The days are getting shorter so it must be time to change our clocks for the end of Daylight Savings Time. Before you go to bed this Saturday night, turn your clocks 1 hour earlier so when you wake up Sunday morning you will have an extra hour of sleep.
 
It’s getting real cold, and the United Church of Lincoln has a fuel fund to help people get needed heating fuel. If you’d like to donate to that effort, send a check to the church and put “Deacon’s Fuel Fund” in the memo line. Donations to this fund will help Lincoln residents get fuel and furnace repairs. Church members also run a “wood bank” providing dry cordwood to people who run out and need some in an emergency. If you need or know someone in need of firewood, call the church office at 453-4280. And on a related note, Lincoln has free kindling for anyone who needs it. The pile is located behind 57 Gove Hill Road on the river side, the house opposite the firehouse. Any questions, call Glynn at 349-2126.
 
Attention new parents living in Starksboro: You’re invited to the annual Starksboro Baby Brunch, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the town library. This free event is a celebration of Starksboro babies born and adopted between Sept. 1, 2017, and Sept. 1, 2018. Delicious finger food and drinks will be served, and parents will pick a book and a board book of their own to take home. As an added bonus, siblings are also welcome to pick a book of their own to keep. This event for new parents and babies is a great way to meet other families with new children. This event is sponsored by Starksboro Project READ and the Starksboro Public Library.
 
The Marquis Theater and the Middlebury Police Department are teaming up for a special Nov. 7 screening of “Fallen,” a feature documentary film about the line-of-duty death rate plaguing U.S. law enforcement. The production team visited locations from coast to coast, telling stories of bravery and sacrifice from the perspective of family, friends, loved ones and partners of those who gave everything. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $10. All donations will go to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, which provides fun experiences with children living with cancer and their families. The Marquis Theater doors will open at 6 p.m.; the film begins at 7 p.m.
 
Porter Knight is inviting Bristol residents and friends to join her at the Bristol Firehouse on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. to share their ideas to be included in a Vermont Outdoor Recreation Communities grant application. Grants from $10,000 to $100,000 are available to help one or more Vermont communities fully leverage their local outdoor recreation assets. VOReC’s goals are to grow outdoor recreation related business opportunities, increase participation in outdoor recreation, strengthen the quality and extent of outdoor recreation resources, and increase stewardship of outdoor recreation resources.
 
The non-profit Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects (HOPE) is looking for donations for its “mitten tree,” featuring clothing to benefit children and adults without the resources to stay warm this winter. Particularly needed at this time are donations of new or handmade mittens, gloves, scarves and hats in both adult and children’s sizes, (boys especially). Your donations will decorate a tree that will stand in the lobby of the Residence at Otter Creek retirement community through the month of November. HOPE will then distribute the clothing to clients. Please drop items off at the Lodge’s front desk before Nov. 29. Free pickup is also available.
 
The Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op’s 27th Empty Bowl Dinner is scheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Middlebury United Methodist Church. Join your friends, neighbors and lots of new faces to raise money to support Addison County food shelves, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, and HOPE. Diners will enjoy three hot, homemade soups, fresh bread, salads made with organic veggies, homemade desserts, and beverages. Each attendee will receive their choice of a handmade in Vermont potter’s bowl.Tickets, at $30 each, are now on sale at the Co-op.
 
5-Town Friends of the Arts (5-TFA) is again accepting grant applications for its fall round of community grants. The Community Grants Program helps to fund events in the fine arts, performing arts, and other cultural experiences to enrich the lives of people living in Monkton, New Haven, Bristol, Lincoln and Starksboro. Previous recipients have included the libraries of the five towns, schools seeking funding for special events or artists-in-residence, elder projects, teen projects, as well as other community groups and individuals. Preference is given to projects and events that reach as many folks as possible, with an emphasis on children.Fall grant applications are due on or before Nov. 16. They may be sent to 5-Town Friends of the Arts at 25 Main St., Bristol, 05443, or dropped off at Art on Main. Applications can be downloaded from 5townfriendsofthearts.org.
 
The Nature Conservancy recently completed a universally accessible boardwalk at their Raven Ridge Natural Area in Monkton. The ADA boardwalk spans 935-feet over a sensitive wetland and leads to a 748-foot accessible trail, creating a third of a mile of access for visitors of all physical abilities. You can find it near 1612 Rotax Road in Monkton.