West Pawlet Farmers Market, Fridays, 4-7 PM, Fish & Game Club Building: Find “West Pawlet Fish and Game Club Building” on Facebook to learn about weekly specials, including holiday wreaths.

Christmas Craft Fair and Flea Market, West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department, Saturday, December 6, 9 AM – 3 PM: This event, sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department, includes a bake sale, luncheon, and raffles. Santa arrives at 12:30 PM. For more information, please contact either JoAnne Reid 645-0244 or Beth Duquette 645-0398.

Pawlet Library 7th Annual Holiday Market, December 6 – 7, Saturday 10 AM – 3 PM and Sunday 10 AM – 2 PM: Stop by the library and shop local for your holiday giving; support your library and community and give unique, hand-crafted gifts.

Red Cross Shelter Staff Training, Monday, December 8, 6:00 PM, Mettawee Community School: If you have not yet signed up there is still time to volunteer. Contact Bob Morlino at 325-2116 or email Robertm850@aol.com. Thank you, Bob Morlino, Pawlet Emergency Management Director and Brooke DeBonis, Principal, Mettawee Community School.

Haystack Hustlers Seniors Holiday Dinner, December 9, noon, Pawlet Church:  We will provide ham and potatoes; please bring a potluck side dish to balance out the meal.  If you have table decorations,  a holiday reading, story or music to share, please bring that also. We will collect food for the Pawlet Food Pantry and hold our 50/50 Raffle. All area seniors are welcome at our monthly events to share a meal, visit and learn something new. Come and join the fun!  For more information contact Phyllis Mason at 325-3196.

Pawlet Town Government Recurring Meetings: All meetings are open to the public and are held at the Pawlet Town Hall on School Street. Minutes for these meetings are available under “Pages.”
– Planning Commission, Monday, December 22, 7:30 PM.
– Select Board, Tuesday, December 9 and December 23, 7 PM.

Public Forum on Efficiency Vermont’s New Three-Year Plan, December 11, Brandon, 6 PM – 7:30 PM: This event, held at the Neshobe Elementary School, 17 Neshobe Circle in Brandon, is one of seven community forums being held around the state by Efficiency Vermont, the state’s energy efficiency utility. Efficiency Vermont is creating a three-year plan to meet Vermont’s energy needs, and it needs your input. The forum includes a light supper and is free.

Fire Department Pancake Breakfast, Sunday, December 14, 7:30 to 11 AM, West Pawlet fire house: The fire house, located on Route 153 (Main Street) in West Pawlet, is a handicap-accessible site.  All are welcome. Pancake menu includes regular as well as chocolate chip, blueberry and cranberry. Sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, and home fries are also served, along with coffee, milk and orange juice. Prices are $8 for 12 years and up, $5 for 5-12 years and free to children under the age of 5.  A 501(c) (3) non-profit, all proceeds are for the benefit of the department’s equipment and training needs. Contact:  Antonio Landon at 802-345-4312 or email: wp5801@yahoo.com. Our monthly benefit pancake breakfasts run from September through April each year. Hope to see you there!

Pawlet Planning Commission seeks clerk: Duties include attending evening meetings on the fourth Monday of each month, transcribing and distributing minutes to Planning Commission members, the Town Clerk and others as necessary. Ability to distribute minutes electronically in PDF format is required. Must be willing to attend occasional special meetings also. Please send letter of interest stating your qualifications to Deb Hawkins, Pawlet Town Clerk, PO Box 128, Pawlet, VT 05761.

Home heating fuel assistance programs are available: For seasonal fuel program call 800-775-0516 or 786-5800. For crisis fuel program after November 24 call BROC – Community Action in Southwestern Vermont, 775-0878. Other programs are available, including weatherization; call 211 for information. Seniors over 60 can also call the Senior Help Line, 800-642-5119. To get confidential help locally from the Pawlet Community Church Fuel Assistance Fund, call Pawlet Town Clerk Deb Hawkins, 325-3309.

Emergency Fuel Assistance Fund in Pawlet needs donations: Heating season is here, and our local fund meets emergency situations on the spot. Please make a donation to replenish the fund, which has already provided one fuel delivery this season. Donations should be made out to: “Pawlet Community Church Fuel Assistance Fund” and mailed to: Pawlet Fuel Assistance Fund, C/O Tim Bryant, 3449 Vt. Rt. 133, Pawlet, VT 05761. For more information contact Bob Schoenemann, Town Service Officer at 325-3146 or 325-3420.

2014 November/December Town Office Hours: The Town Clerk’s office will be closed on Tuesday, 12/23 thru Friday, 12/26; Wednesday, 12/31/14 thru  Friday, 1/2/15. The office will be open Monday, 12/22; Monday, 12/29; & Tuesday 12/30. Regular office hours will resume 1/5/2015. Thank you, Deb Hawkins, Town Clerk.

Donations sought for Veterans Memorial Stone: Vermont Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and others are placing a Vermont gray granite WWII Veterans memorial stone at the new visitor’s center on VT Route 279 in Bennington. Highway 279 was officially named the “WW II Veterans Memorial Highway” in 2004. Next year marks 70 years since the end of WW II, and VT VFW and its Auxiliaries want to honor all WW II Veterans and their families with this memorial. This memorial stone etched and installed by Austin Memorials of Springfield, VT and final landscaping will cost $9,000. To date, 1/3 of the total cost has been raised. Please help us reach our goal. Send your check, payable to District 1 VFW of VT, to District 1 VT VFW Quartermaster Steve Leach, PO Box 111, Pawlet, VT 05761, sarge1@vermontel.net. Thank you for any support. All donors will receive a thank you and receipt from District 1 VFW of Vermont.

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://www.ravnah.org/community-wellness-clinics.html to learn about their flood pressure and foot care clinics; cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure screenings; and many other important services.

Front Porch Forum is now available in Pawlet: Front Porch Forum is a web site that helps neighbors connect and build community by hosting regional networks of online neighborhood/town forums. The new Pawlet Wells Front Porch Forum is now fully functional, with more than 100 members. Share postings with your neighbors! Help spread the word at http://frontporchforum.com/registrations