As the old adage goes: Spring forward! Daylight Savings Time starts this coming Sunday morning at 2 a.m., so before you go the bed Saturday night turn your clocks forward an hour and welcome an extra hour of daylight the next day.
 
Vergennes police and other local law enforcement agencies will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and extra patrols throughout Addison County to flag drunk drivers during Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, according to Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel and Addison County Traffic Safety Coordinator Mark Stacey. They want to make sure county roads are safe to travel during a weekend that can encourage alcohol consumption. Police stress that “buzzed” driving is drunk driving, so designate a sober driver.
 
An inaugural “Pond Skimming Contest and Fundraiser” for the Middlebury Ski Club is scheduled for Sunday, March 31, at the Middlebury Snow Bowl. It’ll be an afternoon of great food and beverage on the deck, music, fun and much more. More details to follow. The club is looking to partner with area businesses to help raise money for the MSC and its mission to help make skiing and ski racing accessible to children and young adults who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it. Sponsors already on board include Fire & Ice, Farrell’s Distributing, Community Barn Ventures, Otter Creek Awnings, Two Brothers Tavern, Downeast Traders, IPJ Real Estate, the Waybury Inn and the Middlebury Snow Bowl. For more information, email [email protected].
 
The Willowell Foundation is running an outdoor mentoring program called “Romp” on the second Saturday of each month from now until June. It includes outdoor knowledge and survival skills while allowing children to have a great time exploring for a full day of fun and learning. Each month has a different focus area — like species identification, survival and artistic creation. The program as a whole teaches the overarching themes of respect and connection to the natural world and those around us. The program culminates in an overnight trip in June, where the children will showcase the skills they’ve developed through the year. The Willowell land is located at Stoney Meadow Lane in Monkton. The program fee is a sliding scale and will be prorated for participants who join throughout the school year. For more information, email [email protected].
 
The Monkton Energy Committee needs new members to help the town achieve the goals outlined in the community’s new energy plan. If you are live in Monkton and are interested in putting a little of your free time into making a positive change in the town, contact the town selectboard or Nate Palmer, chair of the Energy Committee.
 
Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 23, when Starksboro will host a townwide open house and Sugar on Snow party, from noon to 3 p.m. Activities at this year’s event will include music, a town government open house, Colonial-era sugaring demonstration, farmers market, kids’ activities, and of course plenty of maple sugar on snow and the fixin’s. Come on out and celebrate the coming of spring, meet your neighbors, buy some local goods, and find out what’s going on around town. All events are free, with donations and proceeds to benefit the Village Meetinghouse Restoration Fund.