The 5/27/11 Cavendish Update Contains
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Cavendish Old Home Day: Booth Space/Activities
3. Family Fun Run and Walk in Proctorsville, VT
4. Memorial Weekend: Cleaning Grave Stones
5. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: Cavendish Cemeteries
6. Cavendish Events 5/27-5/31
1. Cavendish Related News
Vermont Wants to Regulate Internet Phone Calls: Vermont is at the vanguard of states trying to regulate phone calls carried over the Internet. State regulation would first target a popular digital phone service sold by Comcast Cable. VPR
Chester Struggles During Bridge Repairs; The Route 103 bridge repairs are under way and local businesses say they are feeling the pinch in their bottom lines. Rutland Herald
Shumlin Signs Renewable Energy Bill: The new law will: Strengthen the Clean Energy Development Fund. This solar project benefited from both a grant and a low interest loan from the fund; Improve the net metering program. The bill makes it easier for Vermonters to group together to capture the benefits of clean energy with net metering and doubling the cap and size of allowed net meter systems; Requires Efficiency Vermont and the Department of Public Service to create an incentive for biomass heating systems; Expands efficiency measures by, for example, requiring each electric utility to put in a rate schedule for efficient street lighting for communities; Strengthen and update the PACE program – Vermont’s Property Assessed Clean Energy districts (PACE) Program, which allows homeowners to finance clean energy and efficiency over time – so that the upfront costs are less daunting and the payoff better realized.; Move the CEDF under the purview of the Department of Public Service; provide bridge funding for CEDF programs though an innovative grant in-lieu of tax credit program that should cause almost $3million dollars to be invested into growing jobs in our green energy sector this year, and more. Press Release
Face of VT Families is Changing Census Shows: In six of Vermont’s 14 counties, the percentage of households with seniors present is greater than the share with children present. Across the state, the number of husband-wife families living with their children fell almost 20 percent, plummeting from almost 56,000 in 2000 to just over 45,000 last year. Vermont is graying, even more so than the rest of the nation, due to a low birth rate, a relatively modest number of young people moving in and the aging of the Baby Boomer population. Only Maine has a higher median age than Vermont’s, which has reached 41.5. Burlington Free Press
Shumlin Signs Historic Health Care Reform Bill: Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed into law a bill designed to control escalating health care costs, expand quality coverage to more Vermonters and set the state on the path to crafting the first single payer insurance system in the nation. The new law lays out three tasks: immediate efforts to control health care costs, creation of a Health Insurance Exchange, and detailed planning to implement a single payer. The new board, which will be appointed and in place by October, will work with health care providers to move away from fee-for-service medicine, put them on a sustainable budget, reward them for efficiency and for keeping people healthy, and reduce administrative burden and waste. In addition, Vermont will create a health insurance Exchange to vastly simplify insurance purchasing for all Vermonters, regardless of how we pay for it. Finally, the law requires detailed planning for a single payer health care system, which will maximize savings and take health insurance off the backs of employers Press Release
2. Cavendish Old Home Day: Booth Space/Activities
July 2 is Cavendish Old Home Day, which will be a special event as it kicks off the town’s celebration of its 250th anniversary. Free booth space on the Cavendish Green is available to residents, second homeowners, local businesses and those organizations that serve the town. If you are interested in booth space, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807. We do have a special area for children and invite budding craftsmen and artists.
This year, in addition to the annual plant sale in front of the Museum, the Cavendish Historical Society CHS) will have on display at the Museum, an historic timeline of Cavendish’s history. Starting with the opening of the Cavendish Green activities at 9:30, there will be a silent auction until 12:45. At 1 pm there will be a live auction. Both of these events benefit CHS.
Many vendors will be returning, including Moonlite Meadows grass fed beef and lamb, and the Cavendish Fire Department’s Chicken BBQ.
You can follow along on the preparations for Old Home Day, as well as Cavendish 250th Anniversary activities at the Cavendish Vermont Facebook page FMI: margoc@tds.net 802-226-7807
3. Family Fun Run and Walk in Proctorsville, VT
Stepping Stones Preschool's first Family Fun Run will begin at 9:00 am on June 11 at Greven Field in Proctorsville, VT. Registration opens at 8:00am. In addition to the 5K walk and run, there will also be door prizes and many children's activities – including an obstacle course, bounce house, face painting and free books! Stepping Stones is a non-profit preschool serving families in Cavendish, Ludlow and surrounding communities. All proceeds from this event will benefit the school's playground improvement project. The registration fee for adults is $20 and for children is $5. To register, call Lori at (603) 401-8123 or Stepping Stones at (802) 226-7760. More information and registration forms are available at www.SteppingStonesVT.com.
4. Memorial Weekend: Cleaning Grave Stones
With the arrival of Memorial Day, many families lay a wreath or set up flowers to remember loved ones. This year, clean the gravestone before you put your flowers on it. Both Hillcrest and Cavendish High Street Cemeteries have running water. The following simple tips can be followed by anyone interested in cleaning a gravestone.
- Do no harm. Don’t do anything that will remove or damage the original surface of the stone.
- Start from the bottom up and work up, as this avoids streaking.
- Keep the stone very wet.
- Use a soft brush (nylon or natural)-do not use wire brushes. Brush in a random circular motion. Clean with fresh water as you go. Test a small patch at the bottom of the stone to make sure you wont damage the stone.
- For lichen-soak with water and scrape with a wooden or plastic scraper (no metal)
- Lots and lots of water. Hoses are fine, but no power washing.
- NO BLEACH Stones are composed of minerals and salts. Adding bleach or other corrosive solvents may make the stone look white, but will shorten the life of the marker considerably. You can get a lot done with just water. If you want to use a cleaner, use a non-ionic one.
- If you are cleaning a modern stone, check with the company for cleaning instructions.
CHS’s “Monument Cleaning” handout is available at the Cavendish Library, the Cavendish Historical Society Museum in Cavendish, at the Cavendish Town Office and PDF file by e-mailing margoc@tds.net
If you would like more information about caring for gravestones, contact the Cavendish Historical Society margoc@tds.net or 802-226-7807.
5. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: Cavendish Cemeteries
Below is information about the Cavendish cemeteries, which the town maintains:
Coffeen (S. Reading Road): Not long after John Coffeen settled in Cavendish, he and his wife set out for Charlestown, NH for supplies and grinding their grist. Due to a snowstorm, the parents did not return for six weeks. During this time, one of the Coffeen children became ill and died. The other children kept the body in the house until the parent’s return, at which time, due to heavy snow, the body was buried across the road from the house. Coffeen decided that this would be the family’s cemetery. Coffeens, Baldwins and at least four Revolutionary soldiers are buried there.
Old Revolutionary Cemetery (off of Brook Rd): 1778- The earliest burial in town was that of Henry Proctor in the Old Revolutionary Cemetery, located off of Brook Rd in Cavendish. The 1760 Crown Point Road passes to the right (north) of this cemetery.
Cavendish Cemetery (High Street): 1790- First burial in the Cavendish Village cemetery on High Street. The land originally belonged to Salmon Dutton, but the town bought the land from several local people.
Twenty Mile Stream Cemetery: 1793-Samuel Hutchinson Sr, who gave the land for The Twenty Mile Stream Cemetery in Proctorsville, buried the first person there, his wife Abigail.
Pest Cemetery: 1811-1815-Spotted fever epidemic. Many of the early settlers died, particularly the young and the old. The Pesthouse Cemetery, located on the upper end of Town-Farm Road was a place to bury those who died from contagious disease such as small pox. The only marker in this cemetery is for Jotham Wheelock b 8-26-1763 d 4-27-1831.
Mt. Union Cemetery (Center Road): 1805-First burial occurs. The land was obtained from several local citizens.
Proctor Cemetery (Main Street Proctorsville): 1816-First burial occurs. The land was donated by the Proctors and contains the graves of this family.
Hillcrest Cemetery (Proctorsville, off of 103 on Bailey Hill RD): 1828-First Burial. The land was obtained from the Proctors. The tomb was built in 1897. Just before entering the Hillcrest Cemetery, there used to be a “potter’s field.” During the Depression (1930’s), this area was plowed and used for planting potatoes. Only three graves remain in this area of the cemetery.
For information about who is buried in Cavendish cemeteries, the Cavendish Historical Society’s Cemeteries of Cavendish: 1776-1976 Bicentennial Project is available for sale at the Cavendish Town Office and at the Museum. It can also be ordered by sending a check to CHS for $5 to CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish VT 05142.
6. Cavendish Events 5/27-5/31
May 27 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market Opens. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org
May 28 (Saturday): Vermont Open Studio Weekend. Visit the studios of Vermont artists. Six Loose Ladies and Fletcher Farm will both be on the tour. For a full list of participating artists, go to vermontcrafts.com or call 802/223-3380
May 29 (Sunday): Introduction to Knitting Class, 1-3 pm at Six Loose Ladies in Proctorsville. Learn the basic of casting on and the knit stitch. Materials needed: any size needles and some yarn, if you don't have any the instructor can supply you with some for the lesson. Instructor: Perry Hudkins. Free FMI 802-226-7373 or visit www.fiberartsinvermont.org
• Vermont Open Studio Weekend. Visit the studios of Vermont artists. Six Loose Ladies and Fletcher Farm will both be on the tour. For a full list of participating artists, go to vermontcrafts.com or call 802/223-3380
• From 4-5 Facilitated Meditation - Opening the Heart - call Robin for more information at 226-7736
May 30 (Monday): Memorial Day. Holiday. Town Office, Schools, Library and Banks Closed
May 31 (Tuesday): Memorial Day Program at CTES 10:30 am. The parade will start at 10:45 at the town’s highway department building and will proceed to the Cavendish Cemetery on High Street.
• 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
• Calvary Church, Route 103, Prayer service for global, national, state, community, church, and personal needs! While it starts at 7pm and ends at 8pm, folks are welcome to come and go as they please. FMI: 226-7607
Part of Cavendish Connects, the Cavendish, VT Blog archives the weekly e-mails, "Cavendish Update" and provides on-going information about current activities.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Cavendish Update 5/20/11 Facebook/250th
The 5/20/11 Cavendish Update Contains
1. We’re 250 Years Old: Let’s Celebrate!
2. Join us on Facebook
3. Cavendish Related News
4. Unclaimed Property in Cavendish and Proctorsville.
5. Spring Hydrant Flushing
6. Cavendish Events May 21 (Saturday): GMUHS Junior Prom
1. We’re 250 Years Old: Let’s Celebrate!
The charter that created the town of Cavendish was signed by King George III on Oct. 12, 1761. To celebrate this event, a series of activities are being planned, starting in June and going through December. Here’s just part of what you can look forward to:
• Quilt: Various members of the community have made squares depicting aspects of current life as well as historical people and events. The quilt will be one display starting with Old Home Day weekend.
• Cavendish Semiquincentennial Book: This book will include a historic timeline, pictorial display, copy of The Vermonter’s article on how Cavendish celebrated its 150th anniversary, a special edition of the Cavendish Business Directory and much more. We hope to have the book available for sale at Old Home Day, July 2.
• Town Play: Once again the Cavendish Players will treat us to a unique understanding of Cavendish history. August 27 and 28
• June 5 (Sunday): Cavendish Historical Society Museum opens for the season and will be open on Sundays from 2-4pm until October closing.
• June 12 (Sunday): Screening of the film “Life in Windsor County” with Bruce McEnaney, Vice President of CHS and one of the interviewees featured in the film.
• July 2 (Saturday): Old Home Day, Cavendish Pictorial Display; Museum Plant sale; Cavendish Green activities will include a live auction at 1 pm.
August/September (Dates to be determined)
- Tours of Dutton, Revolutionary and Center Road Cemeteries
- Early Cavendish Tour
- Cavendish Players will present a production about early Cavendish history
2. Join us on Facebook
To help get the word out about Cavendish’s 250 Anniversary, a Facebook page has been set up. This is a great way to share your photographs and stories of Cavendish, learn about activities and help to make our 250th a very special year. A 250th Anniversary Website will soon be available as well.
3. Cavendish Related News
RCLT to Merge with Windham Housing Trust: In response to a shrinking pool of federal and state money for affordable housing projects, the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust -- a partner in three affordable housing projects in Windsor -- is formerly transferring the bulk of its properties to a similar organization in Windham County next week. The properties, which includes those on the Proctorsville Green, will be taken over by Brattleboro, Vt.-based Windham Housing Trust. Most of the properties are structured as partnerships with Housing Vermont. Four mobile home parks owned by RACLT are not part of the transaction. The change, in the works for about a year, won't be noticeable to residents living in the affordable housing properties under RACLT, officials from both organizations say.
