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
Information
can also be posted on the Cavendish VT Facebook Page.
Note from the Proctorsville Fire Dept.-Thank you to everyone that attended our
benefit dinner last night for PFD 1st Lt Seth Perry and PFD 2nd Lt Nate Rose.
It was a huge success. We would also like to thank everyone that helped to make
it all possible. There were 60 different items for the silent auction and we
served almost 200 dinners. Again thank you for helping to support our brothers
and they're families in they're time of need. Read more about the supper in
this week’s Vermont Journal The Proctorsville Community Becomes a Family.
The 12/13/13 Cavendish Update Contains the Following:
1. Select
Board Meeting 12/9/13
2. Cavendish
Related News
3. Cavendish
Classifieds
4. 95th
Birthday of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
5. VT Supreme
Court Rules for Local Charities
6. Events
1. SELECT BOARD MEETING 12/13/13
Select board (SB)
meetings are recorded by LPC-TV and are available at their website and on Comcast Television. The following
were discussed at Monday’s Meeting:
At Monday’s
meeting the following were discussed, and in some cases voted on:
A. Black River Health Center (BRHC): Sandra Russo, on behalf of the BRHC
board, asked that an article be included for Town Meeting, which would exempt
the Center, a 501 (c) 3 organization from paying taxes for the next five years.
The issue of exemption for this property has been discussed numerous times in
the last five years, with the voters finally denying BRHC ‘s exemption and
asking that the building be turned over to the town, thereby taking it off the
tax rolls. As is done with other buildings in town, the town would then lease
the building back to BHRC at no cost. When Selectmen Scott Ranney asked why
this was still an issue, George Timko, Select men and President of the BRHC,
said that the BRHC board felt that it was not in their best interest to
relinquish ownership since they may have need of using it for collateral at
another time. Russo said the taxes were about $5,000 a year. The SB voted to
include the item on the March town meeting warning.
B. External Appropriations Policy: The board reviewed the policy
regarding external 501 (c) 3 non profits (e.g. Black River Good Neighbors,
SEVCA, RSVP etc.) who are interested in
receiving money from the town. In order to qualify for consideration, as part
of the budgeting process, they must file an application by Nov. 30. This policy
does not apply to organizations in the town, such as The Cavendish Historical
Society and Cavendish Library.
C. External Appropriations Requests for 2014-2015: The following non-profits, who have
received funding before, addressed the board: LPC-TV, SEVCA, RSVP, VNA
(Visiting Nurses Association), Black River Good Neighbor, and Black River Senior
Center. All but SEVCA were asking for level funding. SEVCA requested an
increase of $400 so that the town would be paying for half of one percent of
the money that residents of the town receive. New this year was a request from
the CTES After School program. Nearly half of the students (current enrollment
is about 90) participate in the homework club and other activities. The board
felt this was an item for the school budget and not the town. Further, the
after school program is not a 501 (c) 3 non-profit. Cavendish Recreation
presented a budget to the board of $29,600, which would include a Director
working 25-30 hours a week. This program will be dealt with separately in
January.
D. Sustainability
• Zero Sort: The new single-stream recycling
program is off to a good start. With this program successfully launched,
discussion turned to dealing with compostable materials and what the municipal
response will be. The board agreed that encouraging home composting would be
the next task. They discussed having Mary O’Brien of Southern Windsor/Windham
Counties Solid Waste Management District come to a SB meeting to discuss
various options.
• Solar Project: While equipment and materials are at
the site for the Cavendish Municipal Solar Project, the installation is on hold
until the spring. Rich Svec, town manager, thought it would be a good idea to
have a memo of understanding with Soveren so that the
town is not liable for items that have been left at the site.
E. Pet Waste Disposal: A resident of Proctorsville has
contacted the town office about the feasibility of having some type of animal
waste containers on the Proctorsville Green and/or an ordinance and signage
letting people know they need to clean up after their dogs. The board agreed to
take this matter up after they have completed the town budget.
F. Bridges
• Depot Street (#58): The barrel protecting motorists from
the damaged area of the bridge was thrown into the river. Gurney Brothers has
done some work –laid steel plate, which is now covered by asphalt. The five-ton
limit for commercial purposes holds. Svec advised that fire trucks not use the
bridge.
• Whitesville (#1): A temporary structure has been built
for the winter near the bridge. They will be doing pre casts for the bridge so
that as soon as school closes, they can begin work.
• Davis Rd (# 37): Still don’t have the green light to
move forward. The issue resolves around the fact the bridge was originally 25
feet long but the need is for a 36-foot replacement.
G. Tax Collection: The owners of the twenty properties listed
for tax sale have either resolved their back tax issues by full payment or a realistic
payment plan is now in place. Due to their complexity, the town’s attorney is
dealing with the two properties with the largest/longest tax debt. After the
budget is completed, more tax sale notices will be posted.
2. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
State Awards Cavendish Funds for Local Planning: Cavendish has received a municipal
planning grant of $9,947 to update the town plan to address newly required
economic development, flood resiliency elements and issues identified by the
Regional Planning Commission.
Ludlow Mulls $2.6 m Bike Path: Ludlow is considering
adding a $2.6 million bike and pedestrian path to link the community's business
section to mountain recreation areas. The 3.5-mile paved trail would run along
Route 103 from a park-and-ride lot and then eventually move to side roads that
lead to the Jackson Gore and Buttermilk Falls recreational areas. WCAX
BRGN Thanks Okemo and Skiers for a Successful Food Drive: Black River Good Neighbor Services thanks
Okemo employees and Mountain Ambassadors who so generously helped to collect
food at the annual Okemo Mountain Food Drive.
