Cavendish Update 3/18/11 SB Mtg/Events/News/Classifieds

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 3/18/11 Cavendish Update Contains the Following:
1. Select Board Meeting 3/14/11
2. Different Way s to Help Japan
3. State of Vermont Statement on Japanese Nuclear Reactors
4. Cavendish Related News
5. CCF Accepting Applications for Spring 2011 Grants
6. Sugar on Snow Supper
7. Classifieds
8. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: First Female Proctorsville Fire Fighters
9. Cavendish Events 3/18-3/25

1. Select Board Meeting 3/14/11
Select Board meetings are videotaped by LPC-TV and will be shown on Comcast Channels 8 and 10. They are also available at the LPC website.

At Monday’s select board (SB) meeting, in addition to assigning new town positions, as the result of Town Meeting, the board dealt with two issues of concern to residents. The first was the proposed Carlton Road Project (off of RT 131, across from William’s Store in Cavendish) by USA Properties.

At the February SB meeting, town manager, Rich Svec, distributed materials for a proposed 250 unit project, on 75 acres, to be built over a 20 year period, which would include:
- 50 individual homes-4 bedrooms per home;
- 7 multi dwelling structures, which will be 4 stories in height and contain 30 units per building for a total of 210 units. Each unit will have three bedrooms. These buildings would be as high as the Jackson Gore condominiums;
- A recreational area.

As Svec noted, this would increase Cavendish’s “housing stock” by 50%.

Representatives from Holden Engineering (Jason Hill) and USA Properties (Bruce Simpson) were present to provide further details of the project. Hill made the presentation, where he stated that they were at the preliminary stages of the project and were concerned if it would be possible for the town to provide sewer.

The units proposed, housing approximately 600 people, are being designed for recreational use and possibly for retirees.

The board and audience were quick to point out that the project would require a major overhaul of the town’s infra structure, as the town currently does not have the ability to provide the sewer, water or fire suppression required by such a large project. Further, since the bridge is the only way in and out of this site, this could pose a number of problems particularly if there was an emergency. The bridge has been washed out in the past.

Environmental impact was another issue. Are there deer yards, wet lands? What wild life could be harmed with such a project? Even though Hill stated that they had a person from the state at the site to study such issues, many members, who know this area quite well, were not convinced.

While the Holden engineer explained that with the influx of second homeowners there would be an increase of tax revenue and would not add any enrollment in the school. Svec and school board members, Peter Gregg and Jim Ballatine were quick to note that this would not be the case. With Vermont’s unique tax structure, the addition of new housing-Gregg thought it was 50 new houses-increases the year round resident’s taxes. The increase in taxes would not benefit Cavendish’s school, but rather money collected would help “poorer” schools in other towns.

There were also questions about who would purchase these properties. It was noted that current second home owners come for the quiet and rural aspects of Cavendish, and those wanting condos and quick access to skiing go to Ludlow. Further, there is a lot of unsold recreational and residential housing in both Ludlow and Cavendish. There is little indication that people will want second homes any time soon. Again the response to these types of questions was “we are just at the preliminary stages and came tonight to talk about sewage.” Peter Gregg was clear that a business plan would be required.

An agreement was reached whereby USA Properties will pay the town’s engineer to study the proposed site to see what type of connection for sewage would be possible. It is clear that the town’s treatment facility could not begin to accommodate this project, so it would also have to be determined what type of system would work and what would be the associated costs.

After the presenters left, the audience and board continued discussing the proposed project. In addition to being perplexed and concerned about the impact on the town, the comment, “they are saying it’s very preliminary, but it took them two years to get there” seemed to sum things up.

Chapman Street, the area next to the Stone church in Cavendish, was again a hot topic of conversation. At the Feb. SB meeting, by a vote of 3 to 2, Svec was required to write a letter to the state stating that this in fact a Class IV road. Svec read a copy of the letter he drafted for the chair’s signature. Two SB members, Ed Garrow and Bob Glidden, newly elected to the board, voiced opposition to the letter, saying that it was not fair to the home owners to reclassify this as a road, after the 1972 SB had written a letter to the state asking for it to be declassified. The audience chimed in with different points of view but ultimately the chair James Ballentine signed it, as it was a “point of order” carried over from the previous SB meeting.

However, it was noted that at anytime in the coming year a SB member could bring this up again before the board. It was also assumed that the state will most likely turn down the request for certifying this road as Class IV.

2. Different Way s to Help Japan
In view of the continuing developments in Japan, the following ways have been identified to support with the relief effort:

• Airlines (If you can’t give cash, you can give miles)
- American Airlines will offer bonus miles to members of its AAdvantage rewards program who donate to the American Red Cross' Japan earthquake/tsunami relief program. Members who donate $50 will receive 250 bonus miles; $100 or more, 500 bonus miles. Good through April 15.

- All Nippon Airways will start an online mileage donation program for the victims of the earthquake. The airline will donate 1 Japanese yen for every mile donated by ANA Mileage Club members. Donations must be made in 1,000-mile increments (which represents about a $12 donation) and funds raised will go to the international relief agency Japan Platform. The airline will be accepting donated miles online only starting Thursday through April 15.

- The American Red Cross accepts donated air miles on an ongoing basis from Continental, Delta and United airlines. The donated miles are used to fly relief volunteers and staff to disaster areas. Here's the organization's Donate Airline miles Web page for instructions on how to do so.

• If you can make a donation, consider the following:
- American Red Cross
- International Medical Corps
- Global Giving
- Salvation Army
- Operation USA

• Lady Gaga’s Pray for Japan bracelet: $5 a piece. All proceeds go directly to Japan Relief

• Organize a fundraiser to support one of the organizations that are doing front line work in Japan.

• Go to the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief page of eBay, where you will have the choice of buying, selling or donating to help the Japanese relief effort.

