Cavendish Update 12/24/10 Services/News/Volunteers needed

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 12/24/10 Cavendish Update Contains:
1. Christmas Eve Services in Cavendish
2. Cavendish Library Holiday Hours
3. Congratulations to Local Snowboard Competition Winners
4. Mentors Needed for Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES)
5. LPCTV…Beyond Television
6. Cavendish Related News
7. Live Authentically Course
8. Cavendish Events 12/25-12/31

1. Christmas Eve Services in Cavendish
The following services will take place in Cavendish:
• Lessons and Carols Service at 5 pm, Gethsemane Episcopal Church, Depot Street Proctorsville
• Cavendish Baptist Church, 7 pm traditional candle-lighting service retells the story of Jesus' birth through scripture and carols. Safe, battery-powered candles are available for young children.
• Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, 7 pm mass.
• St. James Methodist Church Service 8pm

2. Cavendish Library Holiday Hours
The Cavendish Library will operate as follows during the holiday season:
12/24 and 12/25- Closed
12/27: 10-6
10/28: 9-4:30
12/29 and 12/30: 9-6:30
12/31: 9-2
1/1-Closed

3. Congratulations to Local Snowboard Competition Winners
At Okemo Mountain’s recent “What I learned This Summer Rail Jam,” Lily Calabrese won the Women 16 and over snowboard division, while TJ James won for best trick in the snowboard division. Congratulations to both Proctorsville residents.

4. Mentors Needed for Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES)
CTES is looking for volunteers to mentor children for one hour a week. Mentors meet at the school for games, crafts, conversation, etc. FMI: Ramona Rushford 226-7758.

5. LPCTV…Beyond Television
You may know that LPCTV is a community television station serving the Black River Valley & Okemo region, but did you know that it is not just a TV station? “There are two major parts to LPCTV- viewing and doing”, explains Executive Director Patrick Cody. “And with those two parts there are many, many pieces”. In terms of the “viewing” part to LPCTV, there is cable television and there is its website. In addition to the cable TV channels it operates - 8 and 10 in Ludlow, Plymouth, and Cavendish and Channels 20 and 21 in Mount Holly- LPCTV also offers local programming as “video on demand” through its website, and in 2011 there will be additional video services offered on its site. Cody reports that the LPCTV is working out some details on a plan that would bring live streaming of its TV channels to its website, through a partnership with the e-Vermont Community Broadband project.

In terms of the “doing” part to LPCTV, there are free and low-cost training, equipment, and distribution to those in the local community who want to make a show of their own. “’Don’t just watch TV, make TV’ has been a slogan we’ve used for a long time, but these days it’s about more than just TV”, says Executive Director Patrick Cody. “We’ve embraced the advancements in media and technology to include a lot of other areas in what we offer”, he said. Such offerings include web-based distribution, digital photography, graphic design, and audio production.

LPCTV will be turning 10 years old in 2011 and is planning for a major expansion. The move to the former Ludlow Armory complex will pave the way for LPCTV to provide the space to community members, non profit groups, local businesses, and others to take advantage of many new opportunities, whether for educational or recreational purposes. Cody explains “whether you’re organization needs to get its word out or you’re a resident or taxpayer with something to say, an artist or musician, aspiring filmmaker, we’re here to help. These days the slogan is more like ‘Don’t just view it; do it”. For more information on LPCTV or its building project visit its website or call 228-8808.

6. Cavendish Related News
Shumlin backs off mandatory school cuts: Schools didn't make the cuts and now taxpayers will pay the price. "For those who came to the plate and made the cuts, they'll have a lower property tax rate this year than those who did not. That's how Act 68 works," said Gov.-elect Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont. Lawmakers set a target for schools districts to cut $23 million. Only 14 of 39 supervisory unions met the goal. Shumlin helped pass the plan but says he won't enforce it and instead will use $19 million in federal funds to help bail schools out. …….Gov.-elect Shumlin and Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca hope that schools use this $19 million from Congress very wisely and not only use it for FY12 but FY13. "This one-year bridge does help school districts get closer to meeting those challenges, it gives more time for voluntarily school merger bill Act 153 to take hold so that we can find those efficiencies statewide so that we're not impacting students," Vilaseca said. But Shumlin says there will be no mandate from Montpelier, leaving school spending choices and the consequences on the shoulders of voters. "The more you spend the more you pay, the less you spend the less you pay," Shumlin said. Note CTES has worked to meet the Challenge for Change reduction. WCAX

