Cavendish Update 7/1/11 Water/News/Calendar/Old Home Day

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

The 7/1/11 Cavendish Update Contains:
1.Water Commission Meeting
2. Cavendish Related News
3. The Banners Have Arrived/Old Home Day Events
4. Jane Marks Hart Artist in Resident at Cavendish Library
5. Cavendish Summer Concerts Announced
6. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: Old Home Day
7. July Cavendish Calendar

1. Water Commission Meeting
The Water Commission met on Monday, June 27 and discussed the following:

• Cavendish Municipal Water System-Consumer Confidence Report: The report has been mailed to water users and is posted on-line.

• Carlton Road Project: This is the third time that a representative from USA Properties/Holden Engineering has come to a meeting of town officials to discuss the establishment of 250 units of housing on Carlton Road in Cavendish. This is the area directly across from Williams Store on Route 121.

Jay Hill, a civil engineer, made the presentation for Holden Engineering. While much of the information is the same as previously discussed in two meetings with the Select Board, there was some new information:
• The total number of units is 254, not 250 as previously reported.
• The project would require 70,000 gallons of water daily
• They propose using town water, hooking up to the pipe adjacent to the Williams Store. While they would pay the cost of setting up the system, they plan to turn it over to the town to operate.
• Consideration has been given to establishing private wells for the single homes (proposed 50) as well as community well for the complex.

The Commissioners, which includes Richard Svec, town manager, were very clear that the town’s infrastructure could not support the project. The current town well is close to capacity, and when asked how much water could be provided for such a project currently, the estimate was between zero and 10,000 gallons. Further, if the town did supply the water, they would not be responsible for maintaining their system, which is current practice for the town. Fire protection’s water needs were also discussed. Concern was also raised as to whether swimming pools would be added, particularly since this is going to be a resort community. Basically, the project requires domestic water use as well as fire protection, neither of which the town has sufficient water to provide.

Waste water has been discussed previously, and in May, the town provided Holden with a proposal from the town’s engineers regarding a study of waste disposal at the site. At a previous Select Board meeting, an agreement was reached that USA Properties would pay for a feasibility study using the town’s engineers, Weston and Sampson. It’s been a month since the proposal was sent and Svec has yet to hear back from Holden Engineering/USA Properties on this matter. The Commissioners agreed that a similar study is needed for water.

Again, the issues were raised as to who would purchase these units and whether the project made sense for Cavendish, which does not have the infrastructure to support such a large project.


2. Cavendish Related News
Tax Increases in VT as of July 1: The tax on a pack of cigarettes sold in Vermont will increase 38 cents, to $2.62 a pack. The increased tax is expected to produce more than $4.63 in new revenue the first year. Other tax increases include a so-called provider tax on hospitals, nursing homes and home-health agencies, which is expected to add about $8 million to the state. There will also be a new tax on medical and dental insurance claims, expected to produce nearly $12 million over the coming year. State workers will have a 1.3 percentage point increase in the contribution they make toward their retirement. The increase was part of $12 million in labor savings the Shumlin administration expects to achieve during the coming year. The increased retirement contributions will raise $5.3 million. Burlington Free Press

Fine for failing to have up to date inspection sticker declines: The fine has been $99 for an expired inspection sticker, but a new law reduces the fine to $5 plus fees for a total of $47 if the driver was cited for the violation within 14 days of the inspection's expiration.

VT Ranked as “tax hell” for retirees: Kiplinger's ranks Vermont as the most tax unfriendly state for retirees. Vermont's top billing is due to several factors including that the state has an income tax, a sales tax, an estate tax and relatively high taxes for rooms and meals. Vermont also has one of the highest property tax rates in the country. And of particular concern for retirees -- Vermont grants no exemptions for retirement income and taxes out-of-state pensions fully. Kiplinger

VT/NH Red Cross Appeals for Volunteers: After an extraordinarily busy spring, the Vermont & New Hampshire Valley chapter of the American Red Cross is appealing for more volunteer help. Red Cross officials said Monday that 96 percent of their work force is made up of volunteers, many of whom have pitched in as Vermont coped with record spring rain and flooding around Lake Champlain and Vermont rivers.

Fight the Bite: Vermonters may be swatting more mosquitoes than usual this summer because of the record-breaking spring rains – and some of these insects bring the possibility for mosquito-borne illnesses. Human illness caused by mosquitoes is uncommon in the state, but recent evidence of two, West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, means that it’s worth taking simple precautions to avoid bites. Press Release

Dead Bird Hotline Starts June 21: As part of the surveillance for West Nile virus, the Health Department’s dead bird hotline will start again on June 21. Anyone who finds a dead bird is asked to report it to the Health Department by calling 800-913-1139 during regular business hours. Some of these birds will be tested at the Health Department Laboratory. For more information on West Nile Virus and EEE, visit the Vermont Department of Health website.

E-Waste Recycling Program Begins Friday: Vermont’s new electronic waste (e-waste) recycling program will begin on July 1, providing free and convenient recycling of e-waste to residents, charities, schools, and small businesses.

