Cavendish Update 3/23/12 Warning/News/Events

Information can also be posted on the Cavendish VT Facebook Page

RED FLAG WARNING: ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE-7 AM-10 PM. LOW HUMIDITY, STRONG WINDS AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL

The 3/23/12 Cavendish Update Contains:
1. Cavendish Burglary
2. Message from the Proctorsville Fire Dept about Burning Permits
3. Cavendish Related News
4. Flood Photographs Needed
5. Cavendish Events 3/23-3/30/12


1. Cavendish Burglary
On 03/18/12 Mark Richard, New Hampshire resident, reported a burglary to his residence in Cavendish (808 Densmore Rd). Forced entry was made threw two doors and a television, battery operated power tools and power inverters were stolen. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Trooper Vitali at 802-875-2112. Note: There was a burglar attempt on Densmore Road on 8/13/12 but was averted due to an alarm system.

2. Message from the Proctorsville Fire Dept about Burning Permits
We would like to remind everyone that now that there is no snow on the ground burn permits are required to have a fire. Contact one of the local fire wardens for the current fire condition and to obtain a burn permit. At this current time the fire danger is moderate. keep in mind we are rapidly approaching high forest fire danger warnings and the wardens will hold all permits as needed.

3. Cavendish Related News
Cavendish Man arrested for Alleged Role in Thefts: Mitchell Horton, of Cavendish, was arrested for his involvement in a string of burglaries in Cavendish and surrounding towns. Horton was lodged at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield and his bail set at $25,000. The investigation is ongoing. Eagle Times 3/17/12

Look Out for Lyme Disease: There could be a surge in Lyme disease this spring. That's according to disease ecologist Richard Osfeld of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. He says the population of white-footed mice is crashing due to a small acorn crop. That means ticks that carry Lyme disease will look for other mammals to bite, possibly as humans. Ecologists at the Cary Institute have been studying connections between acorn abundance, mice, black-legged ticks and Lyme disease for more than two decades. Osfeld says the highest disease risk is May through July. WCAX

Police Warn of Fake UPS Workers, Burglaries: Homeowners beware -- burglars posing as UPS workers are breaking into homes in Vermont and New Hampshire. Police tell the Caledonian Record that dozens of homeowners in both states have being called by someone pretending to be a UPS representative. The person says he has a delivery and then asks when someone will be home. The residence is later burglarized when the homeowners are away. WCAX

Bear Warning from Wildlife Officials: The warm weather means many bears are likely to emerge from their winter dens early. They will be hungry, and wildlife officials say with a lack of snow cover there should be abundant food for bears to forage for until spring vegetation appears. Nonetheless, it's possible bears will be drawn into human habitat looking for an easy meal. So residents are being asked to take down their bird feeders and secure any other food sources, like trash cans. Wildlife officials say once bears find food sources near homes they will continue to return. WCAX

Doyle’s Annual Survey Results: With 40% (6,000) of the responses tabulated, Sen Bill Doyle’s Town Meeting Survey finds that Vermonters are optimistic about the state’s future but not the country’s. There was very strong support for: a 4 year term for governor; the bottle deposit law to include all plastic water and juice containers.; and legislation that would ban the use of any type of cell phone by someone operating a motor vehicle. VPR

Maple Syrup Production Down: A year after breaking Vermont's decades-old record for maple syrup production, syrup makers started earlier this year but are ending much sooner than normal. Valley News

VT Rates D+ on Government Transparency: A new national study shows state governments are largely doing a poor job delivering transparency and accountability to their taxpayers and Vermont tied for 25th among all states for openness. Vermont gets an overall D+ or score of 69 for the report, which studied 14 areas among the three branches of government: legislative, judicial and executive. Vermont tallied an “A” for openness when it comes to internal auditing of state funds and for redistricting of the Legislature. The Green Mountain state scored an “F” for three areas: judicial accountability, legislative accountability and ethics enforcement agencies. Burlington Free Press

Mud Season Starting Early on VT’s Trails: The Green Mountain Club has noted the early start to “mud season” and urged hikers to stay off muddy and high-elevation trails unless they still have snow or ice cover. Press Release

