Weathersfield Weekly Blog, December 6 edition

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A handmade wreath on display at the Brownsville Christmas Bazaar this past Saturday.
Gail Messler of Reading, Vermont used to be a floral designer at 
The Little Flower Shoppe in Woodstock but now has her own business
Country Chic Flowers-Custom Floral Designs out of her home in Reading.


Happenings THIS Weekend

Card Making Workshop
Weathersfield Proctor Library
Dec. 11, 10 a.m.
On Saturday, Dec. 11 beginning at 10 a.m. the Weathersfield Proctor Library will be hosting a Card Making Workshop. This event is free and open to the public. Best for ages 10+.
Call the library (802)-674-9876 for more information.

Dartmouth Mens Hoop Discounted Tickets
Dec. 11 7:30 p.m.

Weathersfield Basketball season is almost here.  
Here's your chance to attend a Men’s Dartmouth Basketball game at a discounted price. 

The team will take on Boston University on Saturday, December 11th at 7:30pm. That night is the teams dedicated “Youth Night” and a Holiday Themed/Ugly Sweater Night.

ALL are WELCOME: family members, friends, and community members to join in on the fun next weekend. Dartmouth requires masking indoors at all times.

Youth prices are $3 per ticket and $7 for adults. Fans must be 14 years or younger to be considered youth tickets. Fans ages 2 and younger do not need a ticket.

Promo Code: YouthBBall1221

https://tickets.dartmouth.edu/

For more info or any questions contact: Jessica K., Athletic Director, Weathersfield School
jessica.kischko@wsesu.net


Woodstock's Wassail Weekend is Back
December 10-12, 2021

Wassail Scavenger Hunt — Find all 14 letters and spell the secret words!
Information at the Town Smiler

Gingerbread Contest Winners Announced
9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.-Free Shuttle - Please Park at Woodstock Union High School
9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.-Carriage Rides Around Woodstock / People’s United Bank / Suggested Donation $10
10 a.m.-4 p.m.- Christmas at Billings Farm & Museum
10 a.m.-1 p.m.-Drop-In Ornament Making - Artistree
11 a.m.-ELF (Movie) in the Grange Theatre - Artistree
12 & 1p.m.-A Child's Christmas in Wales by Ham Gillett Reading at Norman Williams Public Library

2 p.m. 36th Annual Wassail Parade Coordinated by High Horses Therapeutic Riding and the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce

3 p.m.-Yule Log and Memory Tree Lighting, Caroling on The Green
3 p.m.-Christmas Carole’s & Stories - Congregational Church
4 p.m.-ELF (Movie) in the Grange Theatre - Artistree
4 p.m.-Lighting of the Luminaries - Woodstock Rotary 400 Luminaries on The Green
7:30 p.m.-Holiday Cabaret - (Musical Performance) Presented by Barnarts at Artistree’s HayLoft
7:30-9 p.m.- Whiffenpoofs - (Musical Performance) Pentangle Arts at Town Hall Theatre
More info visit: Woodstock Signature Events

Are you a horse owner who would like to participate in the parade?
Currier and Ives costumes and 19th Century Victorian Seasonal Attire are strongly encouraged. Parade participants will be judged and ribbons will be awarded for the following categories: Best Individual Costume, Best Group, Best Horse Drawn Vehicle, Most Seasonally Attired, Most Historic, Best
Junior Entry, and the Judges Award.

Please visit http://highhorses.org/event/wassail-parade/ for details and parade registration information!


Holiday Village at Artisan’s Park, Windsor VT
Dec. 12 noon-3 p.m.

Sunday, December 12th from noon-3 p.m. Artisan's Park in Windsor VT is hosting a Holiday Village. 

Sip, shop, and check some names off your holiday shopping list with local vendors including Laura White Pottery, Blake Hill Preserves, River Run Soap, and more! 