VT Police Cracking Down on Drivers for 4th of July Weekend: Vermont law enforcement will be out in force with increased activities to include extra patrols and checkpoints beginning July 1 through July 5, 2011. Through Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort), the Vermont State Police will focus on identifying impaired and aggressive drivers over the weekend through added patrols and sobriety checkpoints. Press Release

3. The Banners Have Arrived/Old Home Day Events
Hopefully there will be a few of the Cavendish 250 banners flying tomorrow around the Cavendish Green, as the town’s 250th celebration activities get underway with Old Home Day. One of the things we noticed when we saw the banners is that they can be taken apart, making for two banners. The perfect gift for two people this coming holiday season, or keep one for yourself and give one to a friend. The banners are being sold for $150; two people can split the costs and each have one to hang. A copy of the banner is posted online. Please be sure to let us know if this is going to be a surprise so we can make sure to keep your donation quiet.

To purchase your banner, stop by the 250th booth at Old Home Day and/or send a check for $150 to the 250th Anniversary Fund and mail to Cavendish 250th Anniversary Committee, PO Box 126, Cavendish, VT 05142-0126. To learn more about upcoming 250th Anniversary activities go to the Cavendish Facebook page or www.cavendish250.com

There is much to do at Old Home Day this year. The annual plant sale and Cavendish Historical Society Museum opens at 8:30. Be sure to stop by and see the 250 years of Cavendish History exhibit. The Cavendish Green activities start getting underway around 9:30, with everything in place closer to 10 am. You will find many local vendors have set up booths, some of which will be offering activities for children. From 10-12:45 the Cavendish Historical Society Silent Auction will take place, followed at 1 pm by a live auction. To see what’s up for auction, check out the CHS blog.

If you’d like to eat your way through Old Home Day, there is the Fire Department’s Chicken BBQ, several bake sales, pies, Moonlite Meadows grass fed lamb kabob and beef burgers, and all things strawberry (shortcake and lemonade). There will even be special 4th of July dog biscuits. FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net

4. Jane Marks Hart Artist in Resident at Cavendish Library
A resident of Proctorsville and Westchester County, New York, Hart (A former journalist and author) is a painter and board certified creative arts therapist; and we are pleased to present her work in the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library’s Redfield Proctor Room. Ms. Hart spent more than 35 years writing for various women’s magazines such as Seventeen, Glamour, Ladies Home Journal and Parents before falling in love with painting. She went to graduate school in her 50’s to get a Masters Degree in art therapy. She is also the author of several books including The Hidden Children for which she was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. She is also the co-author of “Old Enough to Know Better”- A Comedy Sketchbook coming to the Ludlow Auditorium in November 2011. . Ms. Hart currently does art therapy with bereaved children and children with cancer and volunteers at the Cavendish Town Elementary School and the senior center in Ludlow.

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

5. Cavendish Summer Concerts Announced
The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association announced that the annual summer music series on the Proctorsville Green will be held again this year on Wednesday nights in July and August. All concerts are free and open to the public and will start at 6:00 p.m., so grab your lawn chair and a cold drink, and join your friends and neighbors to enjoy plenty of rollicking good music from the gazebo.

The lineup will begin on July 13th with the legendary Chris Kleeman and will continue on July 20th with the sounds of Union Street. On July 27th Rick Reddington will play, then on August 3rd the always popular Gypsy Reel will appear, and capping the summer series on August 10th will be the sounds of Rutland’s own Voodoo Alien Blues Band.

The summer concert series has a long history in Proctorsville and many area residents reserve Wednesday evenings to listen to the live music. This is the second year that CCCA has taken on the task of coordinating the events and they are happy to continue the tradition. As always, the concerts will be held rain or shine, and will move to the Cavendish town elementary school just down the street in case of inclement weather. If you would like to help CCCA would like to hear from you. Call Robin at 226-7736 to volunteer or for more information on the concerts.

6. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: Old Home Day
These posts are made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society and are archived at the CHS Blog.

The fifth year of the revival of this custom, it's quite a bit different than Old Home's Day celebrated in the early 1900's.

Because so many people moved away from Vermont, frequently for economic reasons, Old Home Day became a time for family and friends to reconnect with those who remained in town. At the CHS Museum, there is a poster for the September 1901 Old Home Day. Featuring “horribles” (people dressed in costumes), floats and lots of speeches, 2,500 people gathered for this event. The September 1901 issue of “The Vermonter” describes the “Old Home Week” festivities in Cavendish as follows, “The morning parade, headed by the Proctorsville Band, was one of the principal features of the day and was composed of various patriotic and social organizations and floral carriages.” The afternoon featured speeches, with refreshments served at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Halls.

Below is part of the speech given by James Hales Bates at the Old Home Day celebration of 1901. To read the entire speech, go to the CHS Blog.

