Pawlet Select Board Meeting, Tuesday, April 21, 7 PM: During the Covid-19 crisis, the Select Board meetings are being held online. The meeting agenda, Agenda 4.21.2020, includes information for connecting remotely. Feel free to send any items you wish to be addressed by the Select Board to PawletSelectBoard@gmail.com. Thank you for your cooperation during this difficult time.

Pawlet Planning Commission, April 27, 7:30 PM: This meeting will be held online via Zoom. The agenda for the meeting will be distributed the week of April 20. The focus this meeting will be the election of officers, revisions to zoning application forms and new requirements on application forms being submitted to qualify as acceptable to the Zoning Administrator, and continued discussion of Unified By-laws revisions, updates and new provisions. All Pawlet residents are welcome to “attend” via computer, tablet, cell phone and standard land-line telephone. Public comments may be addressed to the Commission, as usual.

The Town of Pawlet Highway Department requests that citizens do not come to the town garage to contact them. Please call them by phone and leave a message: 802-325-3467.

The Pawlet Public Library is closed until further notice. All of our library card holders can still access digital resources by clicking the icons on the home page of the Library’s website. (If you need help with your login and password, or if you would like to obtain a library card, please contact the Library staff at 802-325-3123 or pawletpub@gmail.com.)

This week, we suggest you explore Universal Class to access free, self-passed online continuing education classes, courtesy of the Vermont Department of Libraries. This online learning platform offers over 500 continuing education courses on a diverse array of topics. You can take courses at your own pace while you interact with a live instructor via email. You have up to six months to complete an individual class, and a certificate will be provided upon successful completion. These online non-college credit continuing education courses include topics like Accounting and Bookkeeping, Business, Entrepreneurship, Office Skills, Alternative Medicine, Parenting and Family, Performing Arts, Career Training, Personal Care, Pet and Animal Care, Computers and Technology, Psychology, Cooking, Real Estate, Financial Management, Religious Studies, Science, Self-Help, Homeschooling, GED Preparation, Mathematics, Language Arts & Writing, Medical Billing and Coding, and more. If you are looking to get ahead at work or at school, or interested in learning something new or brushing up on your existing skills, this may be the time!

New information resource offered by Pawlet Library: Community Connector Sara Young has compiled a information resource that includes updates from the Vermont Department of Health and Town of Pawlet Emergency Management. It also lists local services in the Pawlet area, and State regulations and resources. For more information see Pawlet Area Covid 19 Information and Resources.

Pawlet Library Virtual Play Group and Tea Time, Weekly on Fridays, 10 AM – 11 AM: Pawlet Library Play Group has gone virtual! Please join our group using Zoom each Friday at 10 am. We will sing songs, read books and discuss  how we can connect and support each other during this time. These are indeed unprecedented times we are living in, and we need to be able to support and connect with each other more than ever. I look forward to ‘seeing’ you! – Joni Eekhoff-Lee. Contact Joni if you would like to join the virtual play group.

Pawlet Community Church Sunday Service Update: Pawlet Community Church is offering its regular weekly live church services online on Sundays at 9:30 AM with Rev. Tracy Weatherhogg. Please visit Facebook “Pawlet Community Church” to view the service. If you cannot make it at 9:30, the video will remain on our Facebook page for future viewing. We would welcome any offering you could provide to the church. Please mail to Pawlet Community Church, 38 Route 133, Pawlet, VT 05761. Thank you so much!

A Helping Hand in Pawlet: The Pawlet Community Church Food Pantry and the Barn Restaurant are raising money to help stock food pantry supplies, as well as offer pick-up and delivery of free meals prepared by the Barn Restaurant 3 days per week for those who need assistance during this challenging time. The meals will be available on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Pick-up will be at the Church. The meals will be brought to you in your vehicle, so there’s no need to come indoors. If you are unable pick up a meal, it can be delivered to your doorstep. To reserve a meal, call the Pawlet Community Church at 802-325-3022 from 10 AM to 12 PM on the day before (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) for pickup from 5 to 6 PM the next day. Menus will be posted on Monday each week on Front Porch Forum and at Facebook “McChesney Real Estate.” Can you help? Those who are able are encouraged to make a contribution to help those in less fortunate circumstances. Please send your tax-deductible donation with a check payable to Pawlet Community Church Food Pantry, c/o Timothy Bryant, 337 Milaura Lane, Pawlet, Vermont 05761. For more information call Scott McChesney at 802-287-1415. Take care, be strong, be safe and stay healthy. Warm regards, Scott McChesney.

Update from The Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department: The Mothers Day Brunch is canceled this year.

Courier Service for Self-Isolating Seniors: Joe and Martha Pofit of Wells are running a Courier Service as part of a state-wide program to help home-bound seniors with groceries, prescriptions, clinic visits, errands. If you know someone in need in Wells, Poultney, Danby, Pawlet and surrounding towns, contact us at 802-345-3965 or martha.pofit@gmail.com. We are excited to do our little part to spare any suffering we can for those in self-isolation who are at-risk for infection.

SVCOA Offers Shopping Service for Older Vermonters: Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging has started a new grocery and supply shopping service to support older Vermonters in Bennington and Rutland counties during the COVID-19 issue. The shopping service, which is supported by vetted SVCOA volunteers, is available to anyone age 60 or over, as well as eligible younger disabled individuals. If you or someone you know is interested in accessing the shopping service, or if you’re interested in volunteering, please call SVCOA at 802-786-5990 and ask to speak with Ellen Green. For more information about SVCOA, visit www.svcoa.org.

Update from Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region: To address the current situation, including the Governor’s Stay Home/Stay Safe Order, we are reaching patients by video, by telephone and in person. We are screening patients to provide the safest procedures for in-person visits, and we are prioritizing the most urgent care. Don’t hesitate to call us at 888-989-8707 for appointments and for any questions you have regarding your health. Community Dental Rutland and Community Dental Shorewell offices are open for emergencies only. Call 802-774-5050 if you have a dental emergency. Check our website for more details, hours and locations https://www.chcrr.org/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CommunityHealthVT/

Update from Vermont DMV: The State of Vermont is extending expiration dates for Vermont licenses and Vermont registrations for 90 days due to the outbreak. Until further notice, the “valid registration” requirement to pass a Vermont Safety Inspection is lifted for a 90-day period beyond the registration expiration date. Photographs and VIN validation requirements still apply. Any vehicle whose registration has expired for longer than 90 days from the effective date, shall not pass a Vermont Safety Inspection. All other requirements to pass a Vermont Safety Inspection still apply. If you have any questions about these or other inspection component criteria, please contact Scott Davidson, Chief Inspector or your area DMV Investigator directly. To find the investigator assigned to your area, please visit the DMV Inspector Map or contact the DMV Investigations Unit.

Info on How Covid-19 is Affecting Transportation: Here at Go! Vermont we know that transportation is one of the many necessities that has been affected by Covid-19, and we must all take precautions to make sure everyone stays safe and limits the spread. If you are required to travel during Governor Scott’s “stay home, stay safe” order, please practice social distancing in all forms of transportation, whether that’s riding the bus, biking or walking. If you have any questions about your transportation options or need a ride, please call our help line at 800-685-7433 or visit https://www.connectingcommuters.org/covid-19-transportation/ for more information. Thank you, Daniel Currier, Go! Vermont Manger, AOT, Rutland, Bennington Counties.

Resources for Businesses, Covid-19 Update: Visit the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce website to learn about help available for businesses.

Rutland Area Visiting Nurse monthly community health clinics are cancelled until further notice. For more information visit http://vermontvisitingnurses.org/events/categories/rutland-area/ .