Enjoy food and beverages available for purchase – including a hot coca bar by Moco Hot Chocolate. Ice cold Harpoon beers, warm pretzels, and rumor has it Santa will be in town!

Also Happening this weekend...

Feeling like taking on a challenge...Krampus for Vermont Adaptive
Krampus
Dec. 11, 2021
Suicide Six Ski Area, Pomfret VT

Race Mozey will be partnering with Vermont Adaptive and presenting the Krampuslauf 50K, 10K, and 5K at Suicide Six ski resort in Pomfret VT on December 11, 2021.
The race will consist of trails throughout the ski resort where there will be a 5 K loop ending at the top of the mountain and runners will take the ski lift back down. 
There will also be a 10K loop which will continue up and down the mountain. 
50K runners will do the 10K loop 5 times. 
Since the weather can be unpredictable this time of year, this event is open to the possibility of straight trail running, micro spikes, or even snow shoes. 
Exact information weather conditions will come out two weeks prior to the race but don't worry, there will be snow shoe rentals on site if needed.
The elevation for each length are:
5K 1200’ of gain
10K 2000’ of gain
50k 10,000’ of gain
REGISTER

All finishers will receive a race medal and all DNF's will receive a birch twig.


News You Can Use


ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

Select Board Votes to Require Masks in Public Buildings

Masks are Required to enter Weathersfield Public Buildings, including Martin Memorial Hall, the 1879 Schoolhouse, and the Library.

Posted on the Town's Website Nov. 30th
While the Selectboard did not create a mask mandate, they did vote to require masks in Town buildings (Martin Memorial Hall, 1879 Schoolhouse, and the Library), which is effective for the next 30-days. The board will revisit this topic at the end of December to determine if they will reinstate the requirement for another 30-days.
Please keep in mind, employees in the Town Office are not required to wear their mask when they are alone in their office, however, when residents enter the office employees are required to respectfully put their mask on before they come into contact with you. Additionally, employees must wear a mask if they need to be within 6 feet from one another. The reason this is an important distinction is because if you come into the office and see an employee without a mask, rest assured, our employees will put a mask on prior to coming into contact with you.


If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Town Manager: call at 802 674 2626 or email him at weathersfield@weathersfield.org.

Vermont ends November with record-breaking streak of severe Covid-19 outcomes
Mike Dougherty at VT Digger reported on Friday, Dec. 3:
The Vermont Department of Health reported 482 new Covid-19 cases and two more deaths Friday.



Hospitalizations also remain elevated: As of Friday, 81 people were hospitalized for Covid, with 22 in intensive care. Vermont’s seven-day average test positivity rate was 5.1%.

In recent days, the state has broken pandemic records for daily cases, hospitalizations, intensive care patients and test positivity. But longer-range data shows that indicators of severe outcomes have been elevated for several months since the Delta variant began spreading in July.

September, October and November were the worst months of the pandemic so far for hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19, according to the health department’s latest two-week data summary. (Due to a reduction in contact tracing, the department scaled back this report in November to include only statistics on cases, hospitalizations, deaths and vaccine breakthrough.)

Update-643 new cases reported Sunday, with 81 hospitalized (22 in ICU).




Vermont plans to increase rapid and at-home Covid-19 testing options, but supply concerns persist

Riley Robinson at VT Digger reported that:
Vermont’s Covid-19 testing landscape is changing. At the governor’s weekly press conference on Tuesday, Secretary Mike Smith said the state plans to shift toward more rapid testing and take-home options in its overall testing strategy.

However, implementing widespread at-home testing may be challenging due to limited supplies.

Throughout the pandemic, Vermont’s state-run testing sites have generally used PCR tests, considered top-notch for accuracy. But processing times mean results are often unavailable until the following day or later. Last week, on the day before Thanksgiving, state-run testing sites offered LAMP testing — a lower-cost, rapid turnaround option that state officials said is nearly as accurate as PCR tests, but can be processed on the same day.