Climate Change Brings Increased Flood Risk: According to a new study from the Union of Concerned Scientists, warmer temperatures may mean more floods. WNNE

Black River Produce Purchase Plant for Meat Processing: Demand for locally-produced meat has increase throughout the last few years, and BRP’s meat processing and shipping has been expanding, said Sean Buchanan, BRP’s business development manager, in an interview He said the scope of meat processing that BRP is preparing for required a separate facility, and the opportunity to purchase the Ben and Jerry’s building was too good to pass up. Eagle Times

An Early Start to Allergy Season: A mild winter that ended with a flourish of warm weather was a welcome surprise for many Americans. But for the 25 to 35 percent of people who suffer from hay fever, the early arrival of warm weather meant an unusually early start to allergy season. New York Times

Sen Nitka Injured in Fall: Windsor senator Alice Nitka fell last week at the condo she shares with two other legislators during the legislative session. She was at Central VT Medical Center in Berlin and then transferred to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for a spleen injury.

Health Care Cost Growth in VT Outpaces National Growth: Health care cost growth in Vermont continued to outpace national rates of increase between 2009 and 2010, according to a report released today by the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB), in collaboration with the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration (BISHCA). According to the annual “Expenditure Analysis,” overall health care costs rose at a rate of 4.8 percent between 2009 and 2010, and at an average rate of 6.3 percent between 2005 and 2010. From 2009-2010, Vermont’s gross state product (GSP), a measure of economic growth in the state, grew four percent. From 2005 to 2010, GSP grew at an average rate of 2.4 percent. National health care costs grew at just over four percent between 2005 and 2010, while the national economy grew 2.8 percent. Press Release

AARP Tax Aid: Offers free income tax preparation in our area. You can have your taxes
e-filed in one of the local offices. In Ludlow call Diane at 228-2668 for an appointment at the Library. Call the Springfield Library at 885-3108 to schedule at that location. Appointments are available at Chester Newsbank and Weston Library, call Jean at 824-5294.

4. Flood Photographs Needed
The fourth grade class of the Cavendish Town Elementary School and the Cavendish Historical Society are working on a variety of projects pertaining to Irene. The fourth grade is creating a website and will be helping with the exhibit at the CHS Museum this summer. You can help by providing photographs and/or videos of various aspects of the flood.

A Flickr account for community members has been created to upload flood photos and videos for the website/exhibit. It says only members can join. It takes a few clicks to be a member and then you can upload the photos.

You can also put photos onto a CD or flash drive, or bring copies of the photographs and drop them off at the school for the 4th grade. If you have already created a YouTube video relating to the flood, please provide permission so the video can be embedded into the Irene webpage.

FMI: Jen Harper 802-226-7758 or JHarper@wswsu.org

5. Cavendish Events 3/23-3/30/12
March 23 (Friday): Fundraiser for CTES 6th Grade's Trip to Camp Keewaydin: BINGO! Cavendish Town Elementary School 6:30 to 8:30 Playing for Great Prizes! Gift Certificates to Subway, Village Pizza, Chef Mai, LaValleys, Village Clippers, Marion’s, Singletons, Oil Change at Bensons and more! Pizza from Goodman’s On Sale as well as Homemade Baked Goods. A GREAT NIGHT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Open to Everyone!

March 24 (Saturday): Dinner and a Movie sponsored by the Cavendish Community Library, will be showing “The Help,” and feature a generous sampling of southern food, including chocolate pie. The event is free and starts at 1 pm at the Cavendish Elementary School’s Arts room. FMI: Kata at 226-7503.
• Sugar-on-Snow Supper at the Cavendish Baptist Church, 5:30-7 pm. The price is $10 for Adults, between 6 and 12 $5 and under 6 free. The menu includes: baked beans (sweetened with maple syrup); ham; mashed potatoes; squash; peas; pickles; bread; homemade doughnuts; beverages and of course “sugar-on-snow.” Cookbooks and RADA Cutlery will be on sale as well. FMI: 226-7724
• The Eleventh Annual Vermont Maple Open House Weekend will be held at sugarhouses throughout Vermont. FMI: www.vermontmaple.org

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