This is a challenging time and that many are feeling lonely and isolated. Addison County resident Karen Kevra has created a feel-good podcast, musementors.com, that reminds us about what makes humans so great. The guests — all with Vermont connections — join her for personal stories of deep connection. Her most recent interviewee is Rob Mermin, the founder of Circus Smirkus, who shares stories about his mentor, Marcel Marceau, the iconic French mime. 
Starksboro’s Fire Department Auxiliary and Robinson School have begun collecting donations for their Annual Holiday Project. Families needing assistance with the holidays for their kids are identified through the school. The need seems to be greater this year, according to Starksboro Town Clerk Cheryl Estey. Donations in the form of cash or checks may be dropped off at the Starksboro Town Office or mailed to P.O. Box 91, Starksboro, VT 05487, or to Chris Runcie at 500 Parsonage Rd., Starksboro, VT 05487. Checks should be made out to the Starksboro Holiday Project. Anyone with questions should call the town office at 453-2639, or Chris Runcie 453-4603.
Don’t let the pandemic melt your holiday spirit. Be a part of Bristol’s town-wide “Light Tour” and show off your holiday lights and decorations. Contact the Recreation Department at [email protected] to be added to the route. Also, you can build a snowman, take a picture of it, and send it to the same email address. Submit your creation to one of the following categories: largest snowman, most fashionable, most creative, or most well-built. The best in each category wins a prize. Pictures must be submitted by Dec. 22. 
The town of Lincoln looks after its own in many ways. Anyone having economic problems can get help with winter fuel. For fuel oil, electricity, pellets and gas reach out to the United Church of Lincoln at 453-4280. For cord wood reach out to Marc Field at 954-695-9937. And if you’d like to donate, you can make out a check to the United Church of Lincoln — just put “fuel fund” in the memo line.
Steve Huffaker, a Ferrisburgh resident who heads the board coordinating the effort to expand broadband internet service throughout the region, the Addison County Communications Union District, has informed us the board has chosen a new name under which to do business: “Maple Broadband.” The board had previously been considering Green Mountain Broadband. Maple Broadband, a nonprofit entity sanctioned by state law, is now working on a business plan to extend fiber-optic communication lines to underserved homes and businesses in the county, and at least 16 county towns have signed on. 
Mary Hogan Elementary School’s Read-a-Thon, a month-long celebration of reading and readers, is taking place now. As a part of this annual event, organizers have set up an online Scholastic Book Fair; 25% of any sales go directly to the Midd Elementary School Association, a parent group that supports teachers, the school library, and individual readers. So if you see some long winter days stretching ahead, consider purchasing a good book or two and supporting a local elementary school at the same time. You don’t need to have a child at Mary Hogan to participate — this is open to all. Here’s the book fair link: tinyurl.com/y4dwovyf. Should you be interested and able to make a donation directly to MESA, you can do so via PayPal at acsdvt.org/Page/5224.