Smith deemed this method generally successful: The state processed 1,130 LAMP tests on Wednesday, with results mostly available that day. About 100 people experienced delays and didn’t receive their results until Friday.

State officials also said they were looking into creating a program similar to one launched on Monday in New Hampshire, where residents there can order free at-home tests online for delivery, through a partnership with Amazon and the National Institutes of Health. (An NHPR reporter on Tuesday tweeted that users who typed in a New Hampshire ZIP code got a message suggesting the “limited supply” was “already exhausted.”)
 
Most rapid at-home tests use antigen testing, which produces results within minutes, but is less sensitive — and therefore can be less accurate — than LAMP or PCR testing.

READ MORE


D-H Institutes More Restrictive Visitor Policies Due to Substantial Levels of State-Wide Community Transmission of COVID-19

Press Release
In the interest of continuing to protect the health and safety of patients and Dartmouth-Hitchcock (D-H) staff, and our communities, D-H has instituted a more restrictive visitor policy for its facilities.

The revised visitor policy, which takes effect on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, specifies that:
  • Adults in inpatient rooms, the Emergency Department, and in perioperative and procedural areas are allowed one (1) dedicated visitor OR caregiver per day. Visitors and caregivers cannot rotate throughout the day. This applies only to patients who have tested negative for COVID-19.

  • For adult outpatient appointments and procedures, D-H encourages those who are able to attend outpatient appointments without a visitor, however one visitor OR caregiver is allowed for outpatient appointments.

  • For patients in pediatric inpatient/outpatient/perioperiative/procedural areas and the Intensive Care Nursery, two (2) dedicated adult parents/guardians/support persons are allowed. This includes COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative patients. Visitors must check in and out

  • In the Birthing Pavilion, one dedicated adult support person during the entire stay.. This includes COVID positive and COVID negative patients.

A “caregiver” is defined as a support person for a patient with a cognitive or physical disability. Caregivers may not have any symptoms of COVID-19, be on quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19 or travel, or have a diagnosis of COVID-19 in the last 10 days.

“Visitors” are defined as friends, family or support persons who are not required to assist a patient due to cognitive or physical disability. Visitors may not have any symptoms of COVID-19, be on quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19 or travel, or have a diagnosis of COVID-19 in the last 10 days.

There are exceptions to the revised visitor policy, including:
  • Family meetings: D-H encourages the use of video or telephone visits for family meetings, but for those that are in person, two adults will be allowed to attend. All others can join via video or telephone.

  • End of life: Three (3) visitors at a time are permitted for patients receiving end of life care. Patients who are COVID-19 positive and receiving end of life care may have two (2) visitors at a time for 1 hour, for a total of four (4) visitors.
Exceptions other than those listed above are only to be made by local leadership inpatient unit or clinic level. Providers cannot make exceptions to the visitor policy without approval from unit/clinic leadership.

The updated procedures can be found on HERE.

ICYMI Fun Stuff

Book talk with Howard Mansfield
Tuesday, Dec. 14th at 7:00 via a Zoom 


This prolific writer has become well known in this area for his articles in Yankee Magazine, one of which was about Romaine Tenney. For this event he will be focusing on his latest book, Chasing Eden: A Book of Seekers, which has been described as follows:

In this remarkable book, Howard Mansfield re-mystifies the cold, hard land of the American northeast. He unearths parades of seekers---Shakers who love God and TV, divorced men who haunt the hiking huts of Mount Washington, Pocumtucks who paddle downstream to offer a mercy that will go unreturned. His prose is at turns arresting with its poignancy and laugh-out loud funny. —LULU MILLER, author of Why Fish Don’t Exist and co-host of “Radiolab”

This program is co-sponsored by the Weathersfield Historical Society and the Weathersfield Proctor Library.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84667965257?pwd=NjlPcE54MUM5V2hVUUd6djN6RjQ2Zz09
Meeting ID: 846 6796 5257
Passcode: Eden 

Town of Weathersfield


Weathersfield Police Blotter 

Select Board


Not sure if anyone has noticed, or not, but the minutes posted on the Town website have the Nov. 1, 2021 listed as posted. 
However, the minutes attached to the link provided are minutes from the October 18, 2021 meeting. 

