Cavendish Old Home Day weekend on Saturday and Sunday July 5-6

Submitted by Margo Caulfield

Among the many activities is the opening of the new farm exhibit, curated by Paul Kingsbury and Carmine Guica. Born and raised in Cavendish, Kingsbury and Guica have a long history of farming. Growing up and attending the one room schoolhouse on Tarbell Hill Rd, both men traveled in other parts of the world and both served in WWII. Besides working on the farm exhibit together, they still volunteer to maintain trailheads at various hiking trails in the area. Guica is also the author of “The Story of My Life.”

Linda Welch will be on hand to sign copies of her new Volume 4 of the Families of Cavendish, which includes the families of Atherton, Bemis, Heald, and Ordway. This will not be the only book signing that day, as Betty Gray, of Cavendish,  will also be signing her first book “Legend of Casey’s Rock”

Craig Rankin’s plant sale will continue in front of the Cavendish Museum, as it has for over 25 years. With Rankin’s passing in January, this tradition is being taken over by Peiter Van Schaik and Bruce McEneaney.

There will be a retrospective of Craig Rankin’s work this weekend. His daughter Nancy McMillan, and son-in-law Christopher McMillan, who are museum exhibitors,  have prepared the show, which will exhibit include many of his Cavendish pen and inks, watercolors and oils of New England, as well as some of his landscape architectural work. Before retiring to Vermont, Rankin’s career included designing the landscape elements of such well-known New York City locations as Central Park, Jones Beach, the Verrazano Bridge, and even Yankee Stadium, for which he designed the field surface still used today.

Old Home Day kicks off with a 5 K Fun/Walk Run, which includes a hill climb. Runners and walkers should check in at the Mack Molding Parking log starting at 7 am. Walkers start at 7:30.

The Cavendish Green celebration starts at 9:30 includes local artists, food vendors, area businesses, community groups and more. Special activities will be available for children.  Parking is available at the Mack Molding parking lot.

On Sunday, CHS is sponsoring a tour of six gardens. Tickets are available at the first garden, the butterfly and outdoor classroom of the Cavendish Elementary School on Main Street in Proctorsville, or the Cavendish Historical Society  booth on Old Home Day.

Old Home Day is sponsored by the Cavendish Historical Society, in conjunction with Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA).  For information about Old Home Day, call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net.  

CCCA Seeks to Expand High Speed Internet Coverage

Submitted by Peter J. LaBelle

The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association is conducting a survey of Cavendish and Proctorsville households to determine those that lack high speed internet service.  While Comcast and TDS serve some residents with cable and DSL, their lines do not extend far from the villages, leaving many with dial-up connections at best.  This limiting factor has very serious economic consequences for the town’s long term growth potential, so CCCA is building a picture of low service areas and will work with residents to maximize the number of connected households.

Several weeks ago the CCCA mailed a printed form to all Cavendish homeowners asking for certain information to complete this survey.  Some residents never received the form but CCCA definitely wants them included in the survey, especially if they would like better internet service from cable, phone, or other means.  So, if you live in Cavendish or Proctorsville and you lack the possibility of a high speed internet connection, and you want to be included but you have not already responded to the CCCA survey, please e-mail Sandra.russo@yahoo.com, with your full name, house address and local telephone number.  Or you can send the information to CCCA at P.O. Box 605, Cavendish, VT 05142.

CCCA TO SPONSOR ENERGY FORUM IN CAVENDISH

Submitted by Peter J. LaBelle

The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will sponsor a forum on the future of energy production for and in Vermont, with a focus on the pros and cons of the various forms of energy available to us and on the future of the aging Vermont Yankee Nuclear facility in Vernon which is currently seeking a license for renewal of operations.  The program is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, June 23rd in the multi-purpose room of the Cavendish Town Elementary School. The panel presentation will include James Moore - Clean Energy Advocate for VPIRG; Ernie Shand - State Representative; and Dallas and Leslie Cox of the Cavendish Solar Store.  The discussion will consider the many, varied conventional and alternative energy sources that are available or under development.  Also on the agenda is a discussion of what the State of Vermont is doing and supporting in the way of alternatives to the rising costs of fuel and power, including updates on State actions in connection with Vermont Yankee and Hydro Quebec.  The program is free and open to the public.  Bring your questions and concerns and join us for what promises to be an educational evening.

For more information, please contact Robin Timko at          (802) 226-7736       .

