Friday, September 14, 2012

Cavendish Update: 9/14/12 News/SB/Recycling/Events

Information can also be posted on the Cavendish VT Facebook Page.

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 9/14/12 Cavendish Update Contains:

1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 9/10/12

2. VT Law Requires Recycling and Composting: How Will Cavendish Respond?

3. Cavendish Related News

4. Blessing of the Animals, Proctorsville Oct. 6

5. We Survived Irene Pot Luck Supper

6. Cavendish Events 9/14-9/23

1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting 9/10/12: Select Board (SB) meetings are videotaped by LPC-TV and are shown on Comcast Channels 8 and 10. They are also available at the LPC website.

• Dan Churchill New Board Member: Dan Churchill, former SB member, will be filling out the remainder of Jim Ballatine’s term until March 5, 2013.

• Highway Equipment: Rich Svec, town manager, received approval from the board to purchase the wood chipper that is being leased to help clean up after Irene. The leasing fees can be put towards the purchase price, which will be approximately $7,000. The town’s old chipper was sold.

The town’s road grader is being repaired, after the engine died on Tarbell Hill Rd, and a replacement has been leased for the interim. The repair of the town’s grader will be approximately $20,000 to $25,000, which is far cheaper than purchasing a new one, around $300,000

The town’s equipment fund currently has about $100,000.

• Recycling Options: Jim Tohler of Casella Waste Management spoke to the board about zero sort recycling in Cavendish. Please see article 2 below.

• Depot Street Bridge: The Board voted unanimously to repost the speed limit to 25 mph on Depot Street, near the bridge. The Town Manager will look into timing and placement

2. VT Law Requires Recycling and Composting: How Will Cavendish Respond? With the passage and signing of House Bill 485, an Act Relating to Establishing Universal Recycling of Solid Waste, in June, Vermonters will be required to recycle everything that can be, including organic matter (e.g. kitchen scraps). The law bans batteries from landfills immediately, recyclable materials including plastic and glass containers, cardboard, paper and other products by July 1, 2015, yard waste by July 1, 2016, and all organic materials by July 1, 2020. Note that items previously banned from landfills in Vermont include lead-acid batteries, waste oil, white goods, tires, paint, nickel-cadmium batteries, mercury-added products and electronic items. E-waste was added as a banned item in 2011.The reason for the new legislation is that Vermont is rapidly running out of landfill space. Currently, only 36% of waste is recycled in the state. Half of the waste heading to landfills could be recycled.

The Cavendish Transfer Station offers limited recycling (no plastics, paper, cardboard), but residents do have the option of sorting and taking their recyclables to Springfield’s Transfer Station for free. At this time there is no organic composting, but each year in the spring, Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District offers very affordable composters.

It should be noted that a round trip to Springfield from Cavendish is approximately 15 miles. Using IRS mileage rate 55.5 ¢, it is estimated that each trip to Springfield to recycle costs the driver approximately $16.50.

To better understand how Cavendish can act in accordance with the law, Jim Tohler of Casella Waste Management was invited to speak to the SB about zero-sort recycling. This approach allows all recyclable items-glass, paper, aluminum, cardboard, plastics 1-7, tin to be placed in just one bin. While it would cost money to toss bags in the trash compactor, there would be no charge to the user of the zero sort recycling system. Note that when using the zero sort system, users will need to dump out the recyclables and not just throw a bag in, as they currently do with the trash compactor. For example, if you bring a brown bag filled with various types of recyclables, you would dump out the items from the bag and then toss in the bag.

Note that items like computers, tires, fiber, metal etc. will continue to be recycled at the transfer station in their current configuration.

Tohler said that there is space at the Cavendish Transfer Station to house a zero sort compactor. The town would be responsible for the construction of a pad and the electrical wiring for the compactor. Given all factors, the town cost would be fairly low, about $2,700 for the system, provided they signed a long term agreement (10 years) and pay for the installation of concrete and power to house the compactor. The select board members were interested in site visiting both the Mt. Holly Transfer Station, which recently implemented the system, and the sorting facility in Rutland.

In addition to site visits, Svec and Tohler will work on more definitive figures for the costs associated with a zero sort system for Cavendish. It was also suggested that other ways of recycling be explored, since there is hesitancy about getting into a long-term contract. It is clear that there isn’t space for bailers similar to what Springfield and Ludlow offer. However, Tohler suggested trying a temporary zero sort system before the investment is made in a zero sort compactor.

To learn more about the legislation and composting, check out the following links:

H 485, an Act Relating to Establishing Universal Recycling of Solid Waste

Composting Association of Vermont

Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District

Cavendish Transfer Station (Includes information on recycling in Cavendish)

3. Cavendish Related News

Red Sox Repair Cavendish Ball Field: The Red Sox Foundation, the team’s official charitable organization, and Covidien, a health-care products provider, organized a five-stop, four-state community service program in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont. The aim of the program is to refurbish distressed community facilities. Rutland Herald

Judge Upholds Verdict on Will In Favor of Local Non Profits: Several nonprofit agencies in Ludlow, including Black River Good Neighbor, will retain $1.5 million after a lengthy battle over a Ludlow woman’s will. Rutland Herald.

VT in Nursing Homes Can Return Home Thanks to a Grant: Vermonters living in long-term care facilities could be able to return to their communities with the help of an $18 million federal grant. The five-year "Money Follows the Person" grant helps people who wish to leave nursing facilities by funding expenses such as rent deposits and accessibility modifications not covered under Vermont Medicaid reimbursement policy. All people receiving Vermont Medicaid and living in a nursing facility are welcome to apply for help through the grant. Officials have begun outreach in Washington, Windsor and Windham in counties where a higher percentage of Medicaid-eligible individuals remain in nursing homes. FMI: 802-871-3067 or AHS.MFP@state.vt.us Press Release

VT Has Highest Taxes in Nation: According to Forbes, the average Vermonter pays more than $3,800 per year in state taxes, making it the state with the highest taxes in the country. WCAX

GoDaddy Cyber Attacks Affects Local Business: Green Mountain Outlook, among other companies that use GoDaddy.com for web hosting, were off line this week due to a cyber attack on GoDaddy.