The November 1 minutes ARE included in the November 15 meeting packet.


All regular meetings are broadcasted live on Comcast channel 1087, VTEL Channel 161, and SAPA.org on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Selectboard Members  
David Fuller Chair  
Mike Todd   Vice Chair
Kelly O'Brien  Clerk
Joseph Jarvis Member
Paul Tillman Member

Select Board Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays of the Month 6:30 p.m. 
December 20

Meeting Minutes
November 1 (Not posted at press time Nov. 8 in violation of Vermont's Open Meeting law. The posted minutes are from the October 18th meeting NOT Nov. 1)
July 19 (posted on Monday, July 26 at 8:22 a.m. in violation of Vermont's Open Meeting law)
July 6  
April 19
April 5February 1

*Vermont Open Meeting Law
Minute posting: Minutes of all public meetings shall be matters of public record, shall be kept by the clerk or secretary of the public body, and shall be available for inspection by any person and for purchase of copies at cost upon request after five calendar days from the date of any meeting. Meeting minutes shall be posted no later than five calendar days from the date of the meeting to a website, if one exists, that the public body maintains or has designated as the official website of the body. Except for draft minutes that have been substituted with updated minutes, posted minutes shall not be removed from the website sooner than one year from the date of the meeting for which the minutes were taken.


Weathersfield School

No School December 23, 2021-January 4, 2022-Holiday Break
No School January 17, 2022
No School February 14-18, 2022 Winter Break
No School April 11-15, 2022 Spring Break
June 14, 2022-Tentative last Day of School

Picture Retake Day will be on December 10th


Weathersfield School Board

Meeting Agendas may be found HERE

Weathersfield School Board will meet on Tuesday, December 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Link: https://meet.google.com/nfo-qttm-bgg

January 11
February 8
March 8
April 12
May 10
June 14

Location: 135 Schoolhouse RD Ascutney

School Board Meeting VIDEOS
Meeting Minutes
November 9
October 12
September 15 
August 17 
July 26 

COVID-19 Plan for School Year

The plan for returning students has been posted online for parents to review. LINK


Ski Vermont Fifth Grade Passport-Open to 6th Graders too!

Ski Vermont’s 5th Grade Passport provides 5th graders access to more than 90 days of skiing at participating ski areas. This year due to COVID, 6th graders are also invited to join the program this year. 
Alpine AND Cross Country Ski Areas participate in this pass.
The Fifth Grade Passport is only $20.00!
Information on Ski Vermont Fifth Grade Passport: https://skivermont.com/fifth-grade-passport

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at Jessica.Kischko@wsesu.net

Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union

Dr. David Baker, Superintendent Update Dec. 3, 2021


Here are just a few of the latest updates:

1. Test To Stay: Great news! The test kits arrived and we have had several opportunities in each of our buildings to make this work. It is very time intensive and I want to thank the school nurses, volunteers, office staff, and administrators. We have been able to keep many students in school. Some parents ask if we can test both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated students. The guidance from the AOE and the VDH clearly states that only unvaccinated students need to be tested. We are going to follow that guidance for two reasons. First, the program is labor intensive and it is important to be as efficient as possible. Second, we have a limited number of test kits and we do not want to go beyond the recommended number as we implement the TTS program. If during the TTS process we should discover a positive Rapid Test, then we would certainly reconsider testing everyone. We want to make this work and we want our children safe.

