Cavendish Update 1/4/13 News/Events

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. 

The Cavendish Update for 1/4/13 Contains the following

1. Cavendish Related News

2. BRGNS Assures Donors: Your Dollars Go To Charity

3. CCCA and VINS to Present “Raptor Encounter”

4. No Passport Service at Cavendish Post Office after January 31

5. Cavendish Events 1/4-1/13

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Windsor Legislators Reveal Top Issues: The Rutland Herald invited state legislators from Windsor County,  to respond to the following question, “What’s your single most important issue for 2013 and why?” Sen Campbell selected mental health as the most significant issue, while Sen. McCormack discussed “right to die” legislation. Rutland Herald 

$5 Million Grant to Expand Cell Service in Southern VT: The state of Vermont is investing $5 million to expand cell phone targeting expand cellular service within 19 target corridors in Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor counties. The Vermont Telecommunications Authority has approved a grant to VTel Wireless, an affiliate of Vermont Telephone based in Springfield. VTEL Wireless will be starting its own retail cellular service, with roaming agreements will national carriers. VT Telephone Company 

Hawk Mountain Closing Inn and Restaurant: A Plymouth vacation destination is closing its inn and restaurant due to difficult financial circumstances. The Hawk Mountain Inn and Mountain Resort announced that its 50-room inn and award-winnng restaurant, The River Tavern, will no longer be serving guests as of Jan. 3. Jim Nielsen, Hawk Mountain executive vice president, confirmed the closures. Villas and seasonal rentals will remain open as will the pool and spa, ice-skating and cross-country skiing. The Hawk Mountain Inn and Resort will now focus on summer weddings and fall foliage tours. Rutland Herald 

VT Increased minimum wage on New Year’s Day: Vermont’s minimum wage increased by 14 cents to $8.60 an hour, raising wages for an estimated 11,000 low-wage workers in the state. Vermont’s minimum wage increase means an extra $240 per year in wages for the average affected worker, and the increased consumer spending generated by the minimum wage hike will boost GDP by $1.4 million. Press release 

2013 Mileage Rate: The IRS has issued the 2013 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating a vehicle for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning January 1, the standard mileage rate will be 56.5 cents per mile.

2. BRGNS ASSURES DONORS: YOUR DOLLARS GO TO CHARITY

 Black River Good Neighbor Services wants to assure all of our donors that all of the money donated to us goes to our charitable operations; none of the money that you donate goes to outside, paid-fundraisers. 

BRGNS’s record stands in stark contrast to much charitable fund raising in Vermont.  On December 11, 2012, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office reported data for two years provided by paid-fundraisers detailing what percentage of charitable donations they retained and what portion the charity using their services ultimately received.  The report showed that about two thirds of the money collected in this fashion in Vermont never made it to the charities involved.

BRGNS does not employ paid-fundraisers – all of our efforts are conceived and executed by our employees and volunteers.  We solicit funds via mailings, press releases, and dinners.  Our volunteers and volunteer board of directors provide almost all of the effort required to accomplish our fundraising goals.  The only exception is a portion of our paid executive director’s time.

We also sell donated merchandise – clothing, household items, furniture, toys, etc.  The funds raised from the sale of this merchandise first pay the expenses of our store and the salaries of our small staff, and the excess goes to our food and assistance programs.  We do receive funding from some grants and from the several towns that we serve, but we receive nothing from the state or federal government.  We thank all of you who have supported us through the years and are extremely grateful to our communities.

3. CCCA & VINS TO PRESENT “RAPTOR ENCOUNTER” 

The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will present the first of its 2013 Walk and Talk Series events on Friday January 11^th from 6:30 to 7:30 at the Cavendish Town Elementary School.  The Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS) will present “Raptor Encounter.” Come meet live ambassador raptors from VINS and learn about their winter habits, predator-prey relationships and the interdependence of the systems that support life.  This first-hand encounter enables participants to understand the defining characteristics that make a bird a raptor and to observe their adaptations for life as a predator on the wing.  Touchable artifacts and hands-on materials round out this special event.  Please make plans to attend now.  For more information, please contact Robin Timko at 802-226-7736.

4. NO PASSPORT SERVICE AT CAVENDISH POST OFFICE AFTER 1/31/13

With the change of service window hours at the Cavendish Post Office-7:30-9:30 am and 3-5 pm M-F and 7:30-10:00 on Saturday, passport services will cease after January 31. The following post offices will continue to offer passport services-North Springfield, Springfield, Chester and Rutland. It is highly recommended that you call first to ensure that a clerk trained in passports is on duty. For additional passport information, go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html Note that the change in Cavendish window hours takes effect on January 12. Proctorsville post office hours remain the same for 2013.

5. CAVENDISH EVENTS 1/4-1/13

January 5 (Saturday): Ludlow Winter Farmer’s Market, 9-1 at Inside Market at the corner of Main St. and Andover St. (Rt. 100 South) FMI: http://ludlowfarmersmarket.org/

January 8 (Tuesday): Snow sports program begins at CTES

• 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

January 9 (Wednesday): Okemo Chamber of Commerce Mixer Stone Hearth Inn, Chester “Let’s make a Deal,” bring business cards, from 5:30-7:30 pm.

January 10 (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

January 11 (Friday): CCCA and VINS Present “Raptor Encounter, 6:30-7:30 at the Cavendish Town Elementary School. meet live ambassador raptors from VINS and learn about their winter habits, predator-prey relationships and the interdependence of the systems that support life.  FMI: 226-7736

January 12 (Saturday): Ludlow Winter Farmer’s Market, 9-1 at Inside Market at the corner of Main St. and Andover St. (Rt. 100 South) FMI: http://ludlowfarmersmarket.org/

  • New Hours at the Cavendish Post Office begin. Window service hours are available M-F 7:30-9:30 am and 3-5 pm. Saturday hours, 7:30-10, remain unchanged.