On Feb. 15, from 4-8 p.m., there will be a Mini Maker Faire at the Hannaford Career Center on Charles Avenue in Middlebury. The event, which coincides with the Career Center open house, is a kick-off for a plan to create a local “maker space” at the center. It will be a great opportunity to showcase local makerism, create connections in the local maker web and gauge interest in having the resources of the Career Center available to the community after school. Organizers are looking for makers — local engineer Dave Cole said, “The definition of a maker is very broad and includes just about anything that can be demonstrated at a school” — so if you’re one and want to participate in the faire, contact Dave at [email protected].
 
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department this week said preliminary numbers show 15,949 deer were taken during Vermont’s 2017 deer hunting seasons. An Addison Independent count showed that 1,189 hunters took deer to one of the county’s eight reporting stations during the 2017 deer seasons — about one-seventh of all the deer killed in the state. The legal buck harvest was 8 percent more than the previous three-year average, Fish & Wildlife deer project leader Nick Fortin reported. Deer harvest numbers increased during the archery, youth and muzzleloader seasons, and the total harvest of 15,949 is the third-highest since 2002. The state is expected to release final deer hunt numbers late this winter.
 
The Lawrence Memorial Library will not be closed on Martin Luther King Day; instead they will host a day of diversity. Come in anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for treats from around the globe, world music, live storytelling, films suitable for all ages from Kazakhstan, Japan and France, and to hear the speeches of Martin Luther King. Join Marita Schine at 10:30 a.m. for an international story time and make global crafts to take home all day long. For more information call 802-453-2366.
 
The Ongoing Events listings in the Addison Independent Calendar are in need of some updates. If your organization has events that happen on a recurring basis, such as playgroups, gallery shows, support groups, community meals, etc., email [email protected]. To review what is currently listed visit the calendar at the Addison Independent online at addisonindependent.com. and scroll down to the bottom.
 
Sap!, a Vermont-based all natural beverage company that got its start in Bristol, was included in Whole Foods Market’s Top 10 Food Trends 2018 list. Sap! was featured in the “Say Cheers to the Other Bubbly” trend, which gives a nod to the growing popularity of plant-derived sparkling beverages. Sap! makes a line of sparkling beverages from pure maple and birch sap direct from the trees of Vermont. Bottoms up!
 
The local bus company, Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR), has reactivated its bus pull-off on Main Street in front of St. Stephen’s Church in Middlebury. ACTR had set up the stop after installation of the temporary downtown bridges claimed their Merchants Row stop last summer; put the stop in mothballs do make room for more parking during the busy holiday shopping season. The company still stopped in the street to pick up passengers and found that an average 40 riders per day relied on the Post Office stops, which required more vigilance for drivers of cars and trucks in the area. Officials said that the temporary holiday configuration led to some riders darting across both lanes of traffic, which was not the safest course of action. ACTR says that returning to the pull-off in front of the church will claim a few parking spaces but will be less disruptive to traffic flow and thus improve safety and reduce driver inconvenience and frustration.
 
File this under Spirit of the Times: The Vermont House on Tuesday conducted sexual harassment training. The training was conducted by members of Legislative Council in order to ensure that all members, staff, and state house guests are afforded a positive work culture free from harassment. Brattleboro Progressive Rep. Mollie Burke, chair of the House Sexual Harassment Prevention Panel, said the Legislature made significant changes to the Sexual Harassment Prevention policy last year, and has several additional updates they would like to make this year.
 
The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) last week announced the results of its annual election of VMEC Advisory Board members last month. Our own Mike Rainville, president and owner of Maple Landmark Inc. in Middlebury, was re-elected as chairperson of the VMEC Advisory Board for another one-year term.