Route 103 in Chester Closed as of Monday, May 16
Springfield Theater to be called Springfield Cinemas 3: William Morlock, executive director of the Springfield Housing Authority, a co-owner of the Ellis Block, which was gutted in the fire that destroyed the Springfield Movie Theater, stated that the theater will reopen with three screens. The largest theater will be equipped with digital technology, which will allow the screening of first-run 3-D. He said he expected the theater would open the second full week of July, “in time for Harry Potter.
Mission of State Mapping Project is Questioned: The Shumlin Administration is developing an environmental map of the state that will highlight good and bad places to site wind projects in the future. But, as VPR's Bob Kinzel reports, supporters and opponents of wind energy think the plan has serious flaws. VPR
State Warns Drivers to Be Alert for Moose: It’s moose season, and that means drivers should be on the look out. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says moose are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, as they move from their winter to spring habitats.
Smart Meter Brings New Technology to VT Homes: By 2013, 85-90% of Vermont homes statewide will be equipped with a smart meter. This device allows homeowners and businesses to see how much electricity they are using and when it’s most expensive. VPR
Purple Ash Borer Traps Installed in Vt: Purple, three-sided traps resembling a box kite can be seen in ash trees throughout Vermont as part of a surveillance program by federal and state agencies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture are partnering to survey for emerald ash borer (EAB), a non-native, wood-boring beetle that has killed tens of millions of ash trees in the eastern United States and Canada. The Monteregie region of Quebec Canada is the closest EAB infestation to Vermont’s northern border. To date, EAB has not been detected in Vermont. VT Agency of Agriculture Press Release
Shumlin signs “complete Streets:” Gov. Peter Shumlin today signed into law legislation that ensures Vermont’s roads are safe for all users, requiring transportation policy to take into account the needs of motorists, bicyclists, public transportation users and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.” This law will guarantee that we’re designing roads that work for the future – for older Vermonters, for those who choose to take public transportation, for people who opt to walk to their jobs and errands, and for motorists,” the Governor said. Press Release
4. Unclaimed Property in Cavendish and Proctorsville.
The Vermont State Treasurer’s Office has received more than $9 million in new unclaimed property since the fiscal year began July 1. The annual deadline for holders of unclaimed property to turn over funds to the State was May 1 and thousands of dollars continue to be received by the Unclaimed Property Division.
“Typical holders of unclaimed property include financial institutions, employers, utility companies, insurance companies, retailers, corporations and governmental agencies throughout the United States,” said State Treasurer Beth Pearce. “My office continually works to make Vermont’s firms aware of the law and assist businesses in turning financial property over in a timely way.
In Cavendish, there are 158 records of unclaimed property and 170 for Proctorsville. To learn if you have unclaimed property, go to the state’s website.
5. Spring Hydrant Flushing
The spring hydrant flushing of the Cavendish Municipal Water System will take place on Wednesday May 25 through Friday May 27 during the hours of 9-5. Systems users are reminded that: Flushing hydrants may cause temporary discoloration and turbidity of the water. Users are advised to avoid drinking the water or washing clothes (especially whites) while discoloration is in evidence. Following hydrant flushing in your area, users should run cold water until it clears before resuming normal use. It is also advisable to flush individual water heaters after the water clears following a hydrant flush in your area. FMI: 226-7291. The notice is also available online
6. Cavendish Events
May 21 (Saturday): GMUHS Junior Prom
May 23-27 (Monday-Friday): CTES Grade Six at Keewaydin
May 24 (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
• Calvary Church, Route 103, Prayer service for global, national, state, community, church, and personal needs! While it starts at 7pm and ends at 8pm, folks are welcome to come and go as they please.. FMI: 226-7607
May 25 (Wednesday)-May 27 (Friday): Hydrant Flushing. See item 5 above.
May 26 (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
May 27 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market Opens. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org
May 28 (Saturday): Vermont Open Studio Weekend. Visit the studios of Vermont artists. Six Loose Ladies and Fletcher Farm will both be on the tour. For a full list of participating artists, go to vermontcrafts.com or call 802/223-3380
1. We’re 250 Years Old: Let’s Celebrate!
2. Join us on Facebook
3. Cavendish Related News
4. Unclaimed Property in Cavendish and Proctorsville.
5. Spring Hydrant Flushing
6. Cavendish Events May 21 (Saturday): GMUHS Junior Prom
1. We’re 250 Years Old: Let’s Celebrate!
The charter that created the town of Cavendish was signed by King George III on Oct. 12, 1761. To celebrate this event, a series of activities are being planned, starting in June and going through December. Here’s just part of what you can look forward to:
• Quilt: Various members of the community have made squares depicting aspects of current life as well as historical people and events. The quilt will be one display starting with Old Home Day weekend.
• Cavendish Semiquincentennial Book: This book will include a historic timeline, pictorial display, copy of The Vermonter’s article on how Cavendish celebrated its 150th anniversary, a special edition of the Cavendish Business Directory and much more. We hope to have the book available for sale at Old Home Day, July 2.
• Town Play: Once again the Cavendish Players will treat us to a unique understanding of Cavendish history. August 27 and 28
• June 5 (Sunday): Cavendish Historical Society Museum opens for the season and will be open on Sundays from 2-4pm until October closing.
• June 12 (Sunday): Screening of the film “Life in Windsor County” with Bruce McEnaney, Vice President of CHS and one of the interviewees featured in the film.
• July 2 (Saturday): Old Home Day, Cavendish Pictorial Display; Museum Plant sale; Cavendish Green activities will include a live auction at 1 pm.
August/September (Dates to be determined)
- Tours of Dutton, Revolutionary and Center Road Cemeteries
- Early Cavendish Tour
- Cavendish Players will present a production about early Cavendish history
2. Join us on Facebook
To help get the word out about Cavendish’s 250 Anniversary, a Facebook page has been set up. This is a great way to share your photographs and stories of Cavendish, learn about activities and help to make our 250th a very special year. A 250th Anniversary Website will soon be available as well.
3. Cavendish Related News
RCLT to Merge with Windham Housing Trust: In response to a shrinking pool of federal and state money for affordable housing projects, the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust -- a partner in three affordable housing projects in Windsor -- is formerly transferring the bulk of its properties to a similar organization in Windham County next week. The properties, which includes those on the Proctorsville Green, will be taken over by Brattleboro, Vt.-based Windham Housing Trust. Most of the properties are structured as partnerships with Housing Vermont. Four mobile home parks owned by RACLT are not part of the transaction. The change, in the works for about a year, won't be noticeable to residents living in the affordable housing properties under RACLT, officials from both organizations say.
Route 103 in Chester Closed as of Monday, May 16
Springfield Theater to be called Springfield Cinemas 3: William Morlock, executive director of the Springfield Housing Authority, a co-owner of the Ellis Block, which was gutted in the fire that destroyed the Springfield Movie Theater, stated that the theater will reopen with three screens. The largest theater will be equipped with digital technology, which will allow the screening of first-run 3-D. He said he expected the theater would open the second full week of July, “in time for Harry Potter.
Mission of State Mapping Project is Questioned: The Shumlin Administration is developing an environmental map of the state that will highlight good and bad places to site wind projects in the future. But, as VPR's Bob Kinzel reports, supporters and opponents of wind energy think the plan has serious flaws. VPR
State Warns Drivers to Be Alert for Moose: It’s moose season, and that means drivers should be on the look out. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says moose are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, as they move from their winter to spring habitats.
Smart Meter Brings New Technology to VT Homes: By 2013, 85-90% of Vermont homes statewide will be equipped with a smart meter. This device allows homeowners and businesses to see how much electricity they are using and when it’s most expensive. VPR
Purple Ash Borer Traps Installed in Vt: Purple, three-sided traps resembling a box kite can be seen in ash trees throughout Vermont as part of a surveillance program by federal and state agencies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture are partnering to survey for emerald ash borer (EAB), a non-native, wood-boring beetle that has killed tens of millions of ash trees in the eastern United States and Canada. The Monteregie region of Quebec Canada is the closest EAB infestation to Vermont’s northern border. To date, EAB has not been detected in Vermont. VT Agency of Agriculture Press Release
Shumlin signs “complete Streets:” Gov. Peter Shumlin today signed into law legislation that ensures Vermont’s roads are safe for all users, requiring transportation policy to take into account the needs of motorists, bicyclists, public transportation users and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.” This law will guarantee that we’re designing roads that work for the future – for older Vermonters, for those who choose to take public transportation, for people who opt to walk to their jobs and errands, and for motorists,” the Governor said. Press Release
4. Unclaimed Property in Cavendish and Proctorsville.
The Vermont State Treasurer’s Office has received more than $9 million in new unclaimed property since the fiscal year began July 1. The annual deadline for holders of unclaimed property to turn over funds to the State was May 1 and thousands of dollars continue to be received by the Unclaimed Property Division.
“Typical holders of unclaimed property include financial institutions, employers, utility companies, insurance companies, retailers, corporations and governmental agencies throughout the United States,” said State Treasurer Beth Pearce. “My office continually works to make Vermont’s firms aware of the law and assist businesses in turning financial property over in a timely way.
In Cavendish, there are 158 records of unclaimed property and 170 for Proctorsville. To learn if you have unclaimed property, go to the state’s website.
5. Spring Hydrant Flushing
The spring hydrant flushing of the Cavendish Municipal Water System will take place on Wednesday May 25 through Friday May 27 during the hours of 9-5. Systems users are reminded that: Flushing hydrants may cause temporary discoloration and turbidity of the water. Users are advised to avoid drinking the water or washing clothes (especially whites) while discoloration is in evidence. Following hydrant flushing in your area, users should run cold water until it clears before resuming normal use. It is also advisable to flush individual water heaters after the water clears following a hydrant flush in your area. FMI: 226-7291. The notice is also available online
6. Cavendish Events
May 21 (Saturday): GMUHS Junior Prom
May 23-27 (Monday-Friday): CTES Grade Six at Keewaydin
May 24 (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
• Calvary Church, Route 103, Prayer service for global, national, state, community, church, and personal needs! While it starts at 7pm and ends at 8pm, folks are welcome to come and go as they please.. FMI: 226-7607
May 25 (Wednesday)-May 27 (Friday): Hydrant Flushing. See item 5 above.
May 26 (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
May 27 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market Opens. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org
May 28 (Saturday): Vermont Open Studio Weekend. Visit the studios of Vermont artists. Six Loose Ladies and Fletcher Farm will both be on the tour. For a full list of participating artists, go to vermontcrafts.com or call 802/223-3380
Monday, May 16, 2011
CTES School Board Agenda for 5/17/11
The Cavendish Town Elementary School Board will meet at 5:30 pm at the school with the following items on the agenda:
1. Call to order
2. Comments from the Community
3. Approval of Minutes of March 8, 2011
4. NECAP Results – Presentation & Discussion
5. Personnel
a.) Resignation of School-Based Clinician (Amy Jo Lines) – (Action Requested)
b.) Nomination of Music Educator (Polly Westcott)– (Action Requested)
6. Reports:
a.) Principal
b.) Board
c.) Committee
7. Other Business
8. Executive Session – (if necessary)
9. Adjournment
1. Call to order
2. Comments from the Community
3. Approval of Minutes of March 8, 2011
4. NECAP Results – Presentation & Discussion
5. Personnel
a.) Resignation of School-Based Clinician (Amy Jo Lines) – (Action Requested)
b.) Nomination of Music Educator (Polly Westcott)– (Action Requested)
6. Reports:
a.) Principal
b.) Board
c.) Committee
7. Other Business
8. Executive Session – (if necessary)
9. Adjournment
Friday, May 13, 2011
Cavendish Update 5/13/11 SB Mtg/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 5/13/11 Cavendish Update Contains
1. May 9 Select Board Meeting
2. Cavendish Related News
3. Cavendish Teacher Wins Science Award
4. New Prayer Service at Calvary Church
5. Ludlow’s Farmer Market Has Vendor Space
6. Postal Food Drive on Saturday
7. Classifieds
8. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: House Resolution HCR 147
9. Cavendish Events 5/13-5/20
1. May 9 Select Board Meeting
LPC-TV provides both on-line and cable TV coverage of the Cavendish Select Board Meeting, The following items were discussed at Monday meeting:
a) Flooding Problems with the Brook Crossing Twenty Mile Stream Road by Slattery: Nine properties are potentially affected by the flooding. Five of the property owners, most of whom are second homeowners, were present to discuss the impact and potential causes of the flooding. After an hour and a half discussion, it appears that the source of the problem is coming from the Spaulding property, where bushes and trees have been removed from the river banks making it unstable, property, including those of abutting neighbors, has been excavated and vehicles are being left there, and pilled snow. The latter created dams, causing the water to back up. At least one drain was covered by piled snow sufficiently that it was unable to provide the drainage it was designed for.