3. State of Vermont Statement on Japanese Nuclear Reactors
March 14, 2011 Vermont agencies are carefully watching the tragic events as they unfold in Japan, and the quickly evolving conditions at nuclear power plants there.

Harmful amounts of radiation from damaged nuclear power plants in Japan are not expected to reach as far as the U.S., and no health risks are expected for people in the U.S. However, as a precaution, Washington State and Oregon are monitoring air and water.

Federal agencies – including the Department of Health & Human Services, the Department of Energy, FEMA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) – are coordinating any assistance the Japanese government requests.

Vermonters can join in the relief effort by donating to support Japan Tsunami Response.

FMI:
• About radiation, public health and protective actions in a radiation emergency, go to the Vermont Department of Health
• About emergency preparedness and response plans, go to Vermont Emergency Management
• About regulating public utilities, go to Vermont Department of Public Service

4. Cavendish Related News
Vermont Yankee Reactor Similar to Japan’s: The explosions at a Japanese nuclear plant and the threat of a meltdown following an earthquake and tsunami is sharpening the debate over the safety of Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, a longtime opponent of extending the plant's license beyond 2012, said the “unimaginable crisis” the Japanese are dealing with reinforces his resolve that the 39-year-old plant in Vernon, Vt., along the bank of the Connecticut River, should be shut down, as scheduled, next year. Valley News

VT Tax Collections Down: Vermont tax collections came in below expectations for a second straight month, raising concerns about the economic recovery. General fund revenues for February were $51 million-- 5 percent lower than expected due mainly to weak personal income tax collections. Despite the dip, the fiscal year overall is still running 9.7 percent ahead of last year. But tax collections are still 3.6 percent below where they were in fiscal year 2008. Full report

State Game Wardens Needed: The state needs game wardens, which are sworn law enforcement officers. The application deadline is April 29th. You can apply online or call the Human Resources office for more information. http://humanresources.vermont.gov/career_center/ or call the VT Fish & Wildlife Department's Human Resources office for more details at (802)241-3643.

VT Health Dept Texting New Moms: The Vermont Health Department is pitching a new service for pregnant women and new mothers. It's called text4baby-- a mobile messaging service featuring free tips and information about pregnancy and parenthood. The text messages are available at no charge to cell phone subscribers. To sign up, text the word BABY to 511411. To sign up for text4baby in Spanish, text BEBE to 511411. For more information, visit text4baby.org.

VTA Supports Broadband Grant to Vtel Wireless: The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced its intention to award a $2,065,000 grant to VTel Wireless, located in Springfield, Vermont, to expand broadband in unserved areas in southern Vermont through its Backroads Broadband Program.

5. CCF Accepting Applications for Spring 2011 Grants
The Cavendish Community Fund has announced that it is now accepting applications for grants that will be awarded this spring. The deadline for applying is April 15, 2011. Applications are available on line at www.CavendishCCCA.org and include instructions on how and where to apply.

The fund inaugurated its program in 2007 of giving cash grants to organizations for educational and cultural projects, programs and events. Last fall awards were given to four organizations. To the Cavendish Elementary School for two music based activities, to Stepping Stones Preschool for help with a reading program, to “Operation Cover-Up” for a quilt making project for returning veterans, and to “Playing with Shakespeare” a cultural, educational, and community building workshop that allowed Cavendish residents to explore live performance under the tutelage of a professional actor.

Projects, programs or events must directly benefit the Cavendish community in some way. A panel of local citizens reviews all applications and recommends the ultimate grantees based on the quality and feasibility of each proposal. Grants are not expected to exceed $1,000 each and will depend primarily on the number of applications and the amounts requested.

For further information on applying, on eligibility or on any other aspect of the grant program, or for help completing the application, please call Peter LaBelle at 226-7250 or Barbara Dickey at 226-7187.

6. Sugar on Snow Supper
Spring is definitely in the air, as the Cavendish Baptist Church is holding their Sugar on Snow Supper March 26, 5:30-7 pm at the Church. Sponsored by the Helping Hands Class, tickets are $9 for adults, children 6-12 $5 and free for those under 6. The menu will include baked beans, ham, potato salad, Jell-O salads, coleslaw, pickles, white and brown breads, homemade doughnuts, decaf coffee, tea and punch. FMI: 226-7724

7. Classifieds
Wanted: Antique Barn Loom in decent condition at a reasonable price. Please contact: Chris Wuttke 802/226 7477 To be used at the Daniel Mason House circa 1808 Cavendish VT.

8. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: First Female Proctorsville Fire Fighters
These posts are made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society and are archived at their blog. March posts relate to the history of Cavendish women in honor of National Women’s History Month.

In 1985, Donna Blanchard became the first female fire fighter for the Proctorsville Fire Department. Her sister Amy was the second female. Today there are three women fire fighters. Donna credits her time in the firehouse for teaching her to play poker. Donna served in the Navy during the Gulf War and Grenada. Currently, she’s a Deputy Sheriff in San Diego, plays competitive poker and is on the Deputy Sheriff’s pistol team. Amy became a crew chief on a Black Hawk Helicopter for the US Army and served in Iraq and Turkey. She now works for Toyota in Kentucky.

9. Cavendish Events 3/18-3/25
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 20 (Sunday): Playing with Shakespeare Performance, 7 pm at Gethsemane Church on Depot Street in Proctorsville. Donations at the door will go toward the church's heating fund. This production is made possible by a grant from the Cavendish Community Fund.
• Join me for an hour of facilitated meditation in my home on Sunday March 20th from 4-5. Together we will move towards a deeper stillness in ourselves, offer a prayer of presence and healing for the people and island of Japan, and take a few moments to share what is moving in our hearts. Call Robin at 226-7736

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.