To have your child be eligible for the TTS antigen-testing, you must first sign a consent form. This only has to be done once. It would really help the process if you could get those forms signed so we do not have to do it the day of testing. The schools have sent the forms home. There is also a website where parents and guardians can give consent for in-school (TTS) testing. Please note that this is SEPARATE from the surveillance testing consent you may have provided previously and will be used only for TTS testing. Please use this site (by clicking here) if you’d like to register your consent to have your unvaccinated student receive the rapid-result antigen (TTS) test if necessary. If you want to sign a paper copy, please contact your student's school.

2. Good News on Vaccinations: We had a successful kick-off at our pediatric vaccine clinics before vacation. Hartland vaccinated over 90 children between the ages of 5 and 11 on Thursday. The Mount Ascutney District vaccinated over 100 children, and Weathersfield vaccinated 50. We want to thank our partners at the Springfield Office of the VT Department of Health. We are also aware that many of our parents have secured the pediatric vaccine privately. If your student did get vaccinated privately, please let your school nurse know ASAP.

Please be reminded - This is a two-dose process. Reminder that the dates for the second Dose are as follows:

> Hartland from 9:00 AM to Noon on December 9th (2nd Dose);
> Weathersfield from 9:00 AM to Noon December 13th (2nd Dose);
> Windsor from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon on December 17th (2nd Dose).

You can register for these sites here. Enter your child as a dependent and register for your site.

PLEASE NOTE: This vaccination is totally voluntary. If you choose to have your student vaccinated at one of our schools, you must register your child. The information forms for the last vaccine clinic should suffice for the second dose. Just make sure you are registered and it is confirmed on the website.

3. High School Winter Athletics: Our COVID Athletic Handbook is now updated with new information for the winter. You can find it at this link. High school sports started on Monday, November 29th. Middle school (7 & 8) starts on Monday, December 6th. Elementary (grades K-6) will begin after the Holiday Break (January 5) if they are using our gymnasiums. Windsor has its own town gymnasium and may start their elementary program earlier. We have the same expectations for practices that we had last year - Arrive, Practice, and Leave. Students will have to be masked when in the building and there will be no public allowed in practice sessions or scrimmages. All athletic personnel have to be vaccinated. Players are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated but it is not a requirement. We will play a full schedule for all sports at the middle and high school levels. High school games will start in December. Middle school will start in January. We will follow the Home Team protocols when we travel. Home game protocols in our gym include masking at all times and arrive-play-leave. With respect to high school spectators, only home team spectators will be allowed. The number of home team fans will be limited. We will be allowing a high school student section that will be organized by our high school administrators. We will determine the middle school protocols for fans after the Holiday break. Coaches, administrators, and the Athletic Directors will have more specific information for each site as we get closer.



Weathersfield Proctor Library

A Visit with Santa
Saturday, Dec. 18. 6-7 p.m.

Join the folks at the Weathersfield Proctor Library for A Visit with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 18 beginning at 6 p.m.. Bring the whole family. Children are welcome to attend in their PJs, slippers and robes.

Story Time start at 6 p.m.
Santa Arrives at 6:30 p.m.

All ages are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. Call the library (802)-674-9876 for more information.

Things to Do In and Around Weathersfield

Get Outdoors, Entertainment, Classes, Workshops 

Brownsville 2021 Holiday Happenings Dec 19
Brownsville Community Church & West Windsor Town Hall
Brownsville, Vermont
Sunday, December 19th

Sunday, December 19th

4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Live Nativity & Christmas Pageant
On Sunday, December 19 between 4:30 and 6:00, the community will have 3 opportunities to enjoy a narration of the Christmas story complete with Mary, Joseph, angels, wise men, shepherds and more acting in and around the manger at Tribute Park adjacent to the church. The story will be interspersed with beautiful Christmas songs sung by all.

Contact the Brownsville Community Church at bcchurchvt@gmail.com for more information on the concert of Christmas Music and Carols and the Live Nativity.