Because of the extensive flooding in September, the Town excavated a portion of the culvert. Thirteen tires were found to be stuffed in there, making it difficult for water to flow through to the Black River. When asked about the tires, which included the rims, Spaulding said some of them were ones stolen from his property. He provided documentation to this effect.
Property owners described at length about the adverse effects: flooded basements, crumbling foundation, as well as having their property excavated by Spaulding. Pictures taken recently by the town manager, Rich Svec, were passed out. It appeared that 15 vehicles were being warehoused on the property. As Selectmen Ed Garrow noted, “there are two issues, a brook issue and a neighbor issue.” To the latter, Garrow noted that Spaulding may be in violation of the town’s “junk yard” ordinance. He recommended that the affected parties read the ordinance as part of deciding next steps.
Svec was clear that this was a civil issue not a town one. However, he was willing to meet with the property owners to draft a letter, for their signature, to go to the state, which has authority over all rivers, streams, brooks and water ways. They would also be the ones to discuss whether there are environmental violations due to the manner in which the vehicles are being parked. A meeting date was set for May 27 at 6:30 pm.
Because the area excavated by the town in September is still open, the Select board voted to cover this up, which is expected to cost approximately $2,000.
b) Memorial Day Activities: Memorial Day events will take place on Tuesday May 31 10:30 at the school. The parade will start at 10:45 at the town’s highway department building and will proceed to the Cavendish Cemetery on High Street.
c) Town-Wide Appraisal Update: Booklets have been sent to all property homeowners, which includes property value adjustments. To save costs, the town office copier was used. This was thought to cost several hundred dollars, which was considerably less than the estimated $1,500 from using a print shop.
Property owners will be able to grieve informally May 11-13 from 10 to noon and from 1-5. Formal Grievance Hearings, by appointment only, will take place May 18-May 20 from 9-noon and from 1-5. These appointments will be 15 minutes and property owners must be prepared to present relevant evidence regarding the appeal. Appeals must be in writing. To learn more about the grievance process, refer to Official Notice of Reappraisal, which was mailed to all property owners last week.
d) Highway Maintenance: The town’s highway department’s crew chief is on sick leave but will be back after May 30. The formal work plan for the department hasn’t been done yet. One area of concern is Center Road. It was also agreed that certain areas of town could use Yield signs. One area in particular was the bottom of Wiley Hill Rd. There was also a question about when the line would be put on Twenty Mile Stream Road. Svec explained that this is a state responsibility.
e) Closing on Property on Rt 131: The board moved to executive session to discuss the town’s purchasing of property on Rt 131. Svec did report that there are some residual mineral rights issues, which must be resolved before the closing can take place.
f) 250th Anniversary: The planning committee working on celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the town has been meeting weekly. A logo has been selected and it wont be long before it will be on banners in both villages. Since the Charter was signed by King George III on Oct. 12, which is a weekday this year, the celebration itself will take place on Oct. 8. The evening prior will be a community dance, featuring the music of local musicians Bob Naess (fiddler) and Mark Huntley (drummer). Naess’s band will be in keeping with the early settlers, as they will play music suitable for contra and square dancing, while Huntley’s band provides more contemporary dance music. Funds, beyond which the town approved, will be needed for the various anniversary celebrations. To that end, the committee is seeking donations and sponsorships to defray the costs. Svec also noted that the conservator has been working on the original charter. A copy will be made to hang at the Town Office, which the original document will be preserved and secured in the town vault. The original will be on display as part of Charter Day activities.
g) Town website: In discussing the plans for the 250th Anniversary, it was agreed that a website was needed. With the help from members of the Committee, the website should be up in the near future. The board agreed that the website domain name (URL) should be www.cavendish.vt.gov. It was recommended that the town also reserve www.cavendishvt.com, which would roll over to the .gov site.
h) Carlton Rd: At the March selectboard meeting, representatives from Holden Engineering and USA Properties, agreed to pay for an engineering evaluation of sewage for the property off of Carlton Road, where they wish to build 250 units of new housing. This is still progress. Due to comments made during the March meeting about how this project had the strong possibility of increasing taxes for locals, Bruce Simpson from USA Properties forwarded an analysis of how the proposed project would not impact local taxes. This is a very complex issue, which was not taken into account in the analysis provided by USA Properties. Further, what the tax situation could be in two years is anybody’s guess. Svec hopes to discuss this next week with someone he thinks is extremely knowledgably in this area. Regardless, before anything can happen, they must have a project, which will be subject to Act 250 review.
2. Cavendish Related News
Telecare Comes to Windsor County Residents: TeleCare provides FREE telephone reassurance, check-in and friendly phone calls to area seniors who are in need of some one to touch base with them to ensure their well-being and/or to have a friendly conversation on a regularly scheduled basis. TeleCare is NOT a telemedicine provider or medical alert service. RSVP/Volunteer Center volunteers who are interviewed, trained and screened, place calls to TeleCare clients at mutually agreed upon times. Volunteers are instructed to allow the phone to ring at least 15 times and if there is no answer to try again in 15 minutes. If there is still no answer they will try to reach designated Emergency Contact(s) and if that fails 911 will be called to respond. FMI: 885-2083.E-mail Linda at lhusband@greenmtncn.org or http://rsvpvt.org/programs/rsvp-telecare/
Fraudulent Health Insurance Policies in VT: The Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration is warning Vermonters to watch out for fraudulent companies and individuals claiming to be health insurers or agents of health insurers who take the money of unwary consumers but do not pay claims. “We have received complaints from people here in Vermont and uncovered twenty-five apparently related companies and individuals, operating here and in other states or overseas, who offer health insurance coverage but don’t step up when it’s time to pay a claim,” said Commissioner Stephen Kimbell. Press Release VT Digger
Federal Benefit Payments to Be Electronic Only: People applying for Social Security, Veterans benefits or other federal benefits on or after May 1, 2011, will receive their payments electronically starting with their first payment. People currently receiving federal benefit checks will need to switch to an electronic payment option by March 1, 2013. Press Release VT. Digger
State Endangered Species Status Sought for Bats: Since 2006, upwards of 90 percent of the state's little brown and northern long-eared bat populations have died from white-nose syndrome. The mysterious fungus is killing bats up and down the East Coast. The Fish and Wildlife Department is submitting a proposal to have the bats added to the list. Endangered status could be granted in about five weeks. WCAX News
Wet Spring Could Increase Bugs this Summer: Another potential impact from the wet spring and all of the flooding might be a buggy summer Mosquitoes and other biting bugs like black flies and horseflies could be plentiful this summer. The rain and flooding left lots of standing water-- prime breeding ground for mosquitoes. WCAX
Respectful Language Bill Signed into Law: Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed a bill aimed at eradicating from state laws any language considered offensive to people with disabilities. The measure creates a working group to identify words that shouldn't be used in Vermont statutes and regulations, and suggest words that reflect positively on people with disabilities. The report is due Nov. 1 Press Release VT Digger
Chester Bridge Project Begins : Bridge # 9, or the Benny Sunoco Bridge in Chester, will be closed starting May 16. This bridge is located at the intersection of Route 11 over the William’s River. Detours for the bridge are expected to run until July 18. Use River Street or the Green Mountain Turnpike to avoid the closed bridge. Bridge # 8, near Green Mountain Union High School, will be closed from June 20-July 18. To keep up to date on alternate routes and detours, go to http://www.chestervermont.org/
Broadband VT website: The state of Vermont unveiled a new website Thursday to provide information about where broadband is available in the state. Flush with more than $400 million, mainly in federal stimulus funds, the state has launched several projects to get broadband and cell service widely seen as key to economic development, to all the state's hamlets and rural back roads. However, the maps included at the website http://www.broadbandvt.org/ are still not accurate but the state is trying to fix that. Burlington Free Press
3. Cavendish Teacher Wins Science Award
CTES fifth grade teacher, Ann Thompson, was Vermont’s recipient of the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level.~ Each year the award alternates between teachers teaching kindergarten through 6th grade and those teaching 7th through12th grades. The 2010 awardees named today teach kindergarten through 6th grade.
Winners of this Presidential honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They also receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and the Administration.
Thompson, the Vermont has taught at CTES for 18 years.~ She received her B.A Degree from Ithaca College and earned her M.A degree from Castleton State College through the Vermont Science Initiative. Ann is an accomplished elementary teacher across curricular areas who excels in project based learning, creating authentic and meaningful real world experiences in her classroom. For many years, students have benefited from her commitment to high expectations, creative lesson planning, varied instructional approaches and challenging problem solving activities. Ann’s capacity to seamlessly integrate multiple subjects into thematic units and use technology in meaningful ways is characteristic of her professional practice. A frequent contributor to statewide curricular and professional development initiatives, she is well known and respected by students, parents and colleagues.
4. New Prayer Service at Calvary Church
On Tuesdays , the Calvary Church, on Route 103 is holding a prayer service to the community to pray for global, national, state, community, church, and personal needs! While it starts at 7pm and ends at 8pm, folks are welcome to come and go as they please. FMI: 226-7607
5. Ludlow’s Farmer Market Has Vendor Space
Space vendors is still available for the Friday Farmer’s Market held each week during the summer and early. Layout will be different this year as almost all vendors will be able to have their vehicles at their space [with the exception of the center spaces around the maple trees].First market Day is May 27 (Memorial Day Weekend). FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org
6. Postal Food Drive on Saturday
Mail carriers from post offices across Vermont will be picking up nonperishable food items along with regular mail, for the United Way’s 19th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. Both Cavendish and Proctorsville will have donation boxes set up. Food will go directly to area food shelves, which in Cavendish’s case will be Black River Good Neighbor. Suggested donations include non perishables such as canned soups, stews, peanut butter etc.
7. Classifieds
For Rent: 3 bedroom, 1 bath house, pet friendly, outstanding elementary school, 5 minutes to Okemo, nice, small yard, quaint, charming in Cavendish village. Available 8/1/11. Call 802-353-3859 for more info.
8. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: House Resolution HCR 147
These posts are made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society and are archived at the CHS Blog.
Concurrent House Resolution H.C. R. 147 commemorates the incorporation of Vermont Towns observing their 250th anniversary in 2011. Copies of the resolution have been given to the Town Office and to the Cavendish Historical Society by Cavendish Representative Ernie Shand. A copy of the Resolution can be seen online.
9. Cavendish Events 5/13-5/20
May 14 (Saturday): Household Hazardous Waste Collection, Springfield Recycling Center, 9-12. For District residents and businesses only. No pre-registration for District residents. Businesses will be charged for disposal costs and must pre-register. FMI: www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org or 802-674-9235. The next collection of this type will not be until Sept.
May 15 (Sunday): 4-5 pm - facilitated meditation with Robin. FMI: 226-7736
May 16 (Monday): The Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce is holding an informational meeting about a nine day inclusive trip to China on March 26, 2012 sponsored by the Chamber. The tour operator, Citslink will provide an orientation in the Cornerstone room at the Jackson Gore Inn. You do not have to be a chamber member to participate. The cost is $2,200.
May 16-20 (Monday-Friday): Junk Man in Residency at CTES.
May 17 (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
• Calvary Church, Route 103, Prayer service for global, national, state, community, church, and personal needs! While it starts at 7pm and ends at 8pm, folks are welcome to come and go as they please. FMI: 226-7607
• CTES School Board Meeting, 5:30 pm in the Arts Room.
May 19 (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
• Community Luncheon, 11:30 am . St James United Methodist Church, Main Street, Proctorsville. This month’s menu includes hot and creamy chicken and biscuits with peas and carrots, a tossed salad, and angel cake with berries for dessert. Coffee, hot tea or a fruit drink will be provided. All are welcome A suggested donation of $3.00 for seniors or $4.50 for those under 60 yrs of age is appreciated.
• Coffee with the Chamber: A free continental breakfast to share what the Chamber is doing and how we might be able to help in each community that we serve.
• 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
The 5/13/11 Cavendish Update Contains
1. May 9 Select Board Meeting
2. Cavendish Related News
3. Cavendish Teacher Wins Science Award
4. New Prayer Service at Calvary Church
5. Ludlow’s Farmer Market Has Vendor Space
6. Postal Food Drive on Saturday
7. Classifieds
8. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: House Resolution HCR 147
9. Cavendish Events 5/13-5/20
1. May 9 Select Board Meeting
LPC-TV provides both on-line and cable TV coverage of the Cavendish Select Board Meeting, The following items were discussed at Monday meeting:
a) Flooding Problems with the Brook Crossing Twenty Mile Stream Road by Slattery: Nine properties are potentially affected by the flooding. Five of the property owners, most of whom are second homeowners, were present to discuss the impact and potential causes of the flooding. After an hour and a half discussion, it appears that the source of the problem is coming from the Spaulding property, where bushes and trees have been removed from the river banks making it unstable, property, including those of abutting neighbors, has been excavated and vehicles are being left there, and pilled snow. The latter created dams, causing the water to back up. At least one drain was covered by piled snow sufficiently that it was unable to provide the drainage it was designed for.
