Cavendish Update 3/5/10 Town Mtg/Voting Results

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 3/5/10Cavendish Update Contains
1. Town Meeting/Voting Results
2. Cavendish Business Directory 2010 Edition
3. Classifieds (free stuff)
4. Cavendish Events March 5-11
5. Free Tax Help Available for Those 60+
6. Cavendish Library March Artist Robin DeCormier Timko

1. Town Meeting/Voting Results
Before the start of Town Meeting, Senator Alice Nitka and State Representative Ernie Shand addressed the audience about the various issues before the legislature this year. Some of the items on this year’s agenda include:

• Merger of school districts to reduce the number of supervisory unions Note: The following bills call for consolidation-H.0038; H.0288 (reduces school districts to between 1-12); H.0301 (reduce supervisory unions to 10); S.0008 and S.0252 (no more than 16 supervisory unions) Bill status can be tracked by going to http://www.leg.state.vt.us/

• No texting while driving; no cell phone use while driving

Articles Passed: See pages 8 and 9 of the Town Report for additional information
• Article 2 (acceptance of 2009 Town Report)
• Article 3 (Collection of all taxes on Real and Personal Property)
• Article 7 (Budget surplus of $782 to be used towards FY 2010-2011 Selectmen’s Budget)
• Article 8 (adoption of the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget)
• Article 9 (transaction of other business)

Articles Modified: Article 5 was amended to exempt the Black River Health Center, Inc from all taxes on real and personal property to one year versus the five years requested.

Article Postponed Indefinitely
• Article 4: Approval of a town-wide appraisal update. There were several areas where clarification was needed. See page 41 of the Town Report for more information about the need for an updated appraisal.
• Article 6: Requirement for a town vote prior to the sale of legacy or historical assets of the town. The language was found to be vague and have implications beyond the intention of the Article. This was written because of the potential sale of the Indian books, which are owned by the Cavendish Library.

Between the Town and School Meetings, town recognition awards were given to Carmine Guica and Rolf van Schaik. This year marks the 25th anniversary for Rolf as town and school moderator. It also marks his last year he is serving in this capacity. Per the March 2 election results, Will Hunter will be the new moderator.

All Cavendish School Articles passed (page 81 of the Town Plan)

Australian Ballot-Held March 2: Of 1,001 legal Cavendish voters, 235 (23%) of them voted, with the results as follows:

• GMUHS Budget: By a 607-353 vote, residents of Chester, Cavendish and Andover approved a Green Mountain Union High School budget of $5,592,230. That's an increase of $84,157, or 1.5 percent from the current budget of $5,508,073. [Source: Rutland Herald 3/3/10]

• River Valley Technical Center: Passed budget of $2,981,430, an increase of $12,408 over the current amount of $2,969,022. [Source: Rutland Herald 3/3/10]

• Cavendish Elementary School: Passed a budget of $1,779,020 by a margin of 147 to 87

• Elections: All candidates that appeared on the ballot were elected.

• Ludlow Armory: Voting was only done in Ludlow, but the building will house organizations that serve Cavendish. By a 269-188 vote, residents of Ludlow approved a $1.2 million bond to renovate the armory and the adjacent tank barn building, which will house Black River Good Neighbor Services and LPCTV. Voters also approved a companion article of $111,469 to operate and maintain the buildings, by a vote of 277-178. [Source: Rutland Herald 3/3/10]

2. Cavendish Business Directory 2010 Edition
The Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) is in the process of updating the Cavendish Business Directory. If you are a new business, or were missed in the previous edition, and would like to be included in the 2010 edition, send information to margoc@tds.net or call 226-7807.

3. Classifieds
Free: Large desk, electric organ (Baldwin), and old hymnals. Contact Shannon 226-8107 or e-mail SDevereux@vitlink.org

4. Cavendish Events March 5-11
March 5 (Friday): Six Loose Ladies is sponsoring a Free Charity Knits Group on the first Friday of every month between 10:30 and 12:30 in Proctorsville. We are using donated yarn to complete simple projects from “A Charity Guide for Knitters” by Debbie Macomber. Patterns include projects for Mariner's Christmas at Sea (acrylic scarf & hat); Operation Helmet Liner (black & dark grey wool) and infant pullover.

March 6 (Saturday): NO SALES TAX DAY. Save 6% Sales tax on all items purchased up to $2,000.
• Green Mountain Festival Series featuring former Cavendish resident Ignat Solzhenitsyn, 7:30 pm at GMUHS . FMI 875-4473 or www.greenmountainfestivalseries.com

March 8 (Monday): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Town Office. These meetings are televised on LPCTV. To check for airing times, or to watch the meetings on-line, go to www.lpctv.org.

March 9 (Tuesday): Cavendish Elementary School Board Meeting. FMI: 226-7758

March 10 (Wednesday): Gethsemane Free Adult Charity Crafts Workshop, Gethsemane Parish Hall on Depot Street in Proctorsville, 10-12. The goal is to share the fellowship and joy of making something to donate to people in need. Bring your ideas, patterns and projects to share. Coffee, tea and goodies will be available at no cost. FMI: 226-7967
• Okemo Valley Chamber mixer at Hawk Inn and Mountain Resort, Plymouth VT. Constant Contact training., 5:30-7:30 pm. FMI: 228-5830

March 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

5. Free Tax Help Available for Those 60+
Free tax help is available for those 60 and older via AARP-Tax-Aide. This service includes Federal and Vermont Tax filing. Most forms are e filed at no charge. Tax assistance is available at the following locations:

• Newsbank in Chester until April 15. Call Jean Lindman at 824-5294

• Springfield Public Library on limited Wednesday evenings from 5-6 pm until April 15. Appointments can be made by visiting or calling the library at 885-3108

• Weston Library on March 5 and 9 from 9-12. Appointments required. Call Jean Lindman at 824-5294

• Ludlow Fletcher Memorial Library on Thursday from 10-2. Appointments required.

6. Cavendish Library March Artist Robin DeCormier Timko
Robin is a long time activist and resident of Proctorsville who studies art at the New School for Social Research under Benny Andrews, took classes with her uncle John Dobbs and spent one year at the Portland Museum Art School in Oregon. She has been painting and drawing all of her life.

This particular collection of Robin’s work has been termed “Collateral Damage”. Collateral Damage is a saying used by the armed forces of incidental damage or injury to persons or objects not considered enemy targets.

“In my perception,” Robin says, “wars are primarily fought for control of natural resources. This collection of pastel paintings is an expressionon this theme… I broaden the meaning of the word to include animals suchas the Northeastern Elk which once inhabited our forests here in New England and was over hunted for their meat by early settlers from Europe. Our natural habitat, our waters and the earth are all suffering “Collateral Damage” from our addicted consumption of energy and its resultant pollution, so I have included examples of victims such as the polar bear and the beluga, both threatened with extinction as well…(and) the painting of the earth itself, and image seen in my dreams.”

Robin’s work may be seen in the Redfield Proctor Room of the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library during normal operating hours in March.