Admission is free for all the events on December 4th & 19th. A free-will offering will be accepted at the church to help offset costs and COVID guidelines in place at the time will be adhered to. Thank you to the volunteers at Brownsville Community Church and volunteers in our community for making possible these Christmas events for all to enjoy.

The Brownsville Community Church is located on the Brownsville-Hartland Road, between Albert Bridge School and the West Windsor Town Hall. The Church phone number is 802-484-5944, the email address is bcchurchvt@gmail.com and you can visit the Brownsville Community Church at www.brownsvilleumc-vt.org.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Theater


Zack's Place Players present Beauty and the Beatz, Wednesday December 15, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. at the Woodstock Town Hall Theatre. The performance is free but donations are accepted. All Welcome.


The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Northern Stage Bryne Theater
WRJ VT December 8, 2021-January 2, 2022
TICKETS

Northern Stage returns indoors to the Byrne Theater for a student production this holiday season with C.S. Lewis’ fantastical journey, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, December 8 through January 2. 
Dramatized by Joseph Robinette from the Story by C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe will be professionally produced and performed by Northern Stage’s student actors.

The story of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe centers around the White Witch, who has trapped Narnia in a perpetual state of winter with no hope of Christmas. But all that changes when four siblings venture through an old wardrobe and enter a land of talking animals and ferocious monsters. With the help of Aslan, the Great Lion, the children courageously battle the forces of evil and discover that Love is the deepest magic of all.

One of the greatest stories of courage and resilience ever written, Northern Stage’s production of C.S. Lewis’ epic tale will be a highly theatrical and actor-driven adventure. Marking Northern Stage’s return to the Byrne Theater for the first time since October 2020, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a unique opportunity to shine the spotlight on Northern Stage’s talented young performers, while bringing us all together for the holidays.

More info visit Northern Stage

Music in the Air...

Lebanon Opera House



Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon Monday, December 13 7:30 p.m. Tickets 
Almost SOLD OUT

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones 2022-Tuesday, April 5, 2022 Tickets

Keystone Revisited 2022 Saturday, April 9 (rescheduled from October 2021) Tickets GA Orchestra and Reserved balcony seats.


COVID-19 Health and Safety rules in effect at LOH:
For entrance to all indoor Lebanon Opera House events, all patrons, staff, and volunteers must show a valid ID and proof of full vaccination – 14 days past their final vaccination shot – or proof of a negative COVID-19 test within three days of the event. Children under 12 years of age are exempt from this policy.

Face coverings will be required for everyone, regardless of age or vaccination/testing status, at all times while inside the building per City of Lebanon requirements. Masks will be provided to any guests that request them.

Proof of vaccination can be in the form of your physical vaccine card or a photo/scan of your card. We do, however, recommend patrons use the safe and secure Bindle app that’s being adopted by other arts organizations throughout the region. Download “My Bindle” via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Although our general policy is “no refunds/no exchanges” unless the show is cancelled or rescheduled, we acknowledge that the “rules of engagement” are changing and you may be interested in seeking a refund. In those cases you will have options to get a credit for a future show or a refund. Please contact us at boxoffice@lebanonoperahouse.org and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Exercise

Yoga

Whole Roasted Tro

Within Reach Yoga 

at The Perkinsville Community Church
(while the Center Meeting house furnace gets repaired.)

Indoor Classes are at Perkinsville Community Church-You must Register for each class at least a day ahead by emailing Lisa.
Class sizes limited to 7.

*NEW CLASS* 8:15-9:15 a.m.
6-week Tuesday Morning Class 
November 16-December 21

*NEW TIME* 9:30-10:30 am 
Tuesdays-Slow Flow, Rest + Restore Class

Candlelight Evening Class
Tuesday 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Lisa's soothing evening class will continue on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30pm.
A minimum of 6 participants are needed to hold class - please register at least one day in advance.

Please use the side door of the Perkinsville Community Church and leave shoes and coats in the entry way or kitchen (or keep them on your mat). There is a bathroom for changing. 