Because of the extensive flooding in September, the Town excavated a portion of the culvert. Thirteen tires were found to be stuffed in there, making it difficult for water to flow through to the Black River. When asked about the tires, which included the rims, Spaulding said some of them were ones stolen from his property. He provided documentation to this effect.
Property owners described at length about the adverse effects: flooded basements, crumbling foundation, as well as having their property excavated by Spaulding. Pictures taken recently by the town manager, Rich Svec, were passed out. It appeared that 15 vehicles were being warehoused on the property. As Selectmen Ed Garrow noted, “there are two issues, a brook issue and a neighbor issue.” To the latter, Garrow noted that Spaulding may be in violation of the town’s “junk yard” ordinance. He recommended that the affected parties read the ordinance as part of deciding next steps.
Svec was clear that this was a civil issue not a town one. However, he was willing to meet with the property owners to draft a letter, for their signature, to go to the state, which has authority over all rivers, streams, brooks and water ways. They would also be the ones to discuss whether there are environmental violations due to the manner in which the vehicles are being parked. A meeting date was set for May 27 at 6:30 pm.
Because the area excavated by the town in September is still open, the Select board voted to cover this up, which is expected to cost approximately $2,000.
b) Memorial Day Activities: Memorial Day events will take place on Tuesday May 31 10:30 at the school. The parade will start at 10:45 at the town’s highway department building and will proceed to the Cavendish Cemetery on High Street.
c) Town-Wide Appraisal Update: Booklets have been sent to all property homeowners, which includes property value adjustments. To save costs, the town office copier was used. This was thought to cost several hundred dollars, which was considerably less than the estimated $1,500 from using a print shop.
Property owners will be able to grieve informally May 11-13 from 10 to noon and from 1-5. Formal Grievance Hearings, by appointment only, will take place May 18-May 20 from 9-noon and from 1-5. These appointments will be 15 minutes and property owners must be prepared to present relevant evidence regarding the appeal. Appeals must be in writing. To learn more about the grievance process, refer to Official Notice of Reappraisal, which was mailed to all property owners last week.
d) Highway Maintenance: The town’s highway department’s crew chief is on sick leave but will be back after May 30. The formal work plan for the department hasn’t been done yet. One area of concern is Center Road. It was also agreed that certain areas of town could use Yield signs. One area in particular was the bottom of Wiley Hill Rd. There was also a question about when the line would be put on Twenty Mile Stream Road. Svec explained that this is a state responsibility.
e) Closing on Property on Rt 131: The board moved to executive session to discuss the town’s purchasing of property on Rt 131. Svec did report that there are some residual mineral rights issues, which must be resolved before the closing can take place.
f) 250th Anniversary: The planning committee working on celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the town has been meeting weekly. A logo has been selected and it wont be long before it will be on banners in both villages. Since the Charter was signed by King George III on Oct. 12, which is a weekday this year, the celebration itself will take place on Oct. 8. The evening prior will be a community dance, featuring the music of local musicians Bob Naess (fiddler) and Mark Huntley (drummer). Naess’s band will be in keeping with the early settlers, as they will play music suitable for contra and square dancing, while Huntley’s band provides more contemporary dance music. Funds, beyond which the town approved, will be needed for the various anniversary celebrations. To that end, the committee is seeking donations and sponsorships to defray the costs. Svec also noted that the conservator has been working on the original charter. A copy will be made to hang at the Town Office, which the original document will be preserved and secured in the town vault. The original will be on display as part of Charter Day activities.
g) Town website: In discussing the plans for the 250th Anniversary, it was agreed that a website was needed. With the help from members of the Committee, the website should be up in the near future. The board agreed that the website domain name (URL) should be www.cavendish.vt.gov. It was recommended that the town also reserve www.cavendishvt.com, which would roll over to the .gov site.
h) Carlton Rd: At the March selectboard meeting, representatives from Holden Engineering and USA Properties, agreed to pay for an engineering evaluation of sewage for the property off of Carlton Road, where they wish to build 250 units of new housing. This is still progress. Due to comments made during the March meeting about how this project had the strong possibility of increasing taxes for locals, Bruce Simpson from USA Properties forwarded an analysis of how the proposed project would not impact local taxes. This is a very complex issue, which was not taken into account in the analysis provided by USA Properties. Further, what the tax situation could be in two years is anybody’s guess. Svec hopes to discuss this next week with someone he thinks is extremely knowledgably in this area. Regardless, before anything can happen, they must have a project, which will be subject to Act 250 review.
2. Cavendish Related News
Telecare Comes to Windsor County Residents: TeleCare provides FREE telephone reassurance, check-in and friendly phone calls to area seniors who are in need of some one to touch base with them to ensure their well-being and/or to have a friendly conversation on a regularly scheduled basis. TeleCare is NOT a telemedicine provider or medical alert service. RSVP/Volunteer Center volunteers who are interviewed, trained and screened, place calls to TeleCare clients at mutually agreed upon times. Volunteers are instructed to allow the phone to ring at least 15 times and if there is no answer to try again in 15 minutes. If there is still no answer they will try to reach designated Emergency Contact(s) and if that fails 911 will be called to respond. FMI: 885-2083.E-mail Linda at lhusband@greenmtncn.org or http://rsvpvt.org/programs/rsvp-telecare/
Fraudulent Health Insurance Policies in VT: The Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration is warning Vermonters to watch out for fraudulent companies and individuals claiming to be health insurers or agents of health insurers who take the money of unwary consumers but do not pay claims. “We have received complaints from people here in Vermont and uncovered twenty-five apparently related companies and individuals, operating here and in other states or overseas, who offer health insurance coverage but don’t step up when it’s time to pay a claim,” said Commissioner Stephen Kimbell. Press Release VT Digger
Federal Benefit Payments to Be Electronic Only: People applying for Social Security, Veterans benefits or other federal benefits on or after May 1, 2011, will receive their payments electronically starting with their first payment. People currently receiving federal benefit checks will need to switch to an electronic payment option by March 1, 2013. Press Release VT. Digger
State Endangered Species Status Sought for Bats: Since 2006, upwards of 90 percent of the state's little brown and northern long-eared bat populations have died from white-nose syndrome. The mysterious fungus is killing bats up and down the East Coast. The Fish and Wildlife Department is submitting a proposal to have the bats added to the list. Endangered status could be granted in about five weeks. WCAX News
Wet Spring Could Increase Bugs this Summer: Another potential impact from the wet spring and all of the flooding might be a buggy summer Mosquitoes and other biting bugs like black flies and horseflies could be plentiful this summer. The rain and flooding left lots of standing water-- prime breeding ground for mosquitoes. WCAX
Respectful Language Bill Signed into Law: Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed a bill aimed at eradicating from state laws any language considered offensive to people with disabilities. The measure creates a working group to identify words that shouldn't be used in Vermont statutes and regulations, and suggest words that reflect positively on people with disabilities. The report is due Nov. 1 Press Release VT Digger
Chester Bridge Project Begins : Bridge # 9, or the Benny Sunoco Bridge in Chester, will be closed starting May 16. This bridge is located at the intersection of Route 11 over the William’s River. Detours for the bridge are expected to run until July 18. Use River Street or the Green Mountain Turnpike to avoid the closed bridge. Bridge # 8, near Green Mountain Union High School, will be closed from June 20-July 18. To keep up to date on alternate routes and detours, go to http://www.chestervermont.org/
Broadband VT website: The state of Vermont unveiled a new website Thursday to provide information about where broadband is available in the state. Flush with more than $400 million, mainly in federal stimulus funds, the state has launched several projects to get broadband and cell service widely seen as key to economic development, to all the state's hamlets and rural back roads. However, the maps included at the website http://www.broadbandvt.org/ are still not accurate but the state is trying to fix that. Burlington Free Press
3. Cavendish Teacher Wins Science Award
CTES fifth grade teacher, Ann Thompson, was Vermont’s recipient of the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level.~ Each year the award alternates between teachers teaching kindergarten through 6th grade and those teaching 7th through12th grades. The 2010 awardees named today teach kindergarten through 6th grade.
Winners of this Presidential honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They also receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and the Administration.
Thompson, the Vermont has taught at CTES for 18 years.~ She received her B.A Degree from Ithaca College and earned her M.A degree from Castleton State College through the Vermont Science Initiative. Ann is an accomplished elementary teacher across curricular areas who excels in project based learning, creating authentic and meaningful real world experiences in her classroom. For many years, students have benefited from her commitment to high expectations, creative lesson planning, varied instructional approaches and challenging problem solving activities. Ann’s capacity to seamlessly integrate multiple subjects into thematic units and use technology in meaningful ways is characteristic of her professional practice. A frequent contributor to statewide curricular and professional development initiatives, she is well known and respected by students, parents and colleagues.
4. New Prayer Service at Calvary Church
On Tuesdays , the Calvary Church, on Route 103 is holding a prayer service to the community to pray for global, national, state, community, church, and personal needs! While it starts at 7pm and ends at 8pm, folks are welcome to come and go as they please. FMI: 226-7607
5. Ludlow’s Farmer Market Has Vendor Space
Space vendors is still available for the Friday Farmer’s Market held each week during the summer and early. Layout will be different this year as almost all vendors will be able to have their vehicles at their space [with the exception of the center spaces around the maple trees].First market Day is May 27 (Memorial Day Weekend). FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org
6. Postal Food Drive on Saturday
Mail carriers from post offices across Vermont will be picking up nonperishable food items along with regular mail, for the United Way’s 19th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. Both Cavendish and Proctorsville will have donation boxes set up. Food will go directly to area food shelves, which in Cavendish’s case will be Black River Good Neighbor. Suggested donations include non perishables such as canned soups, stews, peanut butter etc.
7. Classifieds
For Rent: 3 bedroom, 1 bath house, pet friendly, outstanding elementary school, 5 minutes to Okemo, nice, small yard, quaint, charming in Cavendish village. Available 8/1/11. Call 802-353-3859 for more info.
8. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: House Resolution HCR 147
These posts are made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society and are archived at the CHS Blog.
Concurrent House Resolution H.C. R. 147 commemorates the incorporation of Vermont Towns observing their 250th anniversary in 2011. Copies of the resolution have been given to the Town Office and to the Cavendish Historical Society by Cavendish Representative Ernie Shand. A copy of the Resolution can be seen online.
9. Cavendish Events 5/13-5/20
May 14 (Saturday): Household Hazardous Waste Collection, Springfield Recycling Center, 9-12. For District residents and businesses only. No pre-registration for District residents. Businesses will be charged for disposal costs and must pre-register. FMI: www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org or 802-674-9235. The next collection of this type will not be until Sept.
May 15 (Sunday): 4-5 pm - facilitated meditation with Robin. FMI: 226-7736
May 16 (Monday): The Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce is holding an informational meeting about a nine day inclusive trip to China on March 26, 2012 sponsored by the Chamber. The tour operator, Citslink will provide an orientation in the Cornerstone room at the Jackson Gore Inn. You do not have to be a chamber member to participate. The cost is $2,200.
May 16-20 (Monday-Friday): Junk Man in Residency at CTES.
May 17 (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
• Calvary Church, Route 103, Prayer service for global, national, state, community, church, and personal needs! While it starts at 7pm and ends at 8pm, folks are welcome to come and go as they please. FMI: 226-7607
• CTES School Board Meeting, 5:30 pm in the Arts Room.
May 19 (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
• Community Luncheon, 11:30 am . St James United Methodist Church, Main Street, Proctorsville. This month’s menu includes hot and creamy chicken and biscuits with peas and carrots, a tossed salad, and angel cake with berries for dessert. Coffee, hot tea or a fruit drink will be provided. All are welcome A suggested donation of $3.00 for seniors or $4.50 for those under 60 yrs of age is appreciated.
• Coffee with the Chamber: A free continental breakfast to share what the Chamber is doing and how we might be able to help in each community that we serve.
• 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
Saturday, May 7, 2011
May 9 Selectboard Agenda
The May 9 Select Board Meeting will take place 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. Items on the Agenda include:
• Follow up to item 15 from the April meeting, which pertained to flooding problems with the brook that crosses Twenty Mile Stream Road by Slattery and course along and through several properties before going under Main Street (Route 131) eventually letting to the old canal bed and the Black River. The flooding seems to be getting worse and more frequent and all of the affected property owners have been invited to attend this meeting to discuss the problem and hopefully, give input as to a plan to reduce the flood risks.