Leven Quilts Part of Fiber Arts Festival May 24

Submitted by Margo Caulfield

Quilts, Quilts, Quilts!

Always liking to sew, Gloria Leven, took an adult education class in the late 70s on Long Island and fell in love with quilting. Traveling with her husband Seymour, she has been picking up bits and pieces of fabric whenever she finds a store. “I pick pieces that I like the color of or just the way they look. I can buy from Wal Mart or a high-end store. It doesn’t matter as long as it’s cotton.”

Making their home in Cavendish, Gloria has been quilting seriously for the last 20 years. Yes, she still travels on various trips with her husband, but always takes a quilting project. In fact, Seymour has been known to make comments about waking up in the middle of the night and finding his wife in the other hotel bed stitching away.

On May 24, Saturday, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) is pleased to showcase Gloria’s quilt and needle work at the Fiber Arts Festival. In addition, to being able to purchase a piece of her work, one of the Gloria’s larger quilts is first prize in the CHS raffle. Gloria is CHS’s secretary and curates the clothing exhibit for the Museum.

The Fiber Arts Festival is part of the Vermont Open Studio weekend and will be held at the Proctorsville Green starting at 10 am. In addition to Gloria’s needlework, CHS will have copies of old photographs, publications, T-shirts, aprons, totes and more.

CAVENDISH COMMUNITY FUND ANNOUNCES GRANTS

Submitted by Peter J. LaBelle

The Cavendish Community Fund has announced that it will give three grants this year to local individuals and organizations for Cavendish programs and projects.  CCF was established in 2007 to administer modest monetary grants for programs that add significant educational or cultural value to the quality of life in Cavendish.  The latest round of grant applications was due by April 1st and a citizens’ selection committee then reviewed the applications and selected those qualified for grants.

The first recipient is a Community Based Performance of live theater to be produced by Bridget Leicester who previously brought to Cavendish the Spoon River Anthology in 2006.  Community Based Performance refers to a unique, widely inclusive, multi generational, local performance that draws on the stories, skills and issues of a specific community.  The story will be selected and written by the participants and will be scheduled for a performance date this August.  All Cavendish residents are eligible to work on the project.  Work, including rehearsals will begin in May.  It will be directed by Lauryn Axelrod, Director of Education at the Weston Playhouse Theater Company.

The second grant is going to Stepping Stones Preschool which will sponsor a college level, professional development course specifically for early childhood educators, child care providers, and elementary school teachers on math and science.  The program will be run this fall by The Vermont Center for the Book, located in Chester.  It will provide the educators with math and science curricula, and teaching materials including books that will enable them to more proficiently introduce children to these critical subjects.

The third and final grant recipient is the Cavendish Historical Society for an archeological dig to be held this summer.  Following on the successful archeological dig last summer at Jackson Gore, the Historical Society will sponsor a dig this year in Cavendish.  Part of the project will include a learning camp for elementary school students in grades five through eight, who will get hands on experience at the prehistoric site.

The CCF encourages others to submit grant requests at any time.  The next deadline will be announced later in 2008 but interested parties need not wait for that date.  For more information and application materials please call Peter LaBelle at 226-7250 or Barbara Dickey at 226-7187.

CCCA BARN PRESERVATION COMMITTEE HOLDS WORKSHOP

submitted by CCCA 

The Barn Preservation Committee of the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will sponsor an educational session on Sunday, May 18, 2008 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.   Local builder and barn owner, Bruce McEnaney will demonstrate how to determine the age of a barn using old barn building materials to illustrate his methods.

The workshop will be held at the Cavendish Inn on Route 131 between Cavendish and Proctorsville villages.  There is no charge to attend, although donations are welcome.

Barn owners, contractors, builders and any other persons with an interest in reconstruction or restoration of old agricultural structures are invited to attend.  This is the first in a series of practical, hands-on workshops that are planned by the Barn Preservation Committee.  The goal is to provide information and a link to resources for barn owners and contractors to help save as many old barns in Cavendish as possible.    Inviting local contractors and builders as well as barn owners will bring together particular expertise and need.

Call Peter LaBelle at (802) 226-7250or Barbara Dickey at (802) 226-7187for more information.

CCCA Sponsors Photo Contest

submitted by CCCA

Beginning May 5^th and continuing through June 2^nd, the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will accept entries in its first annual Cavendish Calendar Photo Contest, which will celebrate the “Beauty of Cavendish!”

