Cavendish Economic Roundtable Sept. 19

The Cavendish Economic Roundtable, jointly sponsored by the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) and the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA), will be meeting on September 19, 6:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School in Proctorsville. The Roundtable is a working group of businesses, organizations and citizens who are interested in promoting long term economic sustainability and well being of our community. For more information 226-7807 or 226-7398.

CHESTER LADIES “GRIN AND BARE IT”

There’s been a lot more than leaves falling in the little town of Chester Vermont this autumn. A group of local business women have thrown caution and clothing to the wind to produce the Chester “Alternative” calendar.  The 2008 nude calendar, which it’s hoped will raise money for local community projects and promotions, features black and white images of the ladies in recreational or occupational activities. Although technically naked, the tasteful pictures preserve modesty with careful posing and strategic placement of objects!

“It was Carole (Miss March) that first suggested a nude Calendar. We’re both originally from England and remembered the interest the WI “Calendar Girls” created. said Innkeeper Julie Pierce (Miss October)  “When we learned The Men of Maple Corner here in Vermont had raised significant funds for their community with a nude calendar in 2003, we figured if the guys could do it, then so could we! It was pretty nerve wracking but we just reminded ourselves it was for a good cause so you just had to “grin and bare it” - literally!” 

Local portrait photographer Pam Nelligan immediately volunteered.  “Once word got out we had no problem finding ladies willing to pose for the project” said Pam. “We even persuaded our Town manager to participate!”  “The portraits are as unique as each woman and great fun to do.   I think it is fantastic that these women cheerfully ‘dropped everything’ to participate,” she added.   “I believe if we can raise a smile at the same time as raising money then we’ve achieved everything we set out to do.” 

The Chester Alternative Calendar will sell for $15.00 and will be launched at the Chester Craft fair (September 22-23).  All proceeds will go to local community projects and promotions. For more information on the calendar and how to purchase visit www.chestercalendar.com.

Are We Missing A Great Business Opportunity?

To begin with, check out the article at http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/07/smbusiness/working_in_the_woods.fsb/index.htm.

It displays an interesting - and somewhat obvious, strategy that Vermont seems to have ignored, to wit, attracting individual and small business operations to the state to enjoy the benefits of "the good life" in Vermont while still functioning as a profit-making organization.

Why not offer investment, software designers, business consultants, et al, the opportunity to work from a Vermont home?  All that is needed are the necessary tools (basically broadband telecommunications connections), the local regulations to permit such operations, and the common sense to reward such operations with a tax incentive that will attract them in the first place.

Such out-of-the-home businesses should not have to satisfy Act 250 requirements - so long as they meet locally defined restrictions.

In the long run these business forms would gradually become a source of future employment opportunities.

Remember how the "I Love New York" ad campaign successfully enhanced that state's tourism?  Wouldn't a parallel campaign draw some of the folks from Madison Avenue or Wall Street to Vermont who may just be fed up with the daily commute?

There's an opportunity to attract a none invasive, ecologically-friendly, business form to Vermont that we need to aggressively pursue.

Black River Reporter "Prints" Final Edition

The last edition of the Black River Reporter was the final edition of the Black River Reporter according to editor Ralph Pace.  He said that with the onset of a revised Vermont Journal, the BRR was no longer necessary.

"I restarted the BRR in order to fill the news void created when  the Journal failed to satisfy that need", Pace stated.  "Now that Leo Graham has taken over the reins at the Journal, and we're beginning to see real news appear on page 1, the BRR has become redundant."

Pace said that the BRR web site would still be available to those who liked to access crossword puzzles, weather, other on-line newspapers, and financial news through the BRR.  He added that he would continue to update the Ludlow property transfer.

He also noted that he would continue to maintain the Black River Today blog site in cooperation with the Rutland Herald.  He also will continue to update the Ludlow page of Topix.com.

"For this reason, I hope people will continue to send me their news releases and photos," he added.

Notice - Cavendish Boil Water Restriction Lifted

As of Tuesday, September 4, the Cavendish water supply had successfully been tested for three consecutive days without a trace of coliform bacteria.  The state had reviewed the test results and approved lifting the boil water requirement.

Any questions regarding the status of the water supply should be directed to Town Manager Richard Svec at 226-7291, or Dave Duquette, Chief Water System Operator, at 226-7743.

The complete notice may be read at http://www.brreporter.com/cavendish_page.htm.

Ludlow Property Transfer and Chart through August 2007

The year-to-date Ludlow Property Transfers have been update through August 2007.  Click Here to access them.

An Admiral Navigates Through Ludlow

 

                                                                  Photo by Susan Kneebone

Pictured above is a Red Admiral butterfly as it perches on Shasta Daisies in a Ludlow garden.  The butterfly is probably getting ready for its long flight to Central American.  A speedy, though erratic, flier, the migratory Red Admiral is also found in New Zealand, North Africa, and Asia.  It's nice to see that one of them decided to pay a visit to Ludlow before journeying down to its winter home.