• Review and sign Certificate of Opening Highway for minor alignment changes made to the intersection of TH#29, Egan RD, and TH #62, Howard Hill RD, in the process of replacing Town Highway Bridge #45 (Howard Hill Bridge) during the 2006-2007 construction.
• Update on Town-wide Appraisal Update activities and the Notice of Reappraisal book, which was recently sent to all Cavendish property owners of record.
• Review correspondence from “VT 100” regarding the23rd Annual VT 100 Endurance Race to be held July 16 & 17, 2011. A part of the endurance course utilizes Birmingham , Atkinson, Brook and South Reading Roads in Cavendish. The proceeds from this race benefits VT Adaptive Ski and Sports, which provides great recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
• Updates on various town activities including highway maintenance and staffing; progress on Rt 131 property closing; Green Up Day, 250th Anniversary Committee, the Carlton Rd development project, etc.
• Follow up to item 15 from the April meeting, which pertained to flooding problems with the brook that crosses Twenty Mile Stream Road by Slattery and course along and through several properties before going under Main Street (Route 131) eventually letting to the old canal bed and the Black River. The flooding seems to be getting worse and more frequent and all of the affected property owners have been invited to attend this meeting to discuss the problem and hopefully, give input as to a plan to reduce the flood risks.
• Review and sign Certificate of Opening Highway for minor alignment changes made to the intersection of TH#29, Egan RD, and TH #62, Howard Hill RD, in the process of replacing Town Highway Bridge #45 (Howard Hill Bridge) during the 2006-2007 construction.
• Update on Town-wide Appraisal Update activities and the Notice of Reappraisal book, which was recently sent to all Cavendish property owners of record.
• Review correspondence from “VT 100” regarding the23rd Annual VT 100 Endurance Race to be held July 16 & 17, 2011. A part of the endurance course utilizes Birmingham , Atkinson, Brook and South Reading Roads in Cavendish. The proceeds from this race benefits VT Adaptive Ski and Sports, which provides great recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
• Updates on various town activities including highway maintenance and staffing; progress on Rt 131 property closing; Green Up Day, 250th Anniversary Committee, the Carlton Rd development project, etc.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Cavendish Update 5/6/11 John Brown/Events/Green Up Day
The 5/6/11 Cavendish Update Contains
1. Cavendish Green-Up Activities for 2011
2. VT 15th Least Affordable Place to Live in the Nation
3. BRGN 3rd Annual Spring Rummage Sale
4. Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce News
5. Walk and Talk Series in Cavendish
6. Cavendish Civil War: A letter regarding John Brown’s stay in Proctorsville
7. Snow Academy Applications for McCostis Scholarship Fund Now Being Accepted
8. Cavendish Events 5/6/11-5/13/11
1. Cavendish Green-Up Activities for 2011
The official state Green-Up Day is Saturday May 7. In keeping with this, any one that would like to participate on Saturday may pick up official Green-Up bags at the Town Office during the week prior, do roadside clean-up on Green-Up Saturday (or any day during the week prior) and then take the filled bags and other debris collected to the Cavendish Transfer Station for free disposal. The free Green-Up debris disposal will be honored on May 7 only.
The Cavendish School Green Up participation is Tuesday May 10. Adults are encouraged to participate. Meet at 2 pm at the Town Highway Garage on Main Street (Rt 131) in Cavendish and get your assignment. Work gloves; green-up bags; and safety vests will be provided. The Transfer Station will be open between 4:30 and 5:00 pm for proper disposal. A BBQ will take place at 5 at the Cavendish Park, behind the Town Office and will include hot dogs, hamburgers and a veggie option.
Special note, 2011 is Vermont’s 41st Green Up Day and it’s Cavendish’s 250th Anniversary. Let’s keep this tradition going! We need your help. FMI: 226-7291
2. VT 15th Least Affordable Place to Live in the Nation
A national report confirms that renters in Vermont struggle to find affordable places to live. In 2010, Vermont is ranked the 15th least affordable state in the nation, according to a new report jointly released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), a Washington, DC-based housing advocacy group, and the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (VAHC). The Vermont Housing Wage is estimated at $19.04. This is the 15th highest Housing Wage in the nation and the 4th highest growth rate for Housing Wage change from 2000-2010, at 65%.The Housing Wage is the amount per hour, working full time, and only paying 30% of their income on housing, that an individual would have to make to afford a two-bedroom apartment. Affordability has also declined in the rural areas of Vermont; rural Vermont ranks 8th highest for the most expensive rural areas in the nation. Vermont’s Housing Wage for the rural areas of Vermont is $16.91, a 58% increase since 2000. This ranks Vermont as the 5th highest increase for rural, non-metro areas nationally. Working at the minimum wage in Vermont, a family must have 2.3 wage earners working full-time – or one full-time earner working 93 hours per week at minimum wage – to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. Press Release VT Digger
3. BRGN 3rd Annual Spring Rummage Sale
Black River Good Neighbor Services is holding a gigantic Spring Rummage Sale at Fletcher Farm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 20, 21 & 22 from 10am until 4pm on Friday and Saturday and until 2pm on Sunday. All proceeds from this sale go to benefit the needy in the area. here is what you can do to help:
• If you have anything to donate, please call Audrey Bridge at 802-228-3663 to arrange a drop off time. Drop offs will be accepted at Fletcher Farm starting May 16th but be sure to call so someone can be scheduled to meet you and accept your donation. Fletcher Farm’s Barn is located at 611 Route 103 S. We are accepting Summer clothing (please hold winter items for the Fall Rummage Sale). Furniture will be accepted gratefully (nothing broken or torn please). Please do not donate items that are stained, ripped or broken. If you are unable to drop off a furniture donation, it can be picked up by our volunteers if arrangements are made in advance.
• If you have a vehicle and some time, Black River Good Neighbor Services could use your help to move items from Mill Street to Fletcher Farm.
• Volunteers are needed to help work the sale as well as setup, so please come and help.
• There will be a table selling baked goods. So, if you can bake an item to donate for selling, please do so. This proved to be a very popular addition to the Rummage Sale.
• Please come and buy some of the great bargains.
FMI: Audrey Bridge at the Black River Good Neighbor Services Thrift Shop at 37B Main Street or call her at 802-228-3663 or email her at BRGNS@tds.net for further details. Details can also be found at www.brgn.org.
4. Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce News
The May edition of the May Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce News has been posted to the Cavendish Update Blog.
5. Walk and Talk Series in Cavendish
On Thursday, May 12 the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will continue its Walk and Talk Series with a focus on beavers and wetland habitat. Tim O’Donoghue, Cavendish resident and wildlife biologist will take us to a newly created beaver pond where we will observe the way the landscape has changed and the different animals that are drawn to a wetland area.
The event will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and we will meet at the Cavendish Town office. Be sure to wear good walking shoes or boots as the area may well be wet. In case of rain we will have a power point presentation in the Town Office meeting room. The Community and Conservation Association is collecting data on wildlife in Cavendish, specifically moose, bear, fishers and bobcats. We will have our map on hand for anyone who would like to add a sighting.
Also, please save the date for the next event. On June 12th we will sponsor an early morning bird walk with Alma Beals of the Audubon Society.
FMI: Tim O’Donoghue at 226-7023 or Robin Timko at 226-7736
6. Cavendish Civil War: A letter regarding John Brown’s stay in Proctorsville
These posts are made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) and are archived at the CHS Blog.
This past week, Linda Welch, the CHS genealogist, e-mailed a letter written by Henry Bridge Atherton, a lawyer from Cavendish, to John Redparth, a biographer of John Brown, the famous abolitionist. Below is a copy of the letter, which further adds to the knowledge that Cavendish played an interesting role in the Civil War era. Not only was Governor Ryland Fletcher, from Cavendish, but he was a staunch abolitionist.
The letter indicates that not only was Brown seeking guns and money to help with his cause, but that he had begun to lay out the plans for the eventual insurrections in Kansas, which led to the death of five people that were pro slavery .
Unfortunately, the last page of the what was most likely a five page letter, is missing.
Proctorsville, VT Mary 9th, 1882
James Redparth Esq
I have sometimes thought the day would come where your publishers would issue another edition of your “Public Life of John Brown,” which was 1st published at Boston in 1860 by Thayer and Eldridge 11 St and 116 Washington St. I have been recently reading that book, and it occurs to me that, inview of the events following the execution of the old hero-the man-the freedom of the slave, the political results of the execution-and the history of our country in the past quarter of a century-you might perhaps to write that book and, if so, I would want a copy to side by side with the copy I now have in my library. John Brown and his son, Owen, I think it was, came here in the last days of Dec. 1856 or in the early part of January 1857- and spent some time on those days at my office-boarding at the Village Hotel. At that time I held the office of Secretary of the VT Senate- and our Governor-Hon. Ryland Fletcher, a brother of the late Hon. Richard Fletcher, of Boston, and Judge of Mass. Sup. Court- now my new neighbor. Our Legislature at the previous Oct. Session at Montpelier had passed an act authorizing Gov. Fletcher, in his discretion to furnish funds to an amount not exceeding twenty thousand dollars -$20,000-for the relief of the suffering citizens of Kansas-as you will find by reference to the session laws of 1856 in the Library-Our state casual care of __ General Gundry of Vergennes, VT had on hand quite an amount of guns-out of date & useless to our State. Gundry was authorized to sell or dispose of them. In some way John Brown had learned of these facts—and came here to examine the laws-and to confer with Gov. Fletcher. The Old man told us that the generosity of the people had so supplied the citizens of Kansas with food and clothing as none of this __ appropriation would be thus needed, least be thought possibly the Gov. might be authorized to let him have some of the old guns from the state Arsenal-He became satisfied on looking at the law, that Gov. Fletcher could not appropriate guns for the Defense of Freedom in the direction indicated. The Old man told us his objectives to enlist young men-pious and patriotic determined young men-not wild and -- profane ones in his service and that he proposed to rendezvous at Tabor in Iowa-just over the boarders from Kansas and await events. He showed me the enlistment papers as drawn up by him and most neatly executed. He said he expected on the return of Spring in 1857- the Missourians-becoming supplied themselves with a new stock of whiskey, would again invade Kansas-and he wishes to be ready to repel them. He said that courage of those invaders depended very much on the amount of whiskey they had. He was very conscientious-writing at my office table many letters in the time he was here. I offered him paper, envelopes—postage stamps-and he always left the dimes in the box to pay for them. The son was a light complexioned and sandy haired youth as compared with the father-they had the chains with them-that the borders….
7. Snow Academy Applications for McCostis Scholarship Fund Now Being Accepted
The McCostis Scholarship Fund (MSF), a part of the Ludlow Teen Center (LTC), was established in 2004, to provide Okemo Valley youth an opportunity to pursue excellence through skiing and snowboard training. Started by Sue McCostis, an LTC Board member and an Okemo Mountain ski instructor, the fund was continued by her husband Dick McCostis, Safety Ambassador and ski instructor at Okemo Mountain, and head of the Windsor County Court Diversion Program. With his passing in July 2007, the MSF has continued through the support of friends and the Okemo community. The Fund has added additional scholarships-The Kevin Stillwell Snowboarding Scholarship, Than Durgin Snowboarding Scholarship, Peter Noyes Skiing Scholarship and the George Shaw Skiing Scholarship.
Applications for scholarships for athletes who wish to attend snow academies, such as Okemo Mountain School (OMS), are now being accepted until June 30. Applications for weekend programs and target terms will be accepted from September 1-Oct. 31.
Applicants for the Academy Snow Scholarships must:
• Be a full time resident of Ludlow, Cavendish, Proctorsville, Chester, Perkinsville, Springfield, Mt. Holly or Plymouth VT.
• Be enrolled in grades 7th-12th and in good academic standing
• Have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to skiing or snowboarding
• Parents or guardians are in need of financial support and are supportive of their child’s pursuit of training
• Plan to attend a snow academy full time for at least five months during the 11-12 winter season
The size of scholarships will be based on need and available funds. Academy scholarship recipients, and their families, are required to assist with fundraising. Recipients can increase the amount of their scholarship through participation in fundraising activities.
Those interested in applying must submit a completed application by June 30, 2011. Award notifications will be made by July 15, 2011. Applications can be obtained at the MSF website www.mccostisscholarshipshipfund.blogspot.com. Please note: An application is not considered complete until the tax information and letter from the coach/teacher has been received.
FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net
8. Cavendish Events 5/6/11-5/13/11
May 7 (Saturday): Vermont Green Up Day
• Kentucky Derby Gala, 5 pm - 11 pm at the Pot Belly Pub & Restaurant, Main Street, Ludlow, VT to benefit LPC-TV. Enjoy Mint Juleps, Southern fare, Kentucky Derby Pie and of course The Kentucky Derby! It will be a night at the races with an interactive wagering experience, raffles and music by 'Union Street' featuring Mark Huntley. Derby attire is encouraged. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door and are available at: People's Bank, The Belmont General Store, The Wine and Cheese Depot, Berkshire Bank, Ludlow Insurance, BRACC & LPCTV. FMI: Lisa at 802-228-7690, Kathy at 802-228-8777 or Michelle at 802-228-8808.