CVPS to raise rates: Central Vermont Public Service customers will see their rates go up, but not as much as the company wanted. CVPS announced Wednesday that it has reached a deal with the state Public Service Department to raise rates by 7.7 percent-- about a half percentage point less than originally sought. If approved by the Public Service Board, the rate hike will take effect Jan. 1.Average customer will seen their bills rise from $78 to $84 a month. WCAX

Vermont 2010 Census Data: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 308,745,538 people live in the United States as of April 1, 2010. That's an increase of 9.7 percent since 2000. Vermont's new population count is 625,741 people. "We still rank as the second smallest state in the country, behind Wyoming," said Will Sawyer of the Vermont Data Center. "New England overall did not grow very, very substantially between 2000 and 2010." The biggest increases in population happened in the South and West, but our area saw some of the smallest growth. Vermont's population grew 2.8 percent between 2000 and 2010, that's down from 8.2 percent over the previous decade. More detailed census numbers broken down block-by-block will be released in February and March. States, including Vermont, will use those detailed counts to redraw their state legislative districts. WCAX. Com

Vermont to get more heating assistance: About 27,000 of Vermont's needy are slated to receive more home heating assistance. Tuesday, the Senate cleared the way for an additional $10.8 million. Vermont faced the prospect of a 40 percent cut in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP, which helps senior citizens on fixed incomes, families with children and the disabled. So far this year, Vermont has received a total of $14.8 million for LIHEAP, compared to the $25.6 million in regular funding it received last year. WCAX

Vermonters to get refunds from DIRECTV: Satellite television provider DIRECTV will pay refunds to customers as part of a consumer fraud settlement. The Vermont Attorney General's Office has received more than 300 complaints about DIRECTV in the past three years. The AG says the company made attractive offers for service without making clear that subscribers would have to extend their contracts to get the deals. For information about filing for a refund from DIRECTV, contact the Vermont Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program at: 802-656-3183 or toll free in Vermont at 800-649-2424, or by e-mail at consumer@uvm.edu. A copy of the form to request a refund is also available at the Attorney General's consumer website.

7. Live Authentically Course
Cavendish resident Martha Mott will be teaching the Live Authentically course at the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library on Saturday mornings from 9:00 - 12:00 beginning January 8, 2011 and ending March 19, 2011. Live Authentically is a playful course that is designed to help you to discover your inner potential and to gain insight into the big questions in life such as “Who am I? What am I here to do? What’s stopping me?” and “How can I create the life I want?” Creativity in the classroom is inspired by using humor, games, collage, journaling, and more as we explore topics that include communication, personality, values, strengths, time, stress, money, life purpose, and goals. You will complete the course with a new awareness of who you are, intention statements of what you intend to do and be, and an action plan designed to implement your new vision of yourself. The program will be set up with guidelines that encourage personal growth and wellness in a safe and confidential environment.

The fee is $300 (that's only $10 an hour). To register, please contact Martha at 226-7848 or at Martha@liveauthentically.org

8. Cavendish Events 12/25-12/31
December 25 (Saturday): Merry Christmas. Post Office Closed

December 26 (Sunday): Cavendish Baptist Church, 10 am service. Now that Christmas is over, how do we apply the ancient biblical story of Jesus to our modern lives? Come to worship and praise God for the past year and to contemplate the direction of your life in the year ahead.

December 28 (Tuesday): Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10:15-11:45. FMI: Linda at Green Mountain RSVP & Volunteer Center of Windsor County at (802) 885-2083, or Anne Oakes or Andrew Ohotnicky at (802)228-5236, or Dot Ramsdell at (802)226-7870

December 30 (Thursday): Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10:15-11:45. FMI: Linda at Green Mountain RSVP & Volunteer Center of Windsor County at (802) 885-2083, or Anne Oakes or Andrew Ohotnicky at (802)228-5236, or Dot Ramsdell at (802)226-7870
• 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

December 31 (Friday): New Year’s Eve. The Post office will be open until noon. Many offices, including libraries are closed.