Cavendish Update 3/1/11 Town Meeting/Women/Events

This issue of the Cavendish Update is made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society blog

The 3/1/11 Cavendish Update Contains the Following:
1. Town Meeting
2. Soil Save Composters Available from SWCSWMD
3. Mardi Gras Fundraiser
4. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: Women in Cavendish History
5. March Cavendish Calendar

1. Town Meeting
School: All articles, as appearing on page 81 of the Town Report, passed. Voting on the school budget takes place March 1, 10-7 at CTES in Proctorsville.

There was discussion about the fact that the Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) was one of a minority of schools in Vermont that met the 2% reduction that was part of Governor Douglas’s “Challenge for Change.” With Governor Schumlin now in office, this requirement has been eased considerably, since many schools said they had already made significant cuts and could not meet the Challenge. The question was raised whether Cavendish may be again asked to make cuts in the budget in the coming year.

David Adams, school superintendent, explained that Cavendish being a small school has a declining enrollment (down to 108 from 110 in the previous year, with four of the current students being teachers’ children, who do not live in the district). This means that while the budget has gone down from last year, our per pupil cost has actually risen. Ultimately, he thinks it will help us in future years. As School Board member Sharon Huntley noted, if additional cuts are mandated by the state, the board would do what many other schools did this year saying we can’t make any further cuts.

CTES was able to achieve their reduction in budget by level funding teachers, whose contract called for a 4% raise.

Town: Of the seven articles presented for town vote, four were passed as written (pages 8 and 9 of Town Report)-Article 2 (Acceptance of Town Report); Article 3 (Tax collection); Article 4 (Purchase a 43 acre tract of land to be used for gravel and sand for town highway purposes) and Article 7 (Adopt the FY 2011-2012 Budget).

There was considerable discussion about Article 4, the purchase of land for sand and gravel extraction. A motion to table this article was defeated after a lengthy discussion. Concerns were raised about wildlife impact as well as whether sufficient testing had been done to merit the purchase of the property. Rolf van Schaik noted that 10 test holes of six feet deep in an acre of land was not really sufficient to tell the extent of sand and gravel available from this site. Further, he said that we need to carefully examine the costs of extraction as well as returning the land to full use after extraction was completed. The hope is that this parcel of land will allow the town to have its own source of gravel and sand and eliminate the need to rely on outside sources, which are both costly and require hauling.

Article 5 asked to exempt the Black River Health Center, Inc (BRHC), a 501 © 3 non profit from paying taxes on the Health Center building in Cavendish for the next three years. This article was added by petition, as the Select Board had voted it down, by a vote of 2 to 3 when preparing the Town Warning. The concern revolves around the taxes of $4,800. If BRHC is given tax-exempt status, the taxpayers still need to come up with the $4,800. If the building belonged to the town, it would be tax-exempt. What is not known is if BRHC turned the building over to the town, who then leases it back to BRHC for health and human services use, would BRHC still be required to pay taxes on the building? Ultimately, the town voted a tax exemption of one year and is requiring BRHC to meet with the Select Board before September 2011 to discuss the various issues and by December 2011 to have a plan in place for dealing with identified tax concerns.

Article 6 concerned the use of a town surplus realized from FY 2009-2010. Sub item a) requested that $1,250 to be used to professionally restore and preserve the town’s 1761 Charter. Rich Svec, town manager said that the town had received a donation, which has already been deposited, to cover the cost of the restoration. He made a motion to use these funds to install a new sign on the Cavendish/Weathersfield line, which will cost between $800-$1,000, and to use the balance for activities pertaining to the 250th Anniversary of the chartering of the town. The motion passed

Sub item b) calls for $9,948 to be used to offset the amount needed to be raised by taxes for the FY 2011-2012 Selectmen’s Budget. Rolf van Schaik made a motion that $5,834 be used to add one weeks pay to town workers and the balance to be used to offset taxes. Van Schaik thought it was important to reward our workforce that does such an incredible job. The motion passed.

Under other business, various members of the audience expressed concern that the Pledge of Allegiance was not said at the start of Town Meeting, which is the normal and customary practice. Instead, Town Moderator Will Hunter asked people to rise and sign “God Bless America.” A motion was made and passed that in the future, all Town Meetings will begin with the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

The Town Meeting was taped by LPC-TV and will air on Comcast Channels 8 and 10 and will be posted on the LPC website.

2. Soil Save Composters Available from SWCSWMD
The Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District is selling "Soil Saver" composters ($45), recycling bins ($7), and kitchen pails ($8) for collecting food scraps. For more information and the order form, go to the SWCSWMD website. Deadline for submitting orders is Friday, March 25, 2011. Pickup will be at the Cavendish Transfer Station on Saturday April 30.

3. Mardi Gras Fundraiser
This coming Saturday is the CCCA Mardi Gras fundraiser featuring the Cajun band Yankee Chank. While dancing is a great deal of fun, and instruction will be provided, you can also just sit, watch, enjoy a class of wine, and sample the delicious Cajun Buffet. Festivities will commence at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 5th and will be held at Crow’s Bakery and Opera House Café on Depot Street in Proctorsville. A raffle will feature three prizes: a Getaway Vacation with spending gift certificate as grand prize, a Crow’s Bakery Pie-of-the-Month (that’s a pie every month for twelve months) as second prize, and a Wine and Vermont Cheese Basket as third prize. Raffle tickets are on sale now at the bakery and from any CCCA board member. The drawing will be held at the celebration. Tickets are limited, so please get yours early. Call (802) 226-7736.

4. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: Women in Cavendish History
These posts are made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society and are archived at their blog.

As March is National Women’s History Month, we will be focusing on women’s contribution to Cavendish’s History. This post recognizes four women who have provided Cavendish with much of our written history.

Mary Churchill spent a year documenting who was buried in the cemeteries of the town of Cavendish. She was assisted in this effort by Harold Lawrence, Mrs. Thurston Owens, Mrs. Francis Ward and her son Dan Churchill. The resulting booklet, Cemeteries of Cavendish: 1776-1976 Bicentennial Project, is still used by many to locate their ancestor’s graves.

Sandra Stearns wrote Cavendish Hillside Farm 1939-1957 so that her grandchildren would know what life was like at one time in Cavendish. Called the Laura Ingalls Wilder of Cavendish, Stearns wrote, “During my growing up years on the farm I lived things that my children and grandchildren cannot even begin to imagine. Life was hard, conveniences were few and far between, but I was happy being outdoors and around animals. I appreciated school and church for they were my major chances to get away from the work and solitude. I was blessed to live and see and do so many things the old fashioned way! “

Barbara Kingsbury has written a comprehensive history of Cavendish, while at the same time telling the story of her husband’s family. In developing “Chubb Hill Farm and Cavendish, Vermont : A Family and Town History 1876-1960 (updated in 1994), Kingsbury spent countless hours reading town reports, family diaries as well as interviewing many residents. This is a very unique town history, which will be of interest for many generations to come.

Linda Welch, a descendant of the Farr family and CHS genealogist, continues to research and document Cavendish genealogy. To date she has written four volumes in the Families of Cavendish series.

• Volume I, 2nd Edition: Includes families Adams, Baldwin, Coffeen, Dutton, Fletcher, Gilbert, Lowell, Proctor, Russell, Spafford & Wheelock
• Volume II: Includes families Hall, Parker (Abraham, James & Thomas), Pollard, Skinner & Spaulding
• Volume III: Includes families Adams, Blood, Burbank, French, Gammon and Giddings
• Volume IV: Atherton, Bemis, Heald, and Ordway

We are grateful to these four women who have made such a significant contribution in the understanding of our history. All of the books listed, with the exception of Volume IV of Linda Welch’s are available from CHS. FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net

5. March Cavendish Calendar
March 1 (Tuesday): Voting takes place from 10-7 at the Cavendish Town Elementary School in Proctorsville.
• 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

March 2 (Wednesday): Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office

March 3 (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

March 4 (Friday): Cavendish Town Meeting will be aired today on LPC-TV. Check website for time.
• Due to last week’s snowstorm, the Cavendish Black & White Nights film series rescheduled the film “All About Eve” for this evening, 7 pm at the Cavendish Elementary School in Proctorsville. Donations are welcome and homemade cookies are available.

March 5 (Saturday): Mardi Gras Benefit for CCCA at Crows Corner Bakery and Café.. Call Robin at 226-7736 to see if there are still tickets available.

March 8 (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
• Cavendish Town Meeting will be aired today on LPC-TV. Check website for time.

March 9 (Wednesday): Okemo Valley Chamber Mixer, 5:30-7:30 pm at Endless Creations Pottery Studio, 442 Elm Street, Chester. FMI: 228-5830

March 10 (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

March 12 (Saturday): Open house at Black River Good Neighbor’s new location 37 B Main Street, 11 pm Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. See Article
• Needle Felted Pin or Magnet workshop at Six Loose Ladies on the Proctorsville Green, 2-4 pm. Instructor Jen Leak. Ages 10 and up. FMI

March 14 (Monday): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm. This event is taped by LPC-TV www.lpctv.org and can be watched on Comcast cable channels or at the website.

March 15 (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

March 17 (Thursday): Top of the Morning to ya! Happy St. Patrick’s Day
• 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

March 19 (Saturday): The Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission in conjunction with the Energy Committees of Springfield, Windsor, West Windsor, and Weathersfield are hosting a Home Energy Expo: a free, energy-efficiency event for area families, home and farm owners, and businesses, to learn more about programs and products that will reduce consumption, decrease energy costs, and improve the community. 9-3 pm at the River Valley Technical Center in Springfield. FMI: 802-674-9201
• Benefit for the McCostis Scholarship Fund (MSF) at Killarney’s 6-10 pm. Free admission, live band BMG, raffle, silent auction and more. MSF provides snow scholarships for area youth, including Cavendish. FMI: 226-7807 or www.mcsostisscholarshipfund.blogspot.com
• Punch Needle workshop, 1-3 pm, with Sandy Gregg at Six Loose Ladies on the Proctorsville Green. FMI: 226-7373
• Lace Knitting, 1-4 (2 part class) with Jocelyn Banzaia at Six Loose Ladies on the Proctorsville Green. FMI:226-7373

March 22 (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

March 24 (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

March 25 (Friday): Last day to order “soil saver” composters, recycling bins and kitchen pails for collecting food scraps from the Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District. FMI: http://www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org/portal/

March 26 (Saturday): Lace Knitting, 1-4 (2 part class) with Jocelyn Banzaia at Six Loose Ladies on the Proctorsville Green. FMI: 226-7373

March 27 (Sunday): Introduction to Knitting from 1-3:30 pm at Six Loose Ladies on the Proctorsville Green. This is a free class. Bring your own needles and yarn or purchase at the shop. FMI: 226-7373

March 29 (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

March 31 (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