May 8 (Sunday): Happy Mother’s Day.
• Facilitated Meditation - 4 to 5 p.m. For more information contact Robin at 226-7736.
May 9 (Monday): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm. This event is taped by LPC-TV and can be watched on Comcast cable channels or at the website. Check the Cavendish Update blog for the Agenda, which will be posted when received.
May 10 (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’s Green Up Day.
May 11 (Wednesday): Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce Mixer at Outback Pizza, Ludlow, 5: 30-7:30.
May 12 (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
• The Cavendish Conservation Association will give the next presentation in their Walk and Talk series. Beaver Ponds and Wetland Habitat, 6-8 p.m. Meet at the Town Office for an orientation and then proceed for an on site visit to a newly created beaver pond. In the event of rain, there will be a power-point presentation in the Town Office. This event will be led by wildlife biologist and Cavendish resident Tim O'Donoghue. FMI: Tim at 226-7023 or Robin at 226-7736
• GMUHS School Board Meeting, 5 pm at the High School
• 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
1. Cavendish Green-Up Activities for 2011
2. VT 15th Least Affordable Place to Live in the Nation
3. BRGN 3rd Annual Spring Rummage Sale
4. Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce News
5. Walk and Talk Series in Cavendish
6. Cavendish Civil War: A letter regarding John Brown’s stay in Proctorsville
7. Snow Academy Applications for McCostis Scholarship Fund Now Being Accepted
8. Cavendish Events 5/6/11-5/13/11
1. Cavendish Green-Up Activities for 2011
The official state Green-Up Day is Saturday May 7. In keeping with this, any one that would like to participate on Saturday may pick up official Green-Up bags at the Town Office during the week prior, do roadside clean-up on Green-Up Saturday (or any day during the week prior) and then take the filled bags and other debris collected to the Cavendish Transfer Station for free disposal. The free Green-Up debris disposal will be honored on May 7 only.
The Cavendish School Green Up participation is Tuesday May 10. Adults are encouraged to participate. Meet at 2 pm at the Town Highway Garage on Main Street (Rt 131) in Cavendish and get your assignment. Work gloves; green-up bags; and safety vests will be provided. The Transfer Station will be open between 4:30 and 5:00 pm for proper disposal. A BBQ will take place at 5 at the Cavendish Park, behind the Town Office and will include hot dogs, hamburgers and a veggie option.
Special note, 2011 is Vermont’s 41st Green Up Day and it’s Cavendish’s 250th Anniversary. Let’s keep this tradition going! We need your help. FMI: 226-7291
2. VT 15th Least Affordable Place to Live in the Nation
A national report confirms that renters in Vermont struggle to find affordable places to live. In 2010, Vermont is ranked the 15th least affordable state in the nation, according to a new report jointly released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), a Washington, DC-based housing advocacy group, and the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (VAHC). The Vermont Housing Wage is estimated at $19.04. This is the 15th highest Housing Wage in the nation and the 4th highest growth rate for Housing Wage change from 2000-2010, at 65%.The Housing Wage is the amount per hour, working full time, and only paying 30% of their income on housing, that an individual would have to make to afford a two-bedroom apartment. Affordability has also declined in the rural areas of Vermont; rural Vermont ranks 8th highest for the most expensive rural areas in the nation. Vermont’s Housing Wage for the rural areas of Vermont is $16.91, a 58% increase since 2000. This ranks Vermont as the 5th highest increase for rural, non-metro areas nationally. Working at the minimum wage in Vermont, a family must have 2.3 wage earners working full-time – or one full-time earner working 93 hours per week at minimum wage – to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. Press Release VT Digger
3. BRGN 3rd Annual Spring Rummage Sale
Black River Good Neighbor Services is holding a gigantic Spring Rummage Sale at Fletcher Farm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 20, 21 & 22 from 10am until 4pm on Friday and Saturday and until 2pm on Sunday. All proceeds from this sale go to benefit the needy in the area. here is what you can do to help:
• If you have anything to donate, please call Audrey Bridge at 802-228-3663 to arrange a drop off time. Drop offs will be accepted at Fletcher Farm starting May 16th but be sure to call so someone can be scheduled to meet you and accept your donation. Fletcher Farm’s Barn is located at 611 Route 103 S. We are accepting Summer clothing (please hold winter items for the Fall Rummage Sale). Furniture will be accepted gratefully (nothing broken or torn please). Please do not donate items that are stained, ripped or broken. If you are unable to drop off a furniture donation, it can be picked up by our volunteers if arrangements are made in advance.
• If you have a vehicle and some time, Black River Good Neighbor Services could use your help to move items from Mill Street to Fletcher Farm.
• Volunteers are needed to help work the sale as well as setup, so please come and help.
• There will be a table selling baked goods. So, if you can bake an item to donate for selling, please do so. This proved to be a very popular addition to the Rummage Sale.
• Please come and buy some of the great bargains.
FMI: Audrey Bridge at the Black River Good Neighbor Services Thrift Shop at 37B Main Street or call her at 802-228-3663 or email her at BRGNS@tds.net for further details. Details can also be found at www.brgn.org.
4. Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce News
The May edition of the May Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce News has been posted to the Cavendish Update Blog.
5. Walk and Talk Series in Cavendish
On Thursday, May 12 the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will continue its Walk and Talk Series with a focus on beavers and wetland habitat. Tim O’Donoghue, Cavendish resident and wildlife biologist will take us to a newly created beaver pond where we will observe the way the landscape has changed and the different animals that are drawn to a wetland area.
The event will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and we will meet at the Cavendish Town office. Be sure to wear good walking shoes or boots as the area may well be wet. In case of rain we will have a power point presentation in the Town Office meeting room. The Community and Conservation Association is collecting data on wildlife in Cavendish, specifically moose, bear, fishers and bobcats. We will have our map on hand for anyone who would like to add a sighting.
Also, please save the date for the next event. On June 12th we will sponsor an early morning bird walk with Alma Beals of the Audubon Society.
FMI: Tim O’Donoghue at 226-7023 or Robin Timko at 226-7736
6. Cavendish Civil War: A letter regarding John Brown’s stay in Proctorsville
These posts are made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) and are archived at the CHS Blog.
This past week, Linda Welch, the CHS genealogist, e-mailed a letter written by Henry Bridge Atherton, a lawyer from Cavendish, to John Redparth, a biographer of John Brown, the famous abolitionist. Below is a copy of the letter, which further adds to the knowledge that Cavendish played an interesting role in the Civil War era. Not only was Governor Ryland Fletcher, from Cavendish, but he was a staunch abolitionist.
The letter indicates that not only was Brown seeking guns and money to help with his cause, but that he had begun to lay out the plans for the eventual insurrections in Kansas, which led to the death of five people that were pro slavery .
Unfortunately, the last page of the what was most likely a five page letter, is missing.
Proctorsville, VT Mary 9th, 1882
James Redparth Esq
I have sometimes thought the day would come where your publishers would issue another edition of your “Public Life of John Brown,” which was 1st published at Boston in 1860 by Thayer and Eldridge 11 St and 116 Washington St. I have been recently reading that book, and it occurs to me that, inview of the events following the execution of the old hero-the man-the freedom of the slave, the political results of the execution-and the history of our country in the past quarter of a century-you might perhaps to write that book and, if so, I would want a copy to side by side with the copy I now have in my library. John Brown and his son, Owen, I think it was, came here in the last days of Dec. 1856 or in the early part of January 1857- and spent some time on those days at my office-boarding at the Village Hotel. At that time I held the office of Secretary of the VT Senate- and our Governor-Hon. Ryland Fletcher, a brother of the late Hon. Richard Fletcher, of Boston, and Judge of Mass. Sup. Court- now my new neighbor. Our Legislature at the previous Oct. Session at Montpelier had passed an act authorizing Gov. Fletcher, in his discretion to furnish funds to an amount not exceeding twenty thousand dollars -$20,000-for the relief of the suffering citizens of Kansas-as you will find by reference to the session laws of 1856 in the Library-Our state casual care of __ General Gundry of Vergennes, VT had on hand quite an amount of guns-out of date & useless to our State. Gundry was authorized to sell or dispose of them. In some way John Brown had learned of these facts—and came here to examine the laws-and to confer with Gov. Fletcher. The Old man told us that the generosity of the people had so supplied the citizens of Kansas with food and clothing as none of this __ appropriation would be thus needed, least be thought possibly the Gov. might be authorized to let him have some of the old guns from the state Arsenal-He became satisfied on looking at the law, that Gov. Fletcher could not appropriate guns for the Defense of Freedom in the direction indicated. The Old man told us his objectives to enlist young men-pious and patriotic determined young men-not wild and -- profane ones in his service and that he proposed to rendezvous at Tabor in Iowa-just over the boarders from Kansas and await events. He showed me the enlistment papers as drawn up by him and most neatly executed. He said he expected on the return of Spring in 1857- the Missourians-becoming supplied themselves with a new stock of whiskey, would again invade Kansas-and he wishes to be ready to repel them. He said that courage of those invaders depended very much on the amount of whiskey they had. He was very conscientious-writing at my office table many letters in the time he was here. I offered him paper, envelopes—postage stamps-and he always left the dimes in the box to pay for them. The son was a light complexioned and sandy haired youth as compared with the father-they had the chains with them-that the borders….
7. Snow Academy Applications for McCostis Scholarship Fund Now Being Accepted
The McCostis Scholarship Fund (MSF), a part of the Ludlow Teen Center (LTC), was established in 2004, to provide Okemo Valley youth an opportunity to pursue excellence through skiing and snowboard training. Started by Sue McCostis, an LTC Board member and an Okemo Mountain ski instructor, the fund was continued by her husband Dick McCostis, Safety Ambassador and ski instructor at Okemo Mountain, and head of the Windsor County Court Diversion Program. With his passing in July 2007, the MSF has continued through the support of friends and the Okemo community. The Fund has added additional scholarships-The Kevin Stillwell Snowboarding Scholarship, Than Durgin Snowboarding Scholarship, Peter Noyes Skiing Scholarship and the George Shaw Skiing Scholarship.
Applications for scholarships for athletes who wish to attend snow academies, such as Okemo Mountain School (OMS), are now being accepted until June 30. Applications for weekend programs and target terms will be accepted from September 1-Oct. 31.
Applicants for the Academy Snow Scholarships must:
• Be a full time resident of Ludlow, Cavendish, Proctorsville, Chester, Perkinsville, Springfield, Mt. Holly or Plymouth VT.
• Be enrolled in grades 7th-12th and in good academic standing
• Have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to skiing or snowboarding
• Parents or guardians are in need of financial support and are supportive of their child’s pursuit of training
• Plan to attend a snow academy full time for at least five months during the 11-12 winter season
The size of scholarships will be based on need and available funds. Academy scholarship recipients, and their families, are required to assist with fundraising. Recipients can increase the amount of their scholarship through participation in fundraising activities.
Those interested in applying must submit a completed application by June 30, 2011. Award notifications will be made by July 15, 2011. Applications can be obtained at the MSF website www.mccostisscholarshipshipfund.blogspot.com. Please note: An application is not considered complete until the tax information and letter from the coach/teacher has been received.
FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net
8. Cavendish Events 5/6/11-5/13/11
May 7 (Saturday): Vermont Green Up Day
• Kentucky Derby Gala, 5 pm - 11 pm at the Pot Belly Pub & Restaurant, Main Street, Ludlow, VT to benefit LPC-TV. Enjoy Mint Juleps, Southern fare, Kentucky Derby Pie and of course The Kentucky Derby! It will be a night at the races with an interactive wagering experience, raffles and music by 'Union Street' featuring Mark Huntley. Derby attire is encouraged. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door and are available at: People's Bank, The Belmont General Store, The Wine and Cheese Depot, Berkshire Bank, Ludlow Insurance, BRACC & LPCTV. FMI: Lisa at 802-228-7690, Kathy at 802-228-8777 or Michelle at 802-228-8808.
May 8 (Sunday): Happy Mother’s Day.
• Facilitated Meditation - 4 to 5 p.m. For more information contact Robin at 226-7736.
May 9 (Monday): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm. This event is taped by LPC-TV and can be watched on Comcast cable channels or at the website. Check the Cavendish Update blog for the Agenda, which will be posted when received.
May 10 (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’s Green Up Day.
May 11 (Wednesday): Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce Mixer at Outback Pizza, Ludlow, 5: 30-7:30.
