Friday, October 4, 2013

Cavendish Update 10/4/13 News/Crime Watch/Shutdown/Events



The Cavendish Connects website now includes much of what was included on this blog as well as a calendar of Cavendish events. The new blog, “The Dish,” includes the Cavendish Update as well as on-going information.

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

The 10/4/13 Cavendish Update Contains the Following
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Shutdown Impact on Cavendish and Vermont
3. Exploring the Two Oldest Cemeteries in Cavendish
4. Greven Park Trail-A Walk With Many Views
5. Events

 1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Cavendish Crimes: The following crimes were reported in Cavendish on Sept. 28 (Saturday):
 • Theft-High Street and Ranney Hill Rd (Cavendish Village Cemetery off of High Street) reported at 3:04 pm. The top of an 1800’s gravestone was stolen.
• Vandalism of Motor Vehicles-Rt 131 and Depot Street reported at 2:02 pm.

On October 3, Thursday, “666” and a partial pentagram were found carved on the front door of the Cavendish Village Cemetery Vault.

Happy Retirement Jane Pixley: Cavendish Town Clerk, Jane Pixley enjoyed a very special retirement party on Sept. 27, with many people from the town stopping by to wish her well. When asked about her retirement plans, she said she would be volunteering for the town, “I’m going to do craft shows and do some traveling.” Diane McNamera was sworn in as the interim town clerk. Vermont Journal 

3SquaresVT Program Additional Funding Ends Nov. 1: Vermonters on the 3SquaresVT program will see their food benefits drop, starting November 1. Stimulus funds, authorized through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), have boosted food stamp benefits since 2009. The change will affect “almost everyone’s benefit,” according to DCF. It offers the example of a family of four, which might see a $36 decrease each month, and an individual, who might see a decrease of $11. Press Release




2. SHUTDOWN IMPACT ON CAVENDISH AND VERMONT: The partial shutdown of the federal government is affecting Vermonters and people in Cavendish in a number of different ways. Since half of Vermont’s Agency of Human Services $2.3 billion budget is federal money, if the shut down goes beyond a few weeks the following will be impacted:
• Reach-Up welfare assistance;
• WIC (supplemental food program for pregnant woman and young children) is hundred percent funded by federal dollars and would cease after two weeks;
• LIPHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) fuel assistance has about a month before the impact will be felt; and
• Block grants for substance abuse, mental health and childcare will lose funding within a week or two.
According to Kim Sherman, Director, Stepping Stones Preschool in Proctorsville could be impacted as many of the families with children in the school utilize services listed above. While things are fine at the moment, if the shutdown lasts for more than a week or two, things could become very difficult for some families.

Black River Good Neighbor (BRGN) is concerned about the possible discontinuation of WIC, particularly baby formula, which is a very expensive item. It remains to be seen what of their programs will be impacted, but as they have done in the past, “we will continue to meet the need as best as we can,” said Audrey Bridge, Executive Director

Other Vermont programs and activities impacted by the shutdown include: 450 VT National Guard Workers, about half of their operating staff,  have been furloughed and Vermont’s only National Park-Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Park in Woodstock- has been closed. The shutdown is also closing Vermont federal lands to hunters, fishermen and other users this foliage season. Currently closed are Nulhegan Basin Division; Putney Mountain Unit of the Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge; and Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. To check for other locations, go to http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com

National programs affected by the shutdown will impact some people at the local level. These include:

• College students that are on federal work-study programs will go unpaid.

• The State Department says it will keep most passport agencies and consular operations open so long as it has the funds to do so, although some activities might be interrupted.

• The Social Security Administration will retain enough staff to make sure checks are sent. But the agency won't have enough employees to do things like help recipients replace their benefit cards or schedule new hearings for disability cases.

• Medicare recipients will find the applying process significantly slowed down.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will stop its seasonal flu program and have a “significantly reduced capacity to respond to outbreak investigations.”

• For Veterans- VA hospitals will remain open. But many services will be disrupted. The Veterans Benefits Administration will be unable to process education and rehabilitation benefits. The Board of Veterans' Appeals will be unable to hold hearings. If the shutdown lasts for more than two or three weeks, the Department of Veterans Affairs has said that it may not have enough money to pay disability claims and pension payments.

Note that active service military will continue to be paid no matter how long the shutdown lasts while “essential” civilian employees will see their paychecks delayed, but will receive retroactive pay.

In response to the question “how has the government shutdown impacted you,” posted on the Cavendish VT Facebook page, one person posted - The leaves will continue to turn. The peepers will continue to visit. Our towns will continue to run. Our communities will continue to support one another.

People are noticing the “trickle down” effect, as Vermont folklorist and writer, Joe Citro noted on his Facebook page, Tomorrow I was scheduled to speak to the staff of the Green Mountain National Forest. The meeting has been cancelled due to the "Shutdown". So that is how the shut down shuts me down. No speaking fee, no book sales. It will also shut down income for the B&B I was planning to stay at and it will shut down dinner income for the restaurants at which I would have eaten (not to mention gas consumption). ..

3. EXPLORING THE TWO OLDEST CEMETERIES IN CAVENDISH
Do you know who the Chubb of Chubb Hill was? Do you know he’s buried in the Old Revolutionary Cemetery? Why is the Coffeen Cemetery so close to the road? To learn the answers to these questions and explore the two oldest cemeteries in Cavendish-the Old Revolutionary and Coffeen cemeteries, meet at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2 pm.

Note that Oct. 13 is the last day the Museum will be open for the season. FMI: 802-226-7807 or margoc@tds.net

4. GREVEN PARK TRAIL-A WALK WITH MANY VIEWS
Thanks to the volunteers of the Cavendish Recreation Department, there is a lovely 1/2-mile walking trail being maintained that loops around the athletic fields at Greven Field. It's one of the few places where you can walk by the Black River, as well as through a forest and a field. Reverse directions and you have a different view each way. The trail is open in all seasons-no worries about being shot during hunting season, and wear snowshoes or cross country skies in the winter.

Greven Field is located off of route 103 in Proctorsville. Heading West, the entrance to the park is on the right hand side just after Greven Rd. If you come to the intersection of 131 and 103, you've gone to far.


5. EVENTS
It’s a busy weekend in Cavendish and surrounding towns. On Saturday
• Blessing of the Animals on the Proctorsville Green will take place on the Proctorsville Green at 1 pm. Dress accordingly as this event takes place rain or shine.
• Fall Foliage Supper at the Cavendish Baptist Church featuring pork roast dinner, 5:30-7 Pm. Adults are $10, children 6 to 12 $5 and under 6 are free. FMI: 226-7724.
• It’s also Button Up Vermont Day http://buttonupvermont.org

On Sunday, Oct. 6, blues singer Jenni Johnson will be performing as part of Raise the Roof at Gethsemane Church in Proctorsville, at 4:30 pm. Tickets are $10.

To learn more about upcoming events in Cavendish and surrounding towns go to:

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