Town of Pawlet Public Hearing, Monday, November 28, 2016, Town Hall Conference Room, 7:30 PM: The Pawlet Planning Commission will take public comments on and consider for adoption amendments to the Pawlet Unified Bylaws, originally adopted in 1978 and amended in 2013. The current amendments will expand the Industrial District along the western border of West Pawlet and the New York State border and add several parcels to Commercial Districts in West Pawlet and Pawlet Village. The amendments also combine the current Flood Hazard Area Regulations and River Corridor Protection Areas into one section of the Unified Bylaws. The new Flood Hazard Area and River Corridor Regulations section reflects the latest river corridor mapping done by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. A copy of the proposed amendments to the Zoning Districts and Vermont River Corridors Map is available for public review at the Town Office and also here: Pawlet Unified Bylaws Draft 2016 10 25 16; Map Of Proposed Zoning Districts And Vermont River Corridors. For further information contact Eric Mach, Chair, Pawlet Planning Commission at (802) 779-4274 or email zoningadman@gmail.com.

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

• Energy Group, Monday, November 28, 12 PM.
• Pawlet Planning Commission, Monday, November 28, 7:30 PM.
• Select Board, Tuesday, December 6 and 20, 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 at least 2 days in advance.

Vermont General Election Results, November 8, 2016:  Results are available here: Unofficial Results General Election November 8 2016. Turnout numbers – 768 voters to the Pawlet polling place, including over 130 absentee/early and overseas voters. That is 71% of our voter registration population! Kudos to everyone who exercised their right to vote. I want to thank the election team of poll workers and end of day counters. As your Town Clerk, I am honored to work with you! Deb Hawkins

2016 December Office Hours for Pawlet Town Clerk: The Town Clerk’s office will be CLOSED: Wednesday, 12/21 thru Monday, 12/26; Thursday, 12/29/16 through Friday, 12/30/16. The office will be OPEN: Monday, 12/19, Tuesday, 12/20, Tuesday, 12/27, & Wednesday, 12/28. Regular office hours will resume 1/2/2017.

“Kids Dollar Skate” Benefit for the Mettawee Community School PTO, Sunday, December 4, 1-3 PM, Riley Rink, Hunter Park, Manchester: Admission will be $1.00 for children 13 and under and $3.00 for those 14 and up. Skate rentals not included. Enjoy an afternoon of skating and healthy snacks for sale while supporting the Mettawee Community School PTO. This event is generously donated by The Perfect Wife Restaurant and Spiral Press Café. For further information contact Mettawee Community School at 802-645-9009.

Holiday Craft Fair and Flea Market, Saturday, December 3, 9 AM – 3:30 PM, West Pawlet Fire House: This seasonal festival includes craft and flea market items, a food sale, raffle and lunch. Lunch is served starting at 11 AM – hamburgers, hot dogs, corn chowder, sandwiches, beverages and more. Some vendor spaces in the flea market area are still available, $10 per space; contact Edna Winot at 645-0174. This event is sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department. Contact JoAnne Reid 645-0244.

West Pawlet Fire Department Pancake Breakfast, Sunday, December 11, 7:30 to 11 AM, West Pawlet fire house: The fire house is located on Route 153 (Main Street) in West Pawlet, and it’s 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 $10 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.

Community Calendar Hiatus: The Mettawee Community PTO has found it necessary to take a year off from offering the Community Calendar as a fundraiser. The PTOs hopes that a community calendar will return for 2018. If you have questions, please call the school at 802-645-9009.

Events at Pawlet Public Library:

• Flow Yoga Sundays 9 AM with Meghan Cancio-Bello
• Weekly Story Time, Tuesdays, 9:30 – 11 AM
• Tea Read Book Club, third Thursday each month at 1 PM.
• Holiday Market, Saturday, December 3, 10 AM – 3 PM; Handmade Arts and Crafts, local Artisan Food, Ornaments, wreaths, LulaRoe clothing, Jamberrys, Herbs and Teas, soaps and lotions, sea glass and beaded jewelry, create your own pottery, compost, essential oils, handmade bags and much more. Support your local artists, library, neighbors and friends.
• Menopause Discussion, December 9, 7 – 9 PM: A Friday evening gathering to talk about how menopause affects you, awareness of the many symptoms, natural approaches and more. Cost is $7. Discussion led by Jana Mason of Heron Brook Haven. Sign up or have questions call the Pawlet Library 802-325-3123 or Jana at 802-325-3880.

2017 Cow Town Calendars are here! They are on sale at the library for $20 each through Friday, December 2 and then available at the Holiday Market at on December 3 for $23 each. Reserve your copy by calling the library at 802-325-3123, or by contacting one of our board members: Janno Gay, Molly Beverage, Rebecca Cooper Hulett, Mary Ellen Norton.

Pawlet Cemeteries Closed for the Winter: The Mettowee Valley and Northeast Cemeteries in Pawlet will be closed for the winter as of December 1. Water and electricity will be turned off to lot holders, and the cemetery grounds will not be snow plowed. Lot holders are asked to remove debris and any items that could be damaged over the winter months. No burials or cremains will be permitted without the approval of the Superintendent. Please, no plastic holiday decorations. The Cemetery Association is striving to keep the grounds attractively maintained with limited funds. For information, contact Myron (Mike) Waite, Superintendent, 802-325-3052.

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 help replenish the fund. 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. To get confidential help locally from the Pawlet Community Church Fuel Assistance Fund, call Pawlet Town Clerk Deb Hawkins, 325-3309.

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.