Dig in at a barbeque. The Bristol 4th of July Committee is hosting its annual chicken barbeque fundraiser on Saturday, June 27. The barbeque will take place at the Bristol American Legion and be conducted via drive-through pick-up. Just pull up and they’ll take care of the rest. Serving starts at 1 p.m. and continues until the food is gone. 
One meal includes a half-chicken (cooked onsite by the Sons of the American Legion), potato salad, baked beans, and a roll. The price per meal is $12. Proceeds go toward the 2021 Bristol 4th of July Celebration.
 
Compete in athletic events. Help yourself stay motivated this year and looking forward to next year’s events by running any one of the Vermont Sun events virtually. There is no fee for the 2020 Virtual Vermont Sun events. Just have fun staying fit.
The events include the usual Vermont Sun Triathlon, Lake Dunmore Triathlon, Branbury Classic Triathlon, and the Vermont Sun Half Marathon, 5K and 10K. Here’s how to take part: 
Run the actual course or map out the distances where you live. Time yourself. Send Vermont Sun the event you completed and your time. Vermont Sun will post them on its website and keep in in their archives.
Please send your results to [email protected] by the end of August. Times are on the honor system and won’t count for course records.
Directions for all courses can be found online at vermontsun.com — click on course maps. Bike and run courses start and finish at the main Branbury State Park pavilion. Run course turnarounds are marked on the pavement. Small red buoys will be set for the LDT and VST swim turns as well as the turn to shore.
For the Branbury Classic boat turn, start at the beach, stay tight to the east shore till you begin to enter a small bay, then turn around there.
This plan will keep the Middlebury fitness center’s 35-year tradition going.
 
Make It Together: Seed balls. This is also known as “guerilla gardening.”
Materials:
•  2 parts potting soil
•  5 parts pottery clay mix from your local art store
•  1-2 parts water
•  1-2 parts seeds of your choice
•  Large tub to mix ingredients
•  Large box to dry and store seed balls 
Directions:
1. Mix the soil, clay and 1 part water thoroughly. There should be no lumps. Slowly add more water until the mixture is the consistency of the toy store molding clay that comes in a can.
2. Add seeds. Keep kneading the dough until the seeds are well mixed in. Add more water if needed 
3. Take small bits of the clay mixture and roll into ball about one inch in diameter. The balls should hold together easily. If they’re crumbly, add more water.
4. Dry seed balls for 24-48 hours in a shady place before sowing or storing. They store best in a cardboard box. Do not use plastic bags –this may cause mold/mildew.
5. The last step in making seed balls is sowing them. Yes, you can place them carefully over the area to be planted or you can gently toss them one at a time, which is a lot more fun.  Don’t bury them and don’t water them. Pick some favorite spots that don’t usually have flowers, and some surprise locations, too!
 
Give blood. The American Red Cross is holding three blood drives in the area over the next week.
The first is on Saturday, June 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Middlebury Rec. Center at 154 Creek Road. Then on Monday, June 22, noon to 5 p.m., donate blood in Brandon at the American Legion Hall, 550 Franklin St. 
Finally, on Thursday, June 25, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the blood draw shifts back to Middlebury, this time at the Counseling Services of Addison County, 109 Catamount Park. 
To reserve a spot call 1-800-Red-Cross (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org.
 
Kids learn from a scientist. This summer through a series of free virtual science cafés, Vermont scientists will share their expertise and lead informal discussions on everything from veterinary epidemiology to protein modification and water quality. Anyone entering grades 7-12 this fall may participate. 
These online enrichment learning opportunities are offered by University of Vermont Extension 4-H as part of its Summer of Science series. They will be held every Wednesday from June 24 through Aug. 12 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Although free, registration is required to obtain the log-in link for each session. For details or to sign up, go to www.uvm.edu/extension/youth/announcements. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact Lauren Traister, UVM Extension 4-H Teen and Leadership Program coordinator, at (802) 888-4972, ext. 402, or [email protected]. 
Weekly topics are: 
June 24: Fighting COVID-19 with Supercomputers.
July 1: Protein Modification — The Fine Tuning for a Proper Cell Division Orchestra. 
July 8: What Do Pickles, Yogurt, and Soy Sauce Have in Common? How Fermentation Feeds Us.
July 15: Watershed Wise — Explore Local Water Quality Challenges and Learn How You Can Make a Difference.
July 22: A Different Kind of Veterinarian — Veterinary Infectious Disease Epidemiology and One Health.
July 29: Not Just Neurons — The Brain’s Other Cells.
Aug. 5: The Importance of Pollinators.
Aug. 12: Bacteria and Backyard Chickens — How Much Salmonella is There? 
In addition to this series, a free online Natural Resources Management Academy will be offered July 13-17. Teens with an interest in the environment may register at uvm.edu/extension/youth/announcements.