Calling all poets and poets-to-be who draw inspiration from Weybridge: The town is sponsoring a haiku contest. Entrants are asked to write a haiku or two about Weybridge. It can be a moment of the season, a particular encounter, a vivid sense-based snapshot. The poems must be in haiku form — either the traditional form of three lines no more than 17 syllables total (5-7-5), or a short three lines that captures the spirit of the haiku. Participants of all ages are encouraged to participate. Submit entries by June 25 to either [email protected], or to 80 Meetinghouse Lane, Weybridge, VT 05753. The poems will be forwarded to two local residents who know a little something about good writing — Jay Parini and Julia Alvarez — who will serve as judges. Winners will be announced at a town picnic on July 7. Prizes include books by Parini and Alvarez, along with gift certificates for the Vermont Book Shop.
 
If you have an itch to work the soil, the Charter House Coalition invites you to join the volunteers who grow vegetables for the nonprofit’s community meals program in Middlebury. Planting is about to begin for the coalition’s garden on Porter Hospital grounds. Adults and children are all welcome. The coalition will serve up more than 35,000 free, hot meals this year to area residents in need food assistance. Surplus produce is passed on to local food shelves and to regular volunteers. Whether you are a master gardener or have no experience and just want to enjoy the garden aromas and mountain views with friends, all are welcome. A coalition coordinator will always be at the garden to guide the work on Saturday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. through the spring, summer and fall. By late May, coordinators will also be present two or three mornings and evenings at times convenient to the volunteers. The garden is located just off the northeast parking lot of the Porter grounds. Gardening starts this Saturday, May 5. Please contact Doug Sinclair ([email protected]) if you have questions or would like to get on the volunteers mailing list.
 
Two Middlebury primary care practices have been recognized by the Vermont Department of Health for high child and/or teen immunization rates in 2017. Rainbow Pediatrics and Porter Medical Center Pediatric Primary Care were both lauded for having at least 20 teen or child-age patients. To receive recognition, 90 percent or more of the children must be up to date with their immunizations for 11 vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles and hepatitis B. At least 80 percent of teen patients must be vaccinated to prevent meningitis, cancers caused by HPV, and pertussis (whooping cough).
 
The Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) will hold a public input session May 9 to share the findings and receive feedback on a draft of its 2018 Vermont Long-Range Transmission Plan. The plan is required by law to identify where electric load growth over the next 20 years may drive the need for system reliability investments, and to share that information in sufficient time to consider alternatives to building poles and wires. The 2018 Vermont Long-Range Transmission Plan looks closely at these trends, analyzing possible future scenarios based on increased distributed generation and state energy policy. Every three years, VELCO — the owner and operator of Vermont’s electricity transmission system — performs a detailed analysis that identifies reliability concerns and where transmission alternatives may be used to address those concerns. VELCO collaborates with the Vermont distribution utilities, and other stakeholders to finalize the plan, which then guides grid reliability efforts. The closest public meeting to Addison County is slated for next Wednesday, May 9, at 11 a.m. at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, Noble Hall, in Montpelier. For more details, visit velco.com/longrangeplan2018.