest.

"It's like weeding a garden," Frederick said. "You want to pull out all the junk, all the trees that are malformed so the healthy trees can thrive."

Tree species marked for removal include ash, beech, birch and sugar maple because "we try to maintain a diverse forest and don't want to pick on a specific species," Frederick said.

After signing up, residents are assigned a lot containing approximately 3 cords of wood. The lot will be no further than 100-200 yards from the road, which is convenient because vehicles such as skidders, all-terrain vehicles and tractors are not allowed.

Another condition dictates the wood is for personal use only and cannot be sold commercially.

"We haven't been too worried about that in the past," Frederick said. "These are guys with pickups and chainsaws. It's not a big operation."

Forest officials are urging people to brush up on their chainsaw safety. Safety tips are available at www.vtfpr.org.

There are 45 lots scattered throughout the Springfield District, in Bridgewater, Cavendish, Grafton, Ludlow, Plymouth, Rockingham, Sharon, Weathersfield and Weston. The Rutland District contains 35 lots in Castleton and Shrewsbury. In the event demand exceeds supply, officials will hold a lottery, Frederick said.

With most of the lots located on roads that are not plowed during winter, Frederick expects people will not be able to cut wood until June.

To sign up for a lot, call the Springfield District office at 885-8845, or the Rutland District office at 786-0060.