Cavendish Update 3/2/12 News/Events/Civil War/Composters

Information can also be posted on the Cavendish VT Facebook Page

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


The 3/2/12 Cavendish Update Contains the Following:
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Write In’s for Select Board/Town Meeting
3. Composters for Sale/Recycling Resources 2012
4. Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts Winter/Spring Classes
5. Civil War History: Disease the primary killer
6. March Cavendish Calendar

1. Cavendish Related News
State Auditor Says $415,000 Missing from VT School Districts: State Auditor Thomas M. Salmon, CPA, CFE, released a situation report indicating that since 2000 approximately $415,000 has been reported missing from 16 supervisory unions or school districts. The report is the result of an investigation triggered by an incident of wire transfer fraud at the Washington South Supervisory Union last fall. The report is available on-line.

Sen Bill Doyle's Town Meeting Day Survey: Senator Bill Doyle has announced the questions that will appear on his annual Town Meeting survey. This is his 42nd year of conducting the survey, and the results should be available about two weeks after Town Meeting Day. Some of this year’s questions include Vermont’s efforts to close Vermont Yankee, should drivers be prohibited from using cell phones, and should Vermont have a four_year term for Governor. This year’s survey can be e-mailed. Download a copy

VT Attorney General Warns of “Grandparent” scam: The Vermont Attorney General’s Office is warning the public about over-the-phone scams directed at elderly Vermonters, in which a person posing as the target’s grandson or granddaughter claims to be in need of money in a foreign country and asks for a wire transfer of funds, typically in the thousands of dollars. To file a complaint, consumers should call the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at 1-800-649-2424, or log onto agcomplaints.vermont.gov/ccf Press Release

West Lebanon Malls Slow to Return: It's been almost a half a year since Tropical Storm Irene ravaged parts of the region and the economic impact is still being felt. Part of the 12A shopping corridor in West Lebanon, New Hampshire remains closed, including J.C. Penny and Kmart. The two plazas were flooded during the storm. The remaining stores are scheduled to reopen in May at the latest. WCAX

New Name for VIT: Vermont Interactive Technologies (VIT), formerly known as Vermont Interactive Television, has a new name to reflect its expanding line of videoconferencing services. In addition to its 17 studios located throughout Vermont, VIT now offers mobile (portable) systems and multi-point bridging to bring its videoconferencing services directly to a customer site, desktop or iPad2. Press Release

Citizen’s Group Opposes New Biomass Plant in North Springfield: A group of citizens has formed to oppose building a large new biomass electrical generating plant in the North Springfield Industrial Park. Taking the name “North Springfield Action Group,” or NoSA the group’s website is www.nosagvt.org The project will impact not only all of Springfield, but also surrounding towns, including Cavendish. Information about the project is available at the Southern Windsor Regional Planning Council

Sparks Fly Over Proposed Wood Fired Electric Plant: Staff members from Vermont's Public Service Board visited the proposed site for what's being called the North Springfield Sustainable Energy Project. The Massachusetts-based developer that owns this industrial park is working with a company to build a 35-megawatt wood biomass-fired electric plant. More than 100 residents have organized to oppose the plant. Beyond health issues, they're concerned about the increase in truck traffic hauling wood to the site and about increased water usage depleting local aquifers. WCAX

Eagle Times Now On-line: The Eagles Times in Claremont has a website at http://www.eagletimes.com/ They are currently offering free access to the site, but will soon be charging a subscription fee.

Two Cavendish Brothers Arrested for Selling Stolen Copper Pipe: Mitchell Horton, 24, and Matthew Horton, 22, were arrested Tuesday at Advanced Recycling in Claremont when they attempted to sell copper pipe they allegedly stole from Lambert’s Supply Company earlier in the day, according to court documents. Police say the pair broke into Lambert’s Supply Company shortly before 7 a.m. by forcing open a garage door and stole copper pipe and $260 in cash from the registers. Eagle Times

2. Write In’s for Select Board/Town Meeting
Town Meeting takes place on Monday, March 5, 7 pm in the multi purpose room at the Cavendish Elementary School in Proctorsville. The Town portion contains 8 articles to be voted on (pages 7 & 8 of the Town Report), including the Town budget of $1,279,463 and tax collection. The other items pertain to accepting the report, tax exemption of the two fire departments and the Black River Health Center. The election of the town officers takes place on Tuesday. The School portion is an informational meeting only, with voting on the budget held on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s voting will take place in the Art Room at CTES. Most elected positions are uncontested. The one-year position for select board has two write in candidates, Mark Huntley and Rev. Joseph Arnold. The two write-ins have submitted information about themselves:

Rev. Joseph Arnold: Running for the Cavendish Select Board! WRITE ME IN! The same compassion and desire to help people that has been my stay as a pastor has guided me in pursing this position. If written-in, solidarity and equity will govern my decisions with the public's interests at heart.

Mark Huntely: I am running for the one year Cavendish Select Board seat as a write in. It’s Huntley with an E. I am a proud, born and raised, Vermonter. I love my town and have worked tirelessly for my community for the past 12 years. I would love the opportunity to continue my work for you on our Selectboard . I have a successful local business and have been on local school boards for the last 10 years. Most importantly, I have no private agenda or platform. Please feel free to go ahead and give me a call if you would like to discuss my views on town policy or my views on future direction and leadership for the town of Cavendish---wk 228-5774 / cell 802-236-6722 or you can email me at mhuntley@americanportfolios.com or mhuntley1956@yahoo.com See you at the polls!