VT Historical Society New Web Content to Help Researchers: The Vermont Historical Society has released three new content areas on its website – two related to the Civil War and one related to Vermont’s governors. Researchers now can access over 40 articles written about the Civil War that have appeared in the Society’s journal Vermont History since 1930. All the articles have been converted to searchable PDF files and cataloged in the library’s online catalog for easy access. Civil War registers from the library’s collections are also online. The third new section of the historical society’s website is a gallery of Vermont governors’ portraits. FMI: www.vermonthistory.org or 802-479-8509 Press Release

VT Foliage Reports Begin Sept. 18: New this year, the Foliage Report will be issued Tuesdays, September 18-October 30. The Foliage Report will include a map that features best driving routes, an audio update and hiking/walking trail recommendations. The information will be comprised from a weekly survey of a more than a dozen state foresters, led by the state’s lead Foliage Forecaster, Michael Snyder, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation. Press Release

Volunteers Complete Seasonal River Sweep Between Ludlow, Springfield: The Black River Action Team, a grassroots organization driven by volunteer elbow-grease and community support, has been cleaning trash from the bed and banks of the Black River since 2000, growing every year in numbers of volunteers as well as trash collected. This month, over 90 volunteers hauled out nearly 1,000 pounds of scrap metal alone between Springfield, Ludlow, and Weathersfield; enough garbage was retrieved to fill 75 trash bags. Green Mountain Outlook

Public Safety Announces Conditional Approval of Two Medical Marijuana Dispensaries: The Vermont Department of Public Safety has conditionally approved two medical marijuana dispensaries, as part of the Vermont Medical Marijuana Program (VMMP), pursuant to Title 18 Vermont Statutes Annotated § 4474f. The first approval is for Champlain Valley Dispensary, which will be located in Burlington. The second approval is for Patients First Inc., which will be located in Waterbury. Additional applications are still undergoing review, as the statute allows for up to four dispensaries to be operating throughout the state. The period for accepting applications is currently closed. FMI: Lindsey Wells, Marijuana Program Administrator, at Lindsey.Wells@state.vt.us or at 802-241-5115. Press Release

Be Wary of an International Internet Scam Targeting Members of the Deaf Community: Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell is warning Vermonters of a scam, which appears to target members of the deaf community. The Attorney General’s Office’s Criminal Division, together with local law enforcement, recently investigated a criminal complaint in which one of Vermont’s deaf citizens was a victim of theft of a vehicle and a money order scam. Press Release

VT Colleges Shift Slightly in US News Ranking: Middlebury College came in at No. 4, up one notch from last year’s list for liberal arts colleges. St. Michael’s moved up to 90 from 99 last year. Among national universities, the University of Vermont came in at No. 92, tied with four other schools. Last year, UVM was tied with five others at No. 82. Burlington Free Press

4. Blessing of the Animals, Proctorsville Oct. 6: The unspoken bond between people and their pets is like no other, and science has shown that companion animals promote emotional and physical well being in their humans. In return, we shelter, feed, love and protect them. Every October, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures, churches nationwide hold ceremonies that bless the animals. On Saturday, October 6 the St. James Methodist Church will join with Gethsemane Episcopal Church for their annual Blessing of Animals on the Proctorsville Green. Father Richard Bower and Pastor Ken White, animal lovers and leaders of their own flocks, will perform the ceremony. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at noon, rain or shine. Pets should be leashed or in carriers. No creature is too great or too small to be blessed. For more information call 226-7187.

5. We Survived Irene Pot Luck Supper: The Cavendish Town Office is sponsoring a “We survived Irene” potluck supper on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 6 pm at the Proctorsville Fire Hall. FMI: 226-7292.

6. Cavendish Events 9/14-9/23

September 14 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market, 4-7 pm in front of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main St.

September 15 (Saturday): Paws About Ludlow, benefits Springfield Humane Society.

September 16 (Sunday): Cavendish Historical Society Museum Open 2-4 pm. Featuring flood exhibit and 250th Cavendish Historical Timeline. FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net

September 18 (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, Charlotte Snyder at 226-7343 or Anne Oakes or Andrew Ohotnicky at (802) 228-5236, Dot Ramsdell at (802) 226-7870

• CTES Board Meeting: 5:30-7:30 pm at the school.

September 19 (Wednesday): Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce Mixer, Heritage Family Credit Union, 198 Main Street, Ludlow.

September 20 (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

• September's Community Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. at St James United Methodist Church, Main Street, Proctorsville. The menu will includespaghetti and meatballs with a tossed salad and garlic bread. Ice Cream Sundaes will be the dessert this time, and we'll offer the usual coffee, hot tea or a cold beverage. A suggested donation of $4.00 for seniors or $5.50 for those under 60 years of age is appreciated to help defray the cost of the meal.

• 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

• Community discussion on water quality in the aftermath of Irene featuring Marie Caduto from VT State Basin 10, 7 pm at the Fletcher Memorial Library in Ludlow. FMI: 228-8921

September 21 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market, 4-7 pm in front of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main St.

September 22 (Saturday): We survived Irene Pot Luck Supper, 6 pm at the Proctorsville Fire Hall. Bring a dish to share. FMI: 226-7292.

September 23 (Sunday): Cavendish Historical Society Museum Open 2-4 pm. Featuring flood exhibit and 250th Cavendish Historical Timeline. FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net

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