May 12 (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
• The Cavendish Conservation Association will give the next presentation in their Walk and Talk series. Beaver Ponds and Wetland Habitat, 6-8 p.m. Meet at the Town Office for an orientation and then proceed for an on site visit to a newly created beaver pond. In the event of rain, there will be a power-point presentation in the Town Office. This event will be led by wildlife biologist and Cavendish resident Tim O'Donoghue. FMI: Tim at 226-7023 or Robin at 226-7736
• GMUHS School Board Meeting, 5 pm at the High School
• 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
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
May Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce News
Welcome to Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
After a year and one month we received our Scenic Route 100 Byway designation! Our byway runs 38 miles from Andover to Pittsfield.
Scenic Route 100 Byway passes through several scenic, natural, historic, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Along this route people can enjoy Vermont mountains and valleys, rivers and streams, ponds and lakes, and historic village centers.
Having a byway pass through several towns in and around the Okemo Valley will not only create more recreational activities, but will also help promote business for our local economy. Byway maps will be presented at trade shows and welcome centers for both locals and visitors to enjoy.
Our next step is to obtain a grant to help create a logo, marketing materials, brochures, website and signage. Our phase 2 goal is to continue it north to hook up with the Mad River Byway and south to connect with the Molly Stark Byway.
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Village designations - Both Ludlow and Chester are finalizing their applications for Village Center designation. Our next step would be to make them wireless zones. Ludlow is being done as part of the e-vermont grant and we're working with the SWCRPC to help our other communities, in developing a broadband plan, identifying needs, and strategies to address those needs.
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We are creating an economic development video for the Okemo Valley. The goal is to interview existing businesses to identify why it's fun to live and work here. We want to attract like-minded businesses to our area. We will run this video loop on our website, at trade shows and fairs, and have on hand to send to interested parties.
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Chester Bridge update: The Chamber has been working with our legislators over the last two years, the State of Vermont, the Town of Chester, the business community, other Chambers, and ChesterUnited, to coordinate signage, brochure, and map distribution, so we have a coordinated marketing effort for when the bridges close.
The State, along with the Town of Chester are having signs and maps made for the Interstate and exit ramps of Exits 6 and 7.
The Chamber will push the information out on our mobile app, website, and other Chamber sites. We secured a display case for Chester businesses at the Guilford Welcome Center for the month of July.
The Vermont Country Store is handling press releases and will be building and staffing a Visitor Information Center at their Rockingham location for dissemination of information.
ChesterUnited is having maps, posters and flags made. Businesses and residents can display them to give the town a visual unity. ChesterUnited is asking for a $10 donation towards the costs.
Gallery 103 is forming a committee to plan a bridge reopening party. We have all been working really hard to minimize the effects of the bridge closings.
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Coffee with the Chamber. We are hosting free continental breakfasts in each town, to share with the community what the Chamber is doing, and how we might be able to help in each community that we serve. Please join us at 8am.
May 19th - Crows Bakery and Opera House Cafe -Proctorsville
June tbd - Mount Holly Community Center- Belmont
July 12 - Fullerton Inn - Chester
August 15 - Java Baba - Ludlow
September 15 - Wilder House Restaurant at President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth
October 24 - Bryant House - Weston
SHOWS & FAIRS the Chamber will be attending:
May 26, VT Business & Industry Conference in Burlington.
June 25, Fair Haven Welcome Center
Sept 9 - 11, Made in Vermont Festival in Burlington
Sept 22 & 23, Big E in Agawam Mass.
The Chamber took tables at these events so our members can showcase their products and services at no charge. We will be handing out our new Summer/Fall Regional Guidebooks at these events.
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Other member benefits include:
1. LaValley Building Supply invites Chamber members to become an Okemo Valley/LaValley Retail Member. Show your M2M card and fill out a LaValley/Middleton member form. Currently this program is to provide a standard 5% discount, however, if you also sign up for the e-member program, you will receive additional savings and the latest specials on products and services. Yard items are not included in this program. Call Ron Godfrey for details 228-4665 or stop in today!!
2. Staples invites Chamber members to join our group discount. We have a master account offering a core list of product savings. Every member will have the opportunity to customize their products for their specific business needs. Call AnnMarie Conklin at 877-482-8027 or email annmarie.conklin@staples.com to sign up for the program.
###
See us in the News:
Okemo Valley advertising includes:
May issue of Yankee Magazine (print, online, email)
May - August issue of Connecticut Magazine (print, online)
May-July Travelhost of Vermont Magazine (in state hotel rooms)
Summer Southern VT Arts & Living Magazine (highlighting festivals, music)
Winter & Summer Vermont Vacation Guides (inside front and inside back covers)
December/January 2012 USA Travel Guide
Okemo Valley Summer/Fall Regional Guidebook Will be out by May 24th
New this year: We are doing a Google Ad Campaign around events in our Valley. Beginning June 21 - July 4 highlighting our July events & end of August - September highlighting our September/October events.
For Service Companies, we are renewing ChamberMail which is a year-long direct mail and internet marketing program targeting new residents in all cities and towns in both Rutland and Windsor counties. Ad pricing starts at $199/year. This monthly mailer is a professionally printed, full-color, digital 9 x 12 inch bi-fold publication emblazoned with our Chamber's logo. New residents are greeted with pictures of local attractions and historic sites from our area, and a warm welcome letter from me, encouraging our new neighbors to take advantage of the member offers inside. With your Okemo Valley ChamberMail ad space, you also receive: Quality New Resident Database, a 94% Guaranteed Deliverable USPS, Free Online Advertising.
For more information, or to save time and buy online, visit Chamber Mail or call Jen Maxwell at 888-531-6775 x6 This will be a May - May program.
###
August 10 Okemo Valley Business Expo at Green Mountain Banquet & Conference Center in Chester from 5:30-7:30pm. Call the chamber to reserve your booth. The expo will highlight dining, shopping, services, health and wellness and green technologies. This will be a retail event where people can "shop the Valley" under one roof.
###
Our next mixer is May 11 at Outback Pizza in Ludlow at 5:30p. Please join us. Great door prizes!!
###
Be sure to watch our show on LPC-TV or online. Our guests include Tisha & Paul Chevalier of Mountain Leather Design in Chester and Shannon Porter of Aromatherapy Designs of Ludlow.
###
Chamber Golf Tournament is Thursday, September 15 at Okemo Valley Golf Club. Please call Mary Knight of Knight Tubs to be on the committee.
###
China trip - SAVE THE DATE - We have an orientation scheduled on May 16 at 5:30pm with Citslink, the tour operator, in the Cornerstone room at the Jackson Gore Inn in Ludlow. Everyone is welcome; chamber members and non-members alike. It's a 9-day all inclusive trip for $2200 leaving on March 26, 2012. This is the trip of a lifetime that I took in March and I highly recommend.
###
Thank you to Bonnie's Bundles for hosting our April mixer. The food was great and was much fun!
###
Chamber Mixers
Join us for our monthly Chamber Mixers on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Bring a door prize if you can.
All Mixers are from 5:30-7:30pm
2011 MIXER LINE UP
May 11- Outback Pizza - Ludlow
May 16 - Citslink orientation to China-Jackson Gore Inn-Ludlow
June 8- Canvasworks Floor Cloths - Weathersfield
July 13 - Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts - Ludlow
August 10- 3rd Annual Okemo Valley Business Expo at Green Mountain Banquet and Conference Center - Chester
Music by Adam Rosenberg. Call now to secure your $99 8' table.
September 14- The Village Green Gallery - Weston
October 12- Berkshire Bank - Ludlow
November 9- Jackson Gore Inn - Ludlow
December 14- Annual Meeting at Stone Hearth Inn & Tavern - Chester
Membership Committee News
The membership committee met on April 22 at 9:00am at Java Babas. Please contact Laura Williams if you want to join our committee.
We welcomed Deanna Wilbur of Grafton, as the new membership assistant. Deanna can be reached at dwilbur@yourplaceinvermont.com. Please send her a welcoming email. She replaced Denise Cote as of 4/20.
We reviewed all 24 new member applications this month. We're thrilled our seven communities (and beyond) appreciate all the efforts and accomplishments the Chamber is making.
We're happy to offer you new member benefit savings at LaValley's and Staples.
We discussed the upcoming August 10 Business Expo and will have sections: Health & Wellness; Services; Dining/Food; Shopping and Green Efficiency sections. Call the Chamber to reserve your $99 table.
###
Please remember to add "Proud Member" button to your website and add the link back to us for greater search engine optimization.
###
Free coupon offer on www.yourplaceinvermont.com
Call 228-7664 Spring River Marketing to get set up. One time $20 set up fee. We can add your coupon to our app as well as website.
###
Be sure to check all Member Benefits on our website. Please call or email Deanna to add or update your M2M Benefit. Let's all do business with each other at a discount. Keep it local and support one another.
Welcome New Members
The Chamber welcomes the following new members:
Springfield Area Adult Day Service - Springfield
Skygate Financial Group - Chester
The Richards Group - Ludlow
Ludlow Dental Center - Ludlow
The Odd Indian -Cavendish
Mount Holly Farmers Market - 259-2386 - Mount Holly
Wilderness Taxidermy - 226-7542 - Cavendish
Mountain Leather Designs - Chester
New England Deck & Patio - Ludlow
Adventure Trek USA, Inc. - Bellows Falls
Crows Bakery & Opera House Cafe - Proctorsville
Celebration Rentals - Brandon
Rose Arbour Tea Room, Gift Shop & B&B - Chester
Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation - Plymouth
Promo Focus - Proctorsville
Peace Positive Yoga - Ludlow
Made In Vermont USA - Barre
Mount Holly Community Association - 259-2562 -Mount Holly
Chester Farmer's Market - Chester/Rockingham
Marion's Floral Shoppe - Ludlow
The Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion - Cavendish
Willow Farm Pet Services - No. Springfield & Chester
Ludlow Rotary Club - Ludlow
Aubuchon Hardware - Ludlow
Marketing Committee News
The marketing committee met April 29 at Java Babas.
We reviewed the Calendar of Events, Coupon Offers and Special Package buttons on our website homepage. Please make sure you email Danielle with your specials and coupons. She will add them to our website and our mobile app for you.
###
We are having an online contest for our mobile app.
People that download our app are put in a monthly drawing to win prizes from the Okemo Valley.
Can you offer us gift certificates and/or prizes that we can send to our monthly winners?
###
It's not too late to get on our app. Take advantage of the special pricing ($100/year) and the opportunity to communicate directly with your customers. Restaurants, be sure to list your menus.
Please make sure to send us your events at least 2 weeks in advance. We can upload them onto the app for you as well as post on our website.
We need to keep the website fresh. Make sure your pictures and text are changed out for the season.
News from our Members
Please join LPCTV in kicking off the LPCTV Capital Campaign!
LPCTV is hosting a Kentucky Derby Gala event on Saturday, May 7th, from 5PM- 11PM at the Pot Belly Restaurant and Pub in Ludlow. Enjoy Mint Juleps, Southern Fare and Kentucky Derby Pie! It will be a great night at the races with an interactive wagering experience, raffles and music for dancing by Union Street (featuring Mark Huntley). Derby attire is encouraged. Tickets are $25 in advance/ $30 at the door. For a $50 donation you have the opportunity to sponsor and name a race horse. Your name or business name will appear on the program and be announced by the MC. If you are interested please respond right away to mstinson750@yahoo.com
LPCTV strives to be a primary source for exchanging information in our region. Keeping people informed, preserving our heritage and building community are what LPCTV is all about! Please consider contributing to the LPCTV Capital Campaign. or 228-8808.
###
Congratulations to our very own, Jim Remy, Okemo Valley Golf Club Vice President, who will be inducted into the PGA Golf Pro Hall of Fame!!!
###
Congratulations Cota & Cota on their 70th Anniversary!
###
Upcoming Events:
Please submit your events to us 2 weeks in advance. If you don't see your event in the calendar, please call us.
Legislative Update
Health Care Passes Senate
Sen. Vince Illuzzi (R-Essex/Orleans) led the charge on Wednesday to amend the health care reform bill, H.202, to allow greater choice of carriers and plans for small businesses starting in 2014 when the new health benefit exchange is implemented. Sens. Hinda Miller (D-Chittenden) and Randy Brock (R-Franklin) also sponsored the amendment that would have specifically allowed HSA-type plans to be sold outside the exchange as long as they were compliant with federal law.
Sens. Illuzzi and Brock also offered an amendment to define small employers as businesses with 50 or fewer employees until 2016 when federal law states that the exchange would be open to businesses with 100 or fewer employees for health care coverage.
Unfortunately, neither amendment passed with the first amendment to expand choice being defeated on a roll call vote of 11-19 and the second amendment limiting the exchange to companies with 50 or fewer employees being defeated 10-20.
In the end, the final vote on the bill was 21-9 in favor.