Entries will be judged twice.  First, a panel of judges will select prize winners from three categories of entrants: children 5 to 12 years old, children 13 to 18 years old, and everyone over 18.  Then all entrants will be eligible for the second round of judging when Cavendish residents vote on which photographs get published in the 2009 CCCA calendar.

The people of Cavendish will have an opportunity to view the submissions and vote for their favorites during an exhibition at the Cavendish Town Elementary School.  The exhibition will be open to CTES students, parents and teachers on June 9^th and 10^th, and open to the public on June 11^th to 14^th.  Winners will be announced on June 16th.

All Cavendish and Proctorsville citizens and residents, both full-time and part-time, are eligible to enter.  But any individual may enter only one picture and it must be accompanied by an entry form. All photographs must highlight the beauty of Cavendish landscapes.  A photo may also include historic aspects and sites, animals or people.  Entry forms and instructions can be obtained at the Cavendish Town Offices and at Crow’s Bakery in Proctorsville.  Entries may be mailed or delivered to the Cavendish Town Office, High Street, Cavendish, VT 05142.  For further information, call Robin Timko at 802-226-7736.

CCCA Holds Barn Preservation Workshop

The Barn Preservation Committee of the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will sponsor an educational session on Sunday, May 18, 2008 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.   Local builder and barn owner, Bruce McEnaney will demonstrate how to determine the age of a barn using old barn building materials to illustrate his methods.  The workshop will be held at the Cavendish Inn on Route 131 between Cavendish and Proctorsville villages.  There is no charge to attend, although donations are welcome.

Barn owners, contractors, builders and any other persons with an interest in reconstruction or restoration of old agricultural structures are invited to attend.  This is the first in a series of practical, hands-on workshops that are planned by the Barn Preservation Committee.  The goal is to provide information and a link to resources for barn owners and contractors to help save as many old barns in Cavendish as possible.    Inviting local contractors and builders as well as barn owners will bring together particular expertise and need.

Please call Peter LaBelle at (802) 226-7250 or Barbara Dickey at (802) 226-7187 for more information.

Cavendish sponsors Photo Contest

The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association has published a calendar for several years now with old and new photographs of Cavendish scenes. Putting a new twist on an old idea, the organization has decided to let community members select the pictures for the next calendar through a town wide contest. The first annual Cavendish Calendar Photo Contest will celebrate the "Beauty of Cavendish!"

A panel of judges will select prize winners from three categories of entrants: children 5 to 12 years old, children 13 to 18 years old, and everyone over 18. Winners will receive prizes and all entrants will be eligible for publication of their photos in the 2009 calendar.

Meanwhile, the people of Cavendish will have an opportunity to view the submissions too and vote for their favorites during an exhibition at the Cavendish Town Elementary School. The CCCA will publish the top twelve winners of that voting as monthly selections in the 2009 calendar. The exhibition will be open to CTES students, parents and teachers on June 9 and 10, and open to the public on June 11 to 14. Winners will be announced on June 16th.

Anybody from the Cavendish/Proctorsville community can enter, both full-time and part-time residents. All photographs must highlight the beauty of Cavendish landscapes and may include historic aspects and sites, animals or people. There is a limit of three entries per person and an entry form is required with each picture. Entry forms and instructions can be obtained at the Cavendish Town Offices and at Crow’s Bakery in Proctorsville.

Entries must be submitted no earlier than May 5 and no later than June 2, 2008, and may be mailed or delivered to the Cavendish Town Office, High Street, Cavendish, VT 05142. For further information, call Robin Timko at          802-226-7736       .

CCCA to Host Cavendish Pre-Town Meeting and Candidates’ Forum on February 25th

The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will again hold a pre-Town Meeting and candidates’ forum to review the proposed town and school budgets, as well as to allow candidates who are running for town office in Cavendish the opportunity to address the voters. Last year was the first such venture for CCCA, which took over the task from the now-defunct Cavendish Grange. Although low voter turnout is a given in this country and Vermont is no exception, there are always those citizens who take their franchise seriously and truly want to understand issues and know who will represent them in the coming year. Here is the opportunity for you the voter to question the candidates and to discuss the issues. This year’s event will be on Monday, February 25 (a week before Town Meeting) at 6:30 p.m. at the Cavendish Elementary School in the Arts Room. There will be refreshments as well as plenty of information.