Note that a sample ballot is on the last page of the Annual Report. If you did not receive a copy in the mail, you can obtain one at the Town Office or at Town Meeting.

3. Composters for Sale/Recycling Resources 2012
The Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Sold Waste Management District only has 31 composters for sale this spring. If you are interested in one, go to http://www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org/portal/about-us-mainmenu-26/remository?func=startdown&id=35 and download the form. It is due by Friday, March 23. The cost is $45. Pick up will be at the Cavendish Transfer Station on April 21.

The Recycling Resources 2012 Publication from the Solid Waste Management District is available on-line at http://www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org/portal/about-us-mainmenu-26/remository?func=startdown&id=36

4. Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts Winter/Spring Classes
A wide array of classes are offered each weekend at the Fletcher Farm School, including basketry, decorative arts and painting, fine arts and photography, jewelry and lapidary, needle arts, wood and wood carving, and other activities. If you are a Cavendish resident, you can take a class a year for half price. The catalogue is available online or call 802-228-7402.

5. Civil War History: Disease the primary killer
Among Cavendish’s Civil War soldiers (173), the fatalities were more often caused by disease than the battle itself. Ten died in battle, but 18 more died as follows: 4 in prison, 9 while in service from disease like typhoid and 5 from wounds received in battle. One soldier was lost at sea on his way home from Andersonville Prison.

The single biggest killer in the Civil War was not the battlefield but rather disease. In the Union Army 4 men died from sickness for every 1 man killed in battle, and deaths from disease were twice those resulting from all other causes. On the whole, the heaviest incidence of disease occurred early in the war. Because there were no cures or vaccines for the most common ailments (dysentery, typhoid, pneumonia, tuberculosis, malaria, measles), you either got well or died.

Vermonters were frequently sicker than their counterparts from other states. In fact, the incident of disease was so high among the Vermont “mustering” camps, that in January 1862, US Surgeon General Charles Tripler issued a special report on the health of Vermont soldiers. In December 1861, Dr. Edward Phelps reported that a quarter of Vermont soldiers were sick. The January report found an overall sickness rate of 18.42%, despite the fact that the rates for the Second and Third regiments had improved considerably since December.

Dr. Tripler concluded that a "nostalgic element" affected the Vermonters more severely than others, causing depression among the troops and, he implied, feeding into a vicious cycle of poor health. However, there is one major reason why Vermonters were more likely to become ill in the camps. Unique to Vermont was that the majority of volunteers came from rural areas and so had limited exposure to childhood diseases. Consequently, they were highly susceptible to measles, mumps and other diseases.

To read the rest of this article, go to the Cavendish HIstorical Societys' blog.

6. March Cavendish Calendar
March 3 (Saturday): Winter Farmers Market at the Ludlow Teen Center (Goodman’s American Pie), Main Street Ludlow. FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.com

March 5 (Monday): Cavendish Town Meeting, 7:00 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School multi purpose room. Town budget is voted on at this meeting

March 6 (Tuesday): Voting Day. Polls are open from 10 – 7 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School’s Art Room.
• GMUHS Booster Club Meeting, 7 pm at the high school
• Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10-11:15. 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, Dot Ramsdell at (802) 226-7870

March 7 (Wednesday): GMUHS Winter Sports Banquet, 6 pm at the high school
• Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 PM at the Cavendish Town Office
• CTES PTO meeting 6-7 pm at the school
• Public Hearing for the Black River Water Quality Plan, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. This was rescheduled from Feb. 29.

March 8 (Thursday): GMUHS school board meeting, 5 pm at the high school
• Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10-11:15. 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, Dot Ramsdell at (802) 226-7870
• Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373

March 10 (Saturday): Winter Farmers Market at the Ludlow Teen Center (Goodman’s American Pie), Main Street Ludlow. FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.com

March 12 (Monday): Select Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. Agenda posted to this blog as soon as it is received. LPC-TV tapes meetings and makes them available on-line and Comcast Cable TV.

March 13 (Tuesday): Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10-11:15. 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, Dot Ramsdell at (802) 226-7870

March 14 (Wednesday): Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce Mixer, 5:30-7:30 pm at Six Loose Ladies, Depot Street, Proctorsville. FMI: 228-5830
• GMUHS Senior Class Dodgeball Tournament, 6 pm at the high school.

March 15 (Thursday): CTES Half Day, Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10-11:15. 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, Dot Ramsdell at (802) 226-7870
• Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373

March 16 (Friday): CTES Half Day of School

March 17 (Saturday): HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY
• Winter Farmers Market at the Ludlow Teen Center (Goodman’s American Pie), Main Street Ludlow. FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.com

March 20 (Tuesday): Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10-11:15. 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, Dot Ramsdell at (802) 226-7870

March 22 (Thursday): Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10-11:15. 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, Dot Ramsdell at (802) 226-7870
• Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373

March 24 (Saturday): The Eleventh Annual Vermont Maple Open House Weekend will be held at sugarhouses throughout Vermont. FMI: www.vermontmaple.org
• Winter Farmers Market at the Ludlow Teen Center (Goodman’s American Pie), Main Street Ludlow. FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.com

March 25 (Sunday): The Eleventh Annual Vermont Maple Open House Weekend will be held at sugarhouses throughout Vermont. FMI: www.vermontmaple.org

March 29 (Thursday): Sixth students of CTES will present Alice in Wonderland at the school. Curtain is 6:30 pm in the multi purpose room.
• Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10-11:15. 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, Dot Ramsdell at (802) 226-7870
• Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373

March 31 (Saturday): Winter Farmers Market at the Ludlow Teen Center (Goodman’s American Pie), Main Street Ludlow. FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.com