The bill now moves to a conference committee appointed from members of both the House and the Senate in order to resolve the differences in the two versions of H.202 as passed by the House and the Senate. It is likely this will be done quickly so it can move to the Governor for his signature.
After a year and one month we received our Scenic Route 100 Byway designation! Our byway runs 38 miles from Andover to Pittsfield.
Scenic Route 100 Byway passes through several scenic, natural, historic, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Along this route people can enjoy Vermont mountains and valleys, rivers and streams, ponds and lakes, and historic village centers.
Having a byway pass through several towns in and around the Okemo Valley will not only create more recreational activities, but will also help promote business for our local economy. Byway maps will be presented at trade shows and welcome centers for both locals and visitors to enjoy.
Our next step is to obtain a grant to help create a logo, marketing materials, brochures, website and signage. Our phase 2 goal is to continue it north to hook up with the Mad River Byway and south to connect with the Molly Stark Byway.
###
Village designations - Both Ludlow and Chester are finalizing their applications for Village Center designation. Our next step would be to make them wireless zones. Ludlow is being done as part of the e-vermont grant and we're working with the SWCRPC to help our other communities, in developing a broadband plan, identifying needs, and strategies to address those needs.
###
We are creating an economic development video for the Okemo Valley. The goal is to interview existing businesses to identify why it's fun to live and work here. We want to attract like-minded businesses to our area. We will run this video loop on our website, at trade shows and fairs, and have on hand to send to interested parties.
###
Chester Bridge update: The Chamber has been working with our legislators over the last two years, the State of Vermont, the Town of Chester, the business community, other Chambers, and ChesterUnited, to coordinate signage, brochure, and map distribution, so we have a coordinated marketing effort for when the bridges close.
The State, along with the Town of Chester are having signs and maps made for the Interstate and exit ramps of Exits 6 and 7.
The Chamber will push the information out on our mobile app, website, and other Chamber sites. We secured a display case for Chester businesses at the Guilford Welcome Center for the month of July.
The Vermont Country Store is handling press releases and will be building and staffing a Visitor Information Center at their Rockingham location for dissemination of information.
ChesterUnited is having maps, posters and flags made. Businesses and residents can display them to give the town a visual unity. ChesterUnited is asking for a $10 donation towards the costs.
Gallery 103 is forming a committee to plan a bridge reopening party. We have all been working really hard to minimize the effects of the bridge closings.
###
Coffee with the Chamber. We are hosting free continental breakfasts in each town, to share with the community what the Chamber is doing, and how we might be able to help in each community that we serve. Please join us at 8am.
May 19th - Crows Bakery and Opera House Cafe -Proctorsville
June tbd - Mount Holly Community Center- Belmont
July 12 - Fullerton Inn - Chester
August 15 - Java Baba - Ludlow
September 15 - Wilder House Restaurant at President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth
October 24 - Bryant House - Weston
SHOWS & FAIRS the Chamber will be attending:
May 26, VT Business & Industry Conference in Burlington.
June 25, Fair Haven Welcome Center
Sept 9 - 11, Made in Vermont Festival in Burlington
Sept 22 & 23, Big E in Agawam Mass.
The Chamber took tables at these events so our members can showcase their products and services at no charge. We will be handing out our new Summer/Fall Regional Guidebooks at these events.
###
Other member benefits include:
1. LaValley Building Supply invites Chamber members to become an Okemo Valley/LaValley Retail Member. Show your M2M card and fill out a LaValley/Middleton member form. Currently this program is to provide a standard 5% discount, however, if you also sign up for the e-member program, you will receive additional savings and the latest specials on products and services. Yard items are not included in this program. Call Ron Godfrey for details 228-4665 or stop in today!!
2. Staples invites Chamber members to join our group discount. We have a master account offering a core list of product savings. Every member will have the opportunity to customize their products for their specific business needs. Call AnnMarie Conklin at 877-482-8027 or email annmarie.conklin@staples.com to sign up for the program.
###
See us in the News:
Okemo Valley advertising includes:
May issue of Yankee Magazine (print, online, email)
May - August issue of Connecticut Magazine (print, online)
May-July Travelhost of Vermont Magazine (in state hotel rooms)
Summer Southern VT Arts & Living Magazine (highlighting festivals, music)
Winter & Summer Vermont Vacation Guides (inside front and inside back covers)
December/January 2012 USA Travel Guide
Okemo Valley Summer/Fall Regional Guidebook Will be out by May 24th
New this year: We are doing a Google Ad Campaign around events in our Valley. Beginning June 21 - July 4 highlighting our July events & end of August - September highlighting our September/October events.
For Service Companies, we are renewing ChamberMail which is a year-long direct mail and internet marketing program targeting new residents in all cities and towns in both Rutland and Windsor counties. Ad pricing starts at $199/year. This monthly mailer is a professionally printed, full-color, digital 9 x 12 inch bi-fold publication emblazoned with our Chamber's logo. New residents are greeted with pictures of local attractions and historic sites from our area, and a warm welcome letter from me, encouraging our new neighbors to take advantage of the member offers inside. With your Okemo Valley ChamberMail ad space, you also receive: Quality New Resident Database, a 94% Guaranteed Deliverable USPS, Free Online Advertising.
For more information, or to save time and buy online, visit Chamber Mail or call Jen Maxwell at 888-531-6775 x6 This will be a May - May program.
###
August 10 Okemo Valley Business Expo at Green Mountain Banquet & Conference Center in Chester from 5:30-7:30pm. Call the chamber to reserve your booth. The expo will highlight dining, shopping, services, health and wellness and green technologies. This will be a retail event where people can "shop the Valley" under one roof.
###
Our next mixer is May 11 at Outback Pizza in Ludlow at 5:30p. Please join us. Great door prizes!!
###
Be sure to watch our show on LPC-TV or online. Our guests include Tisha & Paul Chevalier of Mountain Leather Design in Chester and Shannon Porter of Aromatherapy Designs of Ludlow.
###
Chamber Golf Tournament is Thursday, September 15 at Okemo Valley Golf Club. Please call Mary Knight of Knight Tubs to be on the committee.
###
China trip - SAVE THE DATE - We have an orientation scheduled on May 16 at 5:30pm with Citslink, the tour operator, in the Cornerstone room at the Jackson Gore Inn in Ludlow. Everyone is welcome; chamber members and non-members alike. It's a 9-day all inclusive trip for $2200 leaving on March 26, 2012. This is the trip of a lifetime that I took in March and I highly recommend.
###
Thank you to Bonnie's Bundles for hosting our April mixer. The food was great and was much fun!
###
Chamber Mixers
Join us for our monthly Chamber Mixers on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Bring a door prize if you can.
All Mixers are from 5:30-7:30pm
2011 MIXER LINE UP
May 11- Outback Pizza - Ludlow
May 16 - Citslink orientation to China-Jackson Gore Inn-Ludlow
June 8- Canvasworks Floor Cloths - Weathersfield
July 13 - Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts - Ludlow
August 10- 3rd Annual Okemo Valley Business Expo at Green Mountain Banquet and Conference Center - Chester
Music by Adam Rosenberg. Call now to secure your $99 8' table.
September 14- The Village Green Gallery - Weston
October 12- Berkshire Bank - Ludlow
November 9- Jackson Gore Inn - Ludlow
December 14- Annual Meeting at Stone Hearth Inn & Tavern - Chester
Membership Committee News
The membership committee met on April 22 at 9:00am at Java Babas. Please contact Laura Williams if you want to join our committee.
We welcomed Deanna Wilbur of Grafton, as the new membership assistant. Deanna can be reached at dwilbur@yourplaceinvermont.com. Please send her a welcoming email. She replaced Denise Cote as of 4/20.
We reviewed all 24 new member applications this month. We're thrilled our seven communities (and beyond) appreciate all the efforts and accomplishments the Chamber is making.
We're happy to offer you new member benefit savings at LaValley's and Staples.
We discussed the upcoming August 10 Business Expo and will have sections: Health & Wellness; Services; Dining/Food; Shopping and Green Efficiency sections. Call the Chamber to reserve your $99 table.
###
Please remember to add "Proud Member" button to your website and add the link back to us for greater search engine optimization.
###
Free coupon offer on www.yourplaceinvermont.com
Call 228-7664 Spring River Marketing to get set up. One time $20 set up fee. We can add your coupon to our app as well as website.
###
Be sure to check all Member Benefits on our website. Please call or email Deanna to add or update your M2M Benefit. Let's all do business with each other at a discount. Keep it local and support one another.
Welcome New Members
The Chamber welcomes the following new members:
Springfield Area Adult Day Service - Springfield
Skygate Financial Group - Chester
The Richards Group - Ludlow
Ludlow Dental Center - Ludlow
The Odd Indian -Cavendish
Mount Holly Farmers Market - 259-2386 - Mount Holly
Wilderness Taxidermy - 226-7542 - Cavendish
Mountain Leather Designs - Chester
New England Deck & Patio - Ludlow
Adventure Trek USA, Inc. - Bellows Falls
Crows Bakery & Opera House Cafe - Proctorsville
Celebration Rentals - Brandon
Rose Arbour Tea Room, Gift Shop & B&B - Chester
Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation - Plymouth
Promo Focus - Proctorsville
Peace Positive Yoga - Ludlow
Made In Vermont USA - Barre
Mount Holly Community Association - 259-2562 -Mount Holly
Chester Farmer's Market - Chester/Rockingham
Marion's Floral Shoppe - Ludlow
The Inn at Glimmerstone Mansion - Cavendish
Willow Farm Pet Services - No. Springfield & Chester
Ludlow Rotary Club - Ludlow
Aubuchon Hardware - Ludlow
Marketing Committee News
The marketing committee met April 29 at Java Babas.
We reviewed the Calendar of Events, Coupon Offers and Special Package buttons on our website homepage. Please make sure you email Danielle with your specials and coupons. She will add them to our website and our mobile app for you.
###
We are having an online contest for our mobile app.
People that download our app are put in a monthly drawing to win prizes from the Okemo Valley.
Can you offer us gift certificates and/or prizes that we can send to our monthly winners?
###
It's not too late to get on our app. Take advantage of the special pricing ($100/year) and the opportunity to communicate directly with your customers. Restaurants, be sure to list your menus.
Please make sure to send us your events at least 2 weeks in advance. We can upload them onto the app for you as well as post on our website.
We need to keep the website fresh. Make sure your pictures and text are changed out for the season.
News from our Members
Please join LPCTV in kicking off the LPCTV Capital Campaign!
LPCTV is hosting a Kentucky Derby Gala event on Saturday, May 7th, from 5PM- 11PM at the Pot Belly Restaurant and Pub in Ludlow. Enjoy Mint Juleps, Southern Fare and Kentucky Derby Pie! It will be a great night at the races with an interactive wagering experience, raffles and music for dancing by Union Street (featuring Mark Huntley). Derby attire is encouraged. Tickets are $25 in advance/ $30 at the door. For a $50 donation you have the opportunity to sponsor and name a race horse. Your name or business name will appear on the program and be announced by the MC. If you are interested please respond right away to mstinson750@yahoo.com
LPCTV strives to be a primary source for exchanging information in our region. Keeping people informed, preserving our heritage and building community are what LPCTV is all about! Please consider contributing to the LPCTV Capital Campaign. or 228-8808.
###
Congratulations to our very own, Jim Remy, Okemo Valley Golf Club Vice President, who will be inducted into the PGA Golf Pro Hall of Fame!!!
###
Congratulations Cota & Cota on their 70th Anniversary!
###
Upcoming Events:
Please submit your events to us 2 weeks in advance. If you don't see your event in the calendar, please call us.
Legislative Update
Health Care Passes Senate
Sen. Vince Illuzzi (R-Essex/Orleans) led the charge on Wednesday to amend the health care reform bill, H.202, to allow greater choice of carriers and plans for small businesses starting in 2014 when the new health benefit exchange is implemented. Sens. Hinda Miller (D-Chittenden) and Randy Brock (R-Franklin) also sponsored the amendment that would have specifically allowed HSA-type plans to be sold outside the exchange as long as they were compliant with federal law.
Sens. Illuzzi and Brock also offered an amendment to define small employers as businesses with 50 or fewer employees until 2016 when federal law states that the exchange would be open to businesses with 100 or fewer employees for health care coverage.
Unfortunately, neither amendment passed with the first amendment to expand choice being defeated on a roll call vote of 11-19 and the second amendment limiting the exchange to companies with 50 or fewer employees being defeated 10-20.
In the end, the final vote on the bill was 21-9 in favor.
The bill now moves to a conference committee appointed from members of both the House and the Senate in order to resolve the differences in the two versions of H.202 as passed by the House and the Senate. It is likely this will be done quickly so it can move to the Governor for his signature.
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