Vermont Green Up Day, Saturday, May 6: Green Up Day is an annual statewide clean-up day for people to get together and clean up litter from roadsides and waterways in their community. Special green bags are available from the town office. Tied-up bags of collected litter can be left at any intersection or at either town shed, and the Pawlet Highway Department will do the rest on Monday morning. Any questions may be directed to Jon Weiss, Pawlet’s Green Up Day Coordinator, at jon@pawletfire.org or 325-7070. You can learn more about Green Up Vermont at greenupvermont.org.

Roast pork dinner Saturday, May 6, 5 PM, Pawlet Church: The menu includes: roast pork baked with topping, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, hot vegetables, cabbage, salad, applesauce, fruited Jello, rolls with butter, and hot and cold beverages, and this month’s special dessert. The cost is $12 for adults, $6 for children up to 12 and free for ages 5 and under. Takeout orders can also be made on the day of the dinner by calling the church at 325-3022.

A Night of Opera & Dinner at the Pawlet Town Hall, Saturday, May 6, 5:30 – 7:30 PM: The Slate Valley Museum has teamed up with internationally acclaimed American soprano Anya Matanovi? to bring a night of Italian opera music and dinner to the Pawlet Town Hall. The evening of music will be paired with Italian cuisine. Tickets for this fundraiser will be $55 per person. All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Tickets are available for sale at the Slate Valley Museum in Granville, NY, The Gold Trout and on Eventbrite.

Upcoming Pawlet Town Government Meetings: All meetings are open to the public and are held at the Pawlet Town Hall on School Street.

  • Select Board, Tuesday, May 9 and May 23, 7 PM. If you have a specific topic to discuss with the board and wish to be added to the agenda, please notify Tim at pawletselectbrd@vermontel.net by the Friday before the meeting you are planning to attend. The meeting agenda is posted at the Pawlet and West Pawlet Post Offices and on the town website.
  • Energy Group, Monday, May 22, 12 PM
  • Pawlet Planning Commission, Monday, May 22, 7:30 PM

Town of Pawlet Wastewater User Fees due May 10: All unpaid accounts will be turned over to the delinquent collector on May 11, 2917 and interest and penalty added. Thank you, Judy Coolidge, Town Treasurer.

Strut Your Mutt Fundraiser, Pawlet Library, Saturday, May 13, 9 AM – 1 PM: Arrive before 11 AM for a rabies clinic, to get your dog license, and register for all categories. Strutting starts at 11 AM. Entry Fee: $5 first category, $2 each additional category. This event includes an agility fun course, raffle, canine reiki, food, and more! We are still seeking vendors; booth space available for $25. Join the fun and support the library! Call for details, 802-867-2409. This show is dedicated to two wonderful people who brought their beloved dogs last year, Errol Pomerance and Jan St. Germaine. We miss you.

Mothers Day Tea Party and Hat Fashion Show, Saturday, May 13, 12:45 PM, Pawlet Community Church: Celebrate Mom by bringing her to a special luncheon followed by a Hat Fashion Show. Join the fun – wear a vintage or new hat. Great raffle prizes and door prizes. Admission: $10 (5-12, $5; under 5, free). All proceeds benefit Two Mommas’ Angel Team Relay for Life 2017. For more information contact Judy Coolidge (802-325-3073; Holly McKenzie (802-558-5128); Theresa Jones (802-325-3382).

Mother’s Day Brunch, Sunday, May 14, 8 – 11 AM at the Pawlet Firehouse: Let us cook up a hot breakfast for the mom in your life, and support your fire department while you’re at it! The menu features pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, toast, homemade muffins, coffee and juice, and every penny raised benefits the fire department. Adults: $9; children under 12: $4.

Vermont honors Desert Storm Veterans and their families, Saturday, May 20, 11 AM: Desert Storm Veterans and their families will be honored by Vermont Veterans Service organizations and the State with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at the Fair Haven, VT American Legion Post 49 dedicating VT Route 22A as the “Desert Storm Veterans Memorial Highway.” Past VT State VFW Commander Steve Leach successfully petitioned the State of Vermont for this designation, thanks to tremendous support from citizens, VT VFW, VT American Legion, Veterans of Vermont and the State of Vermont. At this event we will honor these heroes, who 26 years ago were given the mission of re-establishing Kuwait’s freedom. Desert Storm Veterans we thank you for your service, and we thank your families for supporting their loved ones while they were deployed.

Pawlet Library seeks volunteers to sort books: Help us prepare for this year’s July annual book sale. Sorting takes place on Tuesdays from 9 – 11 AM at the Circle of Healing barn at the top of the Rt. 30 hill as  you head south out of Pawlet. There’s free parking next to the barn. For information please call Jed Rubin at 325-3442.

Legislative Update from Robin Chesnut-Tangerman, State Representative, Rutland-Bennington: This has been an extraordinary week in the Statehouse as we attempt to wrap up the legislative session. As usual, we have many bills to vote on which have undergone extensive testimony and committee debate. In the last days they become vehicles for sweeping last-minute amendments and the focus of conflicting information. One example is the proposal to “save $26 million on our property taxes.” The debate is not about whether to save money, but where that money goes. I voted to respect the collective bargaining process and to return any savings to the districts that created them. Other legislation passed includes a paid family leave program. Workers will pay a small contribution (0.141%) which will provide possibilities for workers to take a paid leave to care for sick or disabled family members. This could be children, aging parents, or a spouse. Finally, although the House did approve a bill legalizing homegrown marijuana, the Senate has not approved that plan, and the governor does not favor legalization. At this late date in the session things are still very much in flux on a number of issues, so stay tuned!

Mettowee Valley and Northeast Cemeteries have now reopened: Lot holders are encouraged to check their lots for debris. Please do not place artificial flowers on grave sites. No burials or cremains will be permitted without the express approval of the Superintendent. The Cemetery Association is striving to maintain the grounds as attractively as possible with very limited funds.  For more information please call Myron (Mike) Waite, Superintendent 802-325-3052.

Pawlet Food Pantry Seeks donations: Monetary donations can be mailed to: The Pawlet Community Church, PO Box 116 Pawlet, 05761. Attention: Tim Bryant. The Pawlet Community Church is deeply grateful for your support.

Nursing Nook for New Moms Monthly Meetings: Nursing Nook is a comfortable place to ask breastfeeding questions, get advice, and hang out with other nursing moms. Free and open to the public. Presented by WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors. Monthly meetings at the Pawlet Library, 2nd Thursday of each month, 10 – 11:30 AM. Questions? Email Brooke at Brooke.Hughes-Muse@vermont.gov.

Rutland Area Visiting Nurse offers monthly community health clinics: The Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice sponsors a wide range of clinics for area residents and businesses, including health education, screening, testing, and adult immunizations. For more information visit http://vermontvisitingnurses.org/events/categories/rutland-area/ to learn about their flu and foot care clinics; cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure screenings; and many other important services.