Cavendish Update 9/9/11 Irene/News/Events

Information can also be posted on the Cavendish VT Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cavendish-Vermont/147333582005710?sk=wall

The 9/9/11 Cavendish Update Contains
1. Irene Recovery
2. Cavendish Related News
3. Cavendish Historical Society Museum Open on Sunday
4. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: 1927 Flood
5. Black River Good Neighbor Fall Rummage Sale
6. Cavendish Events 9/9/11-9/16/11

1. Irene Recovery
As we enter this new phase of identifying damages and where help is needed, please check the Cavendish Upate blog www.cavendishvt.blogspot.com regularly for items and services that people are in need of. Let us know when the need is met so we can delete it from the list. If you have a need, please send an e-mail to margoc@tds.net Please include how you can be contacted.

Recovery Resources: The Irene Recovery Resource Information for Cavendish, VT is posted at http://cavendishvt.blogspot.com/2011/09/irene-recovery-information-for.html
It’s being updated as needed –every few days at this time. PDF copies of the information in handout form will be e-mailed to the Cavendish Library, Town Office and CTES. If you would like to be added to this list, please e-mail margoc@tds.net

Each time the print handout is updated, you will find a different picture in the upper left hand corner. Along with the date, this will help to keep the most current handout available. The next printed handout will be done on Monday and the picture will be the 1927 flood. This past weeks was the Vermont Strong logo.

Clean Up: If you have not checked on your home, which maybe the case for those on vacation or second homeowners, please consider using a professional cleaning service if you have standing water or significant damage. There are health hazards to flooding, which given the length of time since the flood and weather conditions, it could pose a health risk to you and those cleaning.

Cleaning kits are available at the Proctorsville Fire Hall and the Cavendish Town Office. Proctorsville Fire Dept. plans to remain open and available for water until the “boil water” notice is removed.

Donations: A lot of inquiries have been made about making donations to help people in Cavendish who have been impacted by the flood. You can help in the following ways:
• If a friend on neighbor has been directly affected, simply things like a meal, gift certificates (gas, Home Depot, area restaurant, home goods store etc.) offers of baby sitting, carpentry skills, organizing a work party can be helpful.
• There are Irene Relief funds being started and fundraisers happening. Make sure you know how the funds are to be used and it is a reputable organization such as VT Red Cross or Black River Good Neighbors. Some of the local churches have funds as well.

Town Water: The “boil water” notice is still in effect.

Well Being: We’ve received questions and comments about how long it takes to recover emotionally from something like Irene. The good news is that without any intervention the brain naturally returns to a sense of normalcy within a week to ten days. This doesn’t mean you wont feel edgy if it starts to rain heavy. If you are one of those hardest hit, you might find it hard to grasp that people are returning to work, talking about baseball and that life goes on. This is not unusual. You are having to adjust to a much different way of life then your neighbors. As the expression goes “a day at a time.”

LPC-TV: Website has coverage of recovery efforts

BRAT: The Black River Action Team will be at the gazebo in Ludlow's town green on Saturday morning (9/10/11) from 8am till noon. Volunteers are expected to be on hand, looking for places to help out! Individuals, businesses, churches, etc. are all welcome to contact me personally or come by the booth to let us know how we can help. (802) 885-1533 or blackrivercleanup@yahoo.com

2. Cavendish Related News
BISHCA asks insurers to temporarily suspend premium payments for Vermont flood victims: Insurers are asked to provide temporary suspension of premium payments for Vermonters affected by the flooding and not to cancel or refuse coverage due solely to an individual’s status as a victim or evacuee of this disaster. Press Release

ANR Offering Technical Assistance: The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is offering technical assistance to communities and individuals to expedite flood recovery in Vermont. Staff from the agency’s Water Quality Division are available to answer questions and provide technical assistance in connection with work impacting wetlands, lakes and ponds, and involving storm water management. FMI: 802-241-3777or www.vtwaterquality.org Press Release

3. Cavendish Historical Society Museum Open on Sunday
The Cavendish Historical Society will be open this Sunday from 2-4 pm and is beginning to mount a display of the various floods that have impacted the town. If you have photographs of the 1927, 1938, 1973 and 2011 floods, please bring them to the Museum. FMI:margoc@tds.net or 802-226-7807

4. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: 1927 Flood: These posts are made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society and are archived at the CHS Blog.