New, Non-Mandatory VTDriver’s License Available in January: No one has to get
a Real ID just to operate a motor vehicle, but in a few years—no one knows
exactly when—this special driver’s license will also allow entry to certain federal
facilities, as well as commercial aircraft. You could gain that same access
with a passport and a standard driver’s license, but Robert Ide, Commissioner
of Vermont’s Department of Motor Vehicles, says the Real ID will be much more
convenient. If you want one, you must show up in person at a DMV office with
your birth certificate or other proof of identity, proof of your legal status
in the US, a social security card or other proof of your full number, and two
proofs of your Vermont address. You will also have your photograph taken, and
those images will be searchable on a database using facial recognition
technology. VPR
Lottery for Roadside Firewood Lots Open: The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
will open the lottery for personal roadside firewood lots on state forest lands
on January 2, 2014. The two-week registration for “cut-your-own” lots ends
January 16. Each roadside lot costs $30 and yields about three cords of wood
for the 2014 home heating season. This year roadside lots are available in the
towns of Duxbury, Orange, Johnson, Groton, Westmore and Sutton. Participants
will need to indicate where they prefer to cut. Register online or call 802-828-1531 for more information. The
department will accept one signup per household. The department will notify
winners of the roadside lots in early March. Press Release
Flu Season is Slow to Arrive but is on its Way: According to the VT Dept. Of Health, while influenza,
flu, has not yet officially arrived in Vermont, it’s certainly coming soon – if
it’s not already here. A few cases of the flu have been reported in surrounding
states and in Quebec. To get ready for flu season, everyone age 6 months and
older should get vaccinated against the flu. This will benefit both the
vaccinated individual and people in their family and community who are at high
risk of developing serious flu-related complications. Press Release
3. CAVENDISH CLASSIFIEDS
Free: Refrigerator and stove - they both work,
but are old. We're remodeling our kitchen. The refrigerator is available next
week and the stove is available now for pick up. FMI: zachmac@gmail.com or 659-4867
SEEKING WEEKEND HOUSEKEEPER: Golden Stage Inn is seeking a housekeeper for three weekends per month for the winter months. $10/hour starting wage. Housekeeping experience preferred; professional references required. Please contact Mike & Julie for more information. 226-7744 or email innkeeper@goldenstageinn.com
SEEKING WEEKEND HOUSEKEEPER: Golden Stage Inn is seeking a housekeeper for three weekends per month for the winter months. $10/hour starting wage. Housekeeping experience preferred; professional references required. Please contact Mike & Julie for more information. 226-7744 or email innkeeper@goldenstageinn.com
4. 95th BIRTHDAY OF ALEKSANDR SOLZHENITSYN
December 11th marked the 95th birthday of Aleksandr
Solzhenitsyn, the Nobel Laureate in literature and Soviet dissident who lived
approximately 18 of the 20 years he was exiled from Russia in Cavendish. During
that time, he wrote The Red Wheel, a
history of the Russian Revolution. In the coming year, the Cavendish Historical
Society (CHS) will be recognizing this important milestone with a variety of
activities. For more information.
5. VT SUPREME COURT RULES FOR LOCAL CHARITIES
On December 6, 2013, the Vermont Supreme Court affirmed a
2012 Windsor jury’s verdict allowing Phyllis Agan’s trust gifts totaling $1,550,000
to be disbursed mostly to local charities including: United Church of Ludlow,
Black River Good Neighbor Services, Black River Academy Museum, Ludlow Garden
Club, Masons, Rotary, American Legion Auxiliary, Annunciation Church, Gill
Home, and Black River High School scholarships.
For over sixty years Bill and Phyllis Agan lived in Ludlow
where both were active in many community activities. After Bill died, Phyllis placed her assets
into a trust, the beneficiaries of which were her immediate relatives. She amended the trust many times to add and
delete beneficiaries, and in 2005 she added some thirteen beneficiaries or
increased amounts to beneficiaries already named, most of whom were charities
in Ludlow. Phyllis’ estate had a value
of over $5 million when she died in May 2008.
Besides the charities, all remaining assets were left to immediate
family members.
Her sister, niece and nephew, who were to inherit most of
the balance of the estate, sued the charities to nullify the trust
amendments. After an eight-day trial
held in February 2012, a jury awarded the full bequests to the charities. The family appealed to the Vermont Supreme
Court, which has now upheld the jury.
6. EVENTS
This week, the following activities will be taking place in Cavendish:
• Christmas Tree Sales: Saturday and Sunday-Cavendish
Fire Department (9-5) and Proctorsville Fire Dept. (9-4) will be holding
Christmas Tree Sales. The Proctorsville Fire Department has posted the
following, Thank you to everyone that
stopped by our Christmas Tree and Wreath sale on this past Sat, and Sun. We
only have 31 VT grown Fraser Firs left and a couple wreaths as well. It is
expected that the trees will sell quickly this Sat, Dec 14 from 9am to 4pm. So
come early. Trees start at $30 and wreaths are $15. If any trees remain after
Sat we will continue to sell on Sunday the 15th from 9am until sold out.
• Carol
Sing: Sunday, Dec. 15. A fun walk around Cavendish singing
Christmas carols to our neighbors. Afterwards, hot chocolate and tasty treats.
Meet at the Baptist Church at 1 pm. FMI: 226-7131
•
LPC-TV Open House: Dec. 16 (Monday)
4-7 pm, 37C Main Street., Ludlow. FMI: 802-228-8808
• CTES
Board Meeting: Dec. 17 (Tuesday) 5:30-7:30 pm at the school
• CTES
Holiday Concert: Dec 18 (Wednesday) 7-8 pm at the school. Tentative
snow date is Thursday, Dec. 19.
To learn more about upcoming events in Cavendish and surrounding towns go
to:
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