Non-resident Vermonters frequently have it flung up to them by friends in other states in a mood of sarcastic facetiousness, “Your state of Vermont is a good state to emigrate from.” Well, yes, it is a good state to emigrate from for two sorts of people. One sort is that not large class who have fitted over the border to escape the clutches of the law and find the climate healthier outside. The other sort are those who cannot afford to live here. Not that living is costly, but if beefsteak is five cents a pound and a man has not got the five cents, the beef might as well be fifty; it is out of his reach at either price. There have always been so much ability and energy in the state, and so few things for there to work on except climate, scenery, stone quarries and one another, that thousands have been ground out in the competition, and reluctantly gone into more promising communities where the natives know less and have more, and in these easier fields of action have thriven famously, and made for themselves and their descendants renown and riches. It will be a mighty poor spot on the earth where a Vermonter cannot be found, his eyes and hands wide open for all within reach. A few years ago, a little party of young government engineers engaged in the coast survey were passing a vacant half day, lounging about on the bank of St. Johns River in Florida, finding their pleasure in trifles, as idlers will do. Presently one cried out, “Sail Ho!” and twenty miles away emerging from the horizon, was a solitary coasting sloop beating up the river. All eyes were fixed on it in a long silence. Then a bright youth spoke and said, “I will wager any man here a box of cigars that the name of the captain of that craft is Spaulding and that he is from Vermont.” “The idea is absurd,” said another, “there are not more than five of the crew altogether and it is ridiculous to suppose the captain can be named Spaulding from Vermont. I take that bet and would like to make it dollars instead of cigars.” At last the little craft swung up to the wharf, and a tall solemn Yankee stepped ashore and made her fast. The engineers drew near. “Is Capt. Spaulding aboard?” “Yes, he is in the cabin asleep. Would you like to speak to him?” “I want to ask him what part of Vermont he is from.” “I can tell you that. He is from Cavendish.” If I have omitted any important particular of this illustration of the widespread distribution of the Vermonter, the ex- Secretary of War (Redfield Proctor) who must have had three young officers in his control, will correct me. He is fond of seeing things corrected and put in order.

7. July Cavendish Calendar
July 1 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org

July 2 (Saturday): Old Home Day Visit the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, not only for its annual plant sale, but also for the special display of 250 years of Cavendish history. The Cavendish green will have many vendors set up and will feature a live auction at 1 pm. Be sure to stop by the 250th table and pick up a tote bag made possible by Promo Focus. For more information call 226-7807.
• Library Book Sale: The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library is having a book sale from 10-4 in the library courtyard at 573 Main Street in Proctorsville, VT. The sale includes hundreds of books, movies and audio books. Make a donation and take what you want. FMI: 226-7503
• 4th of July Fireworks Show: 9:30 pm Ludlow. FMI: http://www.yourplaceinvermont.com/4th-of-july-fireworks-show---ludlow.html

July 3 (Sunday): Screening of the film “Life in Windsor County” The film will be shown at 2 pm at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum in Cavendish. For more information call 226-7807.
• Facilitated meditation from 4-5 pm. FMI: Robin Timko 226-7736

July 4 (Monday): Fourth of July. Legal Holiday, banks, schools, town office and library closed

July 5 (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 Charlotte Snyder (802) 226-7343
• Story Time for Preschool and Young Children 10 am at the Cavendish Library.

July 6 (Wednesday): Planning Commission Meeting 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office

July 7 (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 Charlotte Snyder (802) 226-7343
• 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

July 8 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org

July 11 (Monday): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. Agenda posted to blog www.cavendishvt.blogspot.com as soon as it is received. LPC-TV tapes meetings and makes them available on-line and Comcast Cable TV. Check the website for more information.

July 12 (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 Charlotte Snyder (802) 226-7343
• Story Time for Preschool and Young Children 10 am at the Cavendish Library.

July 13 (Wednesday): Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce Mixer 5:30-7:30 pm at Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts, 611 Route 103. FMI and to RSVP: 802-228-5830.
• Chris Kleeman is the featured concert artist at 6 pm at the Proctorsville Green. The concert is free.

July 14 (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 Charlotte Snyder (802) 226-7343
• Tie Dye Day at the Cavendish Library.
• 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

July 15 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org

July 17 (Sunday): Phineas Gage-His Importance Then and Now, includes a walking tour of sites pertaining to the accident with Margo Caulfield, Co-Director of Chronic Conditions Information Network, who has worked in traumatic brain injury (TBI) for over 25 years. For more information call 226-7807.

July 19 (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 Charlotte Snyder (802) 226-7343
• Story Time for Preschool and Young Children 10 am at the Cavendish Library.

July 20 (Wednesday): Union Street Band is the featured concert artist at 6 pm at the Proctorsville Green. The concert is free.

July 21 (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 Charlotte Snyder (802) 226-7343

• 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

July 22 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org

July 26 (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 Charlotte Snyder (802) 226-7343
• Story Time for Preschool and Young Children 10 am at the Cavendish Library.

July 27 (Wednesday): Rick Redington is the featured concert artist at 6 pm at the Proctorsville Green. The concert is free.

July 28 (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 Charlotte Snyder (802) 226-7343

• Free Henna Tattoo Day at the Cavendish Library

• 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

July 29 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org

July 30 (Saturday): First ever Cavendish Town Wide Tag Sale, 9-3 pm. Rain date Aug. 6. Free booth space on the Cavendish and Proctorsville Green for Cavendish residents and second homeowners in outlying areas of town. To reserve booth space call 226-8199 by July 15.