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.

PRO-TOUR COMEDY NIGHT COMES TO OKEMO

Returning this winter, on Saturday, February 23, 2008, Vermont Properties and Development Inc. and Okemo Mountain Resort present a Pro-Tour Comedy Night to benefit the Okemo Mountain School Scholarship Fund.

Comedian Jimmy Dunn and Hypnotist Frank Santos, Jr. will provide an evening of side-splitting laughter at Epic, located in Okemo Mountain Resort’s Solitude Day Lodge on Okemo Ridge Road. Doors open at 7 for the 7:30 p.m. show. No one under age 21 will be admitted. Tickets may be purchased in advance of the show for $23 by calling Vermont Properties at (802) 228-8877. Unsold tickets will be available at the door for $28 on the night of the show.

The evening is co-sponsored by Okemo Mountain Resort and Vermont Properties and Development, Inc. All proceeds will benefit the Okemo Mountain School Scholarship Fund. Okemo Mountain School was founded in 1982 and offers a curriculum for the serious young competitor. Students in grades 7 to 12 attend classes from November through March so they may concentrate on their competitive goals while maintaining their studies. Many OMS students have attained elite levels of competition.

For more information, please call Vermont Properties at (802) 228-8877.

CCF Accepting Applications for Spring 2008 Grants

The Cavendish Community Fund has announced that it is now accepting applications for grants that will be awarded this spring. The deadline for applying is April 1, 2008. Applications are available at Crow’s Bakery and other businesses in Proctorsville and include instructions on how and where to apply.

Last fall CCF inaugurated its program of giving cash grants to organizations for educational and cultural projects, programs and events. The first such awards were given to the Cavendish Elementary School, the Fletcher Community Library and to the Gethsemane Episcopal Church. While individuals are allowed to apply, they are strongly encouraged to partner with a local tax-exempt organization.

Projects, programs or events must directly benefit the Cavendish community in some way. A panel of local citizens reviews all applications and recommends the ultimate grantees based on the quality and feasibility of each proposal. Grants are not expected to exceed $1,000 each and will depend primarily on the number of applications and the amounts requested.

For further information on applying, on eligibility or on any other aspect of the grant program, or for help completing the application, please call Peter LaBelle at 226-7250 or Barbara Dickey at 226-7187.