Law enforcement agencies are conducting impaired driving checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout Addison County from July 3-7 as part of the Vermont Governor’s Highway Safety 4th of July Holiday Campaign. Officers will also be vigilant for distracted driving offenders as well as those who are not wearing seatbelts. Make sure to drive responsibly, wear your seatbelts, don’t drink and drive and don’t use your cell phone while driving.
Along with their usual story hour and summer programs, Bixby Library’s Youth Services will have two additional offerings this summer. During the Vergennes Farmer’s Market, Youth Services Librarian Rachel Plant will be at the City Park with a collection of books suitable for preschoolers to first-graders depending on the audience gathered, unless it’s raining. Bixby will also offer free bag lunches from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from July 3 through 31. Lunch includes two servings of fruit or vegetables, one serving of grain or bread, one serving of a protein, and one cup of fluid milk. Meals are served in the Otter Creek Room on the lower floor of the library. For both programs, kids under 8 must have an adult (16 years or older) with them. 
Do you like to sew? Would you like to learn how to make your own reusable shopping bag to get ready for Vermont’s new law banning the use of single-use plastic bags? If your answer is “yes,” join the “Sewing for Change” gathering at the Bundle pop-up location at 60 Main St. in Middlebury, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this coming Monday, July 8. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own sewing machines and will make “re-bags” out of donated fabric. Vermont’s plastic-bags ban doesn’t go into effect until July of 2020, but Sewing for Change organizers want folks to make the transition earlier for the sake of the environment. Organizers will provide fabric, thread, instruction sheets, irons, ironing boards, enthusiasm and mentoring. For more information, contact Bethany at 462-2000 or [email protected].
Volunteers are needed to pull wild parsnip on the playground, lower ball field, and walking path areas near Monkton Central School next Wednesday, July 10, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and bring gloves. Organizers will have a number of the “Parsnip Predator” shovels to try out, or bring your own favorite shovel. If you are concerned about the kids at Monkton Central getting exposed to wild parsnip — which can cause wicked blistering — or if you just want to spend a few minutes learning how to handle the nuisance plant, please stop by.
Organizers of the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival is still in need of housing hosts. The festival has always looked to put up filmmakers in local homes, so that they can afford to come and also get a real sense of Vermont. Also, filmmaker hosts are provided with one free festival pass. The festival will be held Aug. 22-25. If you’re interested in hosting filmmakers, please reach out to [email protected].