The largest flood on record in Vermont caused heavy damage in the Black River Valley, particularly Cavendish. A quarter mile long channel avulsion bypassing the Cavendish Gorge eroded approximately 2 million tons of sediment down to bedrock leaving a channel 150 feed deep and 600 feet wide. Seven houses were washed away and the Duttonsville School ended up protruding over the edge of a high sandbank. Redfield Proctor, former Vermont governor, offered $10,000 to restore the schoolhouse. Olin Gay, Chairman of the School Board, proposed using this gift to move the school to a new location. He also proposed that the town raise an additional $5,000 by taxes to put in an auditorium basement, modernize the heating system and install toilets. The school building was moved on big rollers by oxen and horses 400 feet back to a safer location. It had much better facilities than before the flood. A Vermont Standard School until 1928, thanks to the renovations after the flood, Duttonsville was upgraded to a “Superior School,” a status it retained until closing in 1971.

President Calvin Coolidge telegraphs his cousin, Park Pollard, after the flood, wanting to know what he can do for Cavendish. He sent Herbert Hoover, his Secretary of Commerce, to visit the region and to make recommendations. Two Army engineers came to give technical help about relocating the state road.

Note: Articles from the 1927 Flood, as well as pictures, will be at the Museum on Sunday 2-4 pm.

5. Black River Good Neighbor Fall Rummage Sale
Black River Good Neighbor Services (BRGN)is holding a gigantic Fall Rummage Sale at Fletcher Farm in Ludlow on Route 103 south on Friday and Saturday, September 23rd and 24th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday September 25th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. All proceeds from this sale go to benefit the needy in the area. All monies raised will help cover utilities/fuel cost, food and rent assistance for qualified individuals and families in Ludlow, Mt. Holly, Belmont, Proctorsville, Cavendish and Plymouth.

In addition special consideration will be given to Irene flood victims. Any flood victim who has verifiable documentation of loss (such as FEMA documentation or a document from a Town Official) is eligible for special consideration at the rummage sale. Qualified individuals must come to the BRGNS Thrift Shop, prior to the rummage sale, to obtain vouchers. These vouchers will be good at the Rummage Sale only.

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 Saturday, September 17th through Thursday, September 22nd from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fletcher Farm’s Barn is located at 611 Route 103 S. Fall and winter clothing will be especially welcome. Furniture will be accepted gratefully - nothing broken or torn please. Please do not donate clothing items that are stained or ripped. If you are unable to drop off a furniture donation, it can be picked up by our volunteers if arrangements are made in advance.

Volunteers are needed for the following: to help work the sale as well as setup; to make baked goods and canned items; and to donate plastic bags FMI: Audrey Bridge 802-228-3663 or brgns@tds.net

6. Cavendish Events 9/9/11-9/16/11
September 9 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org

September 10 (Saturday): Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District is sponsoring collections for the safe disposal of household hazardous wastes. . The collections will be held at the Springfield Transfer Station and at the Weathersfield Transfer Station from 9:00 a.m. until noon. FMI: 674-9235 or www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org
• BRAT will be at the Ludlow Gazebo to help with clean up. See article in Irene Recovery section. FMI: 802-885-1533 or blackrivercleanup@yahoo.com

September 11 (Sunday): The Cavendish Historical Society Museum will be open from 2-4 pm. See article 3 above. FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net

September 12 (Monday): CTES Opens for School
• Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. Agenda posted to blog as soon as it is received. LPC-TV tapes meetings and makes them available on-line www.lpctv.org and Comcast Cable TV. Check the website for more information.

September 15 (Thursday): 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