The John Graham Shelter in Vergennes is staging a fundraiser called “Keep the Fire Burning.” Shelter officials will keep a fire burning on the banks of Otter Creek in Middlebury throughout the night of  Saturday, Dec. 19. You can partake by lighting a candle at home and wishing everyone in our community has safe housing. The fundraising goal is $50,000. You can make donations at johngrahamshelter.org or by mailing to John Graham Housing & Services, 69 Main St., Vergennes, VT 05491. And here’s a bonus: Vermont Coffee Company of Middlebury has made a commitment to match donations, dollar for dollar, or to the final $25,000 of the campaign. Company founder and CEO Paul Ralston said, “It’s time to dig deep and help our hungry and homeless neighbors … We need to feed and house Vermonters now.”
The University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm is pleased to announce a “Holiday Lights Drive Through” experience at the historic farm off Morgan Horse Farm Road in Weybridge. Come see the farm like never before: lit up in celebration of the season. This free event will be from 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19. Rain date will be Monday, Dec. 21, same time. Enter the farm grounds from the south driveway, traveling around the loop, snapping fantastic photos of this 1878 Victorian-era horse barn and grounds. This farm is home to the oldest breeding herd of Morgan Horses, Vermont’s state animal. There will be a table to drop off donations for the local food shelf, run by Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects. There will also be self-serve candy canes & coloring pages to take home for the kiddos.
The Independent last week featured an article about the Everyone Eats free meal program and how it’s been serving the Vergennes area, Middlebury, Bristol and Starksboro. Everyone Eats provides nutritious meals to Vermonters in need of food assistance and it’s a stabilizing source of income for Vermont restaurants, farmers, and food producers. Everyone Eats serves individuals and families and is available Monday through Friday. Well, if you live in Bristol, you can pick up meals at the Lawrence Memorial Library. Meals cooked by Bar Antidote in Vergennes will be in a cooler by the side entrance of LML and available for self-serve pick-up from 3-5 p.m. The meals are also being delivered to the Lincoln Library porch, in a cooler for self-serve. Register once and receive a daily meal for you, your family or a neighbor. To find out more and register, please go to tinyurl.com/y73cm8pb.
The town of Bristol is looking for citizens to serve on its newly created Development Review Board (DRB). That panel replaces the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The DRB will consist of seven members and two alternates appointed by the selectboard for three-year terms. The DRB will be responsible for the review of applications for conditional uses, site plan reviews, subdivisions, and variances in accordance with the Bristol Unified Development Regulations. The DRB also hears appeals of decisions of the zoning administrator and enforcement matters. The DRB will meet the second and fourth Tuesday each month as needed. Please submit a letter or e-mail of interest to the Bristol Selectboard, 1 South St., P.O. Box 249, Bristol, VT 05443 or by e-mail to [email protected] You can also contact Bristol Zoning Administrator Kris Perlee at [email protected] or 453-2410.
Thanks to the Addison County Eagles Club in Vergennes. We heard that they pulled out all the stops and the volunteers to prepare meals for those in need over Thanksgiving. Volunteers prepared and packaged meals for more than 150 people, including police officers on duty over the holiday. In all they prepared 17 turkeys, 15 pies, and mashed potatoes for more than 160 people.
Share the warmth this holiday season. The Residence at Otter Creek at 350 Lodge Road in Middlebury is accepting donations of new gloves, hats and mittens, in teen and adult sizes, to benefit Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects clients. Items may be dropped off at the front desk to decorate the Mitten Tree in the retirement community’s lobby. Call Suzanne Bennett at 802-377-3393, or email her at [email protected], with any questions.