As you might be aware, New Haven has, through the recent “New Haven Comes Together” community engagement program, prioritized organizing a housing taskforce with the goal of expanding housing opportunities in town. An initial review of several state and regional reports suggests there might be between 20 and 40 vacant homes in New Haven. These buildings, according to taskforce members, could present a great opportunity to deliver additional needed housing for the community. As part of its initial focus, the taskforce wants to identify the actual number and location of any vacant homes to see if they can be woven back into New Haven’s active housing supply. If you know of any vacant homes in town, you’re encouraged to email the address — and any other details pertaining to ownership and/or reasons it is vacant — to [email protected]. This news will be treated confidentially, according to taskforce leaders.

 

Do you love history? Do you enjoy meeting new people? Are you interested in sharing stories in a beautiful historic setting? Ferrisburgh’s Rokeby Museum is seeking volunteer tour guides for its 2025-2026 season for both House Tours and Educational Tours. Learn the remarkable story of the Robinson family as you help preserve their legacy as part of the nation’s underground railroad by which slaves were shuttled away from bondage. Tours will run May through October. For more information, visit rokeby.org/work-at-rokeby, or call 802-877-3406

 

The Addison County Solid Waste Management District recently received a grant of $40,589 from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, resources that will be used to help fund household hazardous waste collection and disposal for the ACSWMD’s 21 member towns. Residents of these towns can bring household hazardous waste such as paints, cleaning products, herbicides, pesticides, automotive products, and many other toxic chemicals to the district’s HazWaste Center at 1223 Route 7 South in Middlebury for safe and proper disposal, at no charge. These wastes are prohibited from disposal as trash, to keep toxic, flammable, corrosive, and reactive materials out of Vermont’s landfills. The district’s HazWaste Center is open year-round, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, please contact Ben Eglash at 802-388-2333, or visit AddisonCountyRecycles.org. Businesses must make an appointment and pay for hazardous waste disposal.

 

Average gasoline prices in Vermont have risen 24.8 cents per gallon during the past week, averaging $3.61 right now, according to GasBuddy. Prices in Vermont are 62.8 cents higher than a month ago and stand 51.7 cents higher than a year ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Vermont was priced at $3.25 early this week, while the most expensive was $5.19. Meanwhile, the national average price of gasoline has risen 23.2 cents per gallon during the past week, averaging $3.68 now. The national average is up 80 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 66.1 cents higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy.

 

Middlebury Community Players will again award two $1,000 scholarships to area college-bound high school seniors graduating in June 2026, or to those who have graduated from high school within the last two years (2024 or 2025). To be eligible for a scholarship, an applicant must have worked with the Middlebury Community Players in some manner during middle and/or high school, either by participating in a production or assisting at an MCP-sponsored event, such as its costume sale. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Wednesday, April 15. To apply, visit MiddleburyCommunityPlayers.org and click on the link to the application form.