If you’ve been to a holiday gathering, perhaps it’s time to get tested for COVID-19, in the event you became infected, notes Middlebury Police Chief and Emergency Management Director Tom Hanley. The idea is so that you won’t inadvertently infect anyone else and so you can get medical treatment sooner if you need it. There is plenty of available time for the tests noon-8 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, at the town’s recreation facility off Creek Road. Here’s the link to register: healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing/where-get-tested.
The Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center in Goshen is collaborating with the Moosalamoo Association to present the 2021 Winter Challenge. From Jan. 1 to March 15, BHOC is offering a ski and snowshoe challenge. Prizes will be awarded for most miles skied, most miles snowshoed, most days skied and most days snowshoed. Free intro to skiing and snowshoeing mini-lessons are available Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Snow is on the ground; soup and fire pits will be hot on the weekends. The outdoor center, which is now a nonprofit organization, does not charge trail fees, but does accept donations. More info is available at blueberryhilltrails.com.
Pet Owners are among those who’ve seen their finances severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, Homeward Bound’s Pet CORE (Community Outreach Resources & Education) program is now serving under-resourced clients at the nonprofit’s Boardman Street headquarters. Pet CORE clients receive parasite preventatives, supplemental food, affordable pet wellness care, and access to affordable spay/neuter services. Eligibility is based on proof of Addison County residency and proof of income equal to or less than 200% of federal poverty level, which is $52,400 for a household of four. The service is open by appointment Monday – Friday. For more information and/or to download an application form, visit homewardboundanimals.org.
Live in Lincoln? Make a difference in a young person’s life in 2021 by joining the Lincoln Mentor Program. It’s rewarding, meaningful, and right in your own community. Since 2014, the Lincoln Mentor Program has made the lives of both adult community members and Lincoln Community Students richer. Though the school is still a COVID-19 safe place, matches and meetings can be scheduled through Zoom, Facetime or good old-fashioned snail mail. All of this will pave the way for in-person meetings between mentors and mentees when COVID restrictions are lifted. Mentors are asked for a commitment of an hour each week, or two hours every two weeks. For more information, email Lincoln Mentor Coordinator Beth Nelson at [email protected].
The Middlebury selectboard recently discussed options for renewing the town’s 25-year lease with the former School District Number 4 (Mary Hogan) — now part of the Addison County School District (ACSD) — for the land known as the Recreation Park. The lease expired Dec. 31. The current lease, signed with Mary Hogan Elementary School back in 1995, outlines the town’s rights and responsibilities in regard to operating and maintaining the park as a public recreation space. In light of the consolidation of ID-4 into ACSD in 2016 and the ways in which the use of Rec Park has evolved over the last quarter century, the selectboard expressed an interest in taking some time to examine the structure of the lease more closely. To that end, the board has authorized Town Manager Kathleen Ramsay to work with ACSD toward executing a one-year extension of the current lease, effective Jan. 1, 2021.
Cooperative Insurance Companies of Middlebury would have announced the winner of its 2019 President’s Award of Excellence in the first half of 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed that announcement. But, as the year closed, the company announced that it had given the award to the Laberge Insurance Agency. The Middlebury agency out-performed all others in the areas of growth, profitability and working relationship with Co-operative and its members. The belated award was presented at Co-operative Insurance’s home office in lieu of a previously planned outing, and officials from both firms gathered for a photo op with all wearing facemasks. Laberge Insurance has been working with Co-operative Insurance since 1955.