Please bring props and wear a mask when you are not on your mat. 

Upon feedback received and in an effort to maintain our strong community atmosphere and keep yoga a space of comfort and peace with room for everyone to sink into their own bodies and inner wisdom, please refrain from discussing politics, covid-19, and the vaccine in the sacred space where we practice.

Email lisa@withinreachyoga.com to register or with any questions.
COST: $12 drop-in or one punch for those who have purchased punch passes ($60).


Cooking Classes



Saturday, December 11 Pozole Verde (Green Pozole) 5:30pm ET (USA)

Sunday, Dec. 5 - 10:30am ET-Tacos de Canasta

Saturday, Dec. 11 - 5:30pm ET-Pozole Verde

Workshops Online

 

Vermont Online Workshops

Lots of events and movies online. Contact: AARP Vermont Email: vtaarp@aarp.org with questions.



Visit Our Local Restaurants

Exit Ate  Eat In or Take-Away
Greg is making homemade bread and potato chips and they now have a variety of salads for your quarantined BBQs: Potato Salad, Tuna Mac, Italian Pasta, and our delicious Cole Slaw.
Be sure to try some of Greg's Raisin Bread!

Harpoon Beer Garden and Brewery 802-674-5491
336 Ruth Carney Drive
Windsor, VT 05089

Inn at Weathersfield (802) 263-9217 Reopening on Nov. 24th.
Dine inside or outside Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, call for a reservation 802-263-9217. 1342 VT Route 106 Perkinsville, VT 05151

Bistro Midva Midva is open Wednesday-Saturday 4:30-9:30 p.m. (Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) Call (802) 299-1553 or visit their FACEBOOK PAGE for more information.
Springfield Diner-seating inside/outside daily 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Ice cream shop open Thursday-Sunday 1-7 pm. Daily specials.

Villagers Ice Cream Restaurant-CLOSED for the season 



The Hanover Chamber put together this list of Curbside Restaurants: https://www.hanoverchamber.org/upper-valley-restaurants-delivery-curbside-pi

Check to see if your favorite restaurant is open for outdoor and/or indoor dining. Most are requiring reservations so call ahead for their guidelines and business hours.



Food Assistance

Ascutney Union Church Food Cupboard in Ascutney 5243 Route 5 Saturdays 9-10 a.m. call 802-674-2484.

Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville.
During the holiday season, the Weathersfield Food Shelf will be open:
Thursday December 9 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Tuesday December 21 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
The Food Shelf will be closed December 23. 
 Beginning Thursday, January 13, the regular opening schedule of 2:00 pm-4:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month will resume. 
 The Weathersfield Food Shelf is located in the 1879 Perkinsville Schoolhouse at 1862 Route 106 in Perkinsville. The Food Shelf has lots of good food to offer!

Call the Weathersfield Town Office to be refereed to a volunteer, visit the Weathersfield Food Shelf Facebook page and leave a message, email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com
Donations of non-perishable food are always welcomed and may be dropped off at the facility during open hours or placed in the collection box at Martin Memorial Hall. For more information, call 802-263-5584 or email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com.

Hartland Food Shelf in Hartland. 4 Corners UU Church Fridays 8-10 a.m., Saturdays 10 a.m-2 p.m.

Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf in Reading. Mondays 2-4 p.m. and Thursday 4-6 p.m. Stone School 3456 Tyson Rd, Reading.

Why Get Vaccinated?
Well...Check out these stats



GET VACCINATED
and GET YOUR BOOSTER
Do it for Yourself, Your Family, Your Community


The best way to make an appointment is through the Health Department’s website: healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine. Or call 855-722-7878 Monday – Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.


Vaccination rate in Weathersfield as of Dec. 3

COVID-19 Boosters Available for Vermonters 18+
You should get a booster if you are 18 or older and you received:
your Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago or
your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago

WHERE AND HOW TO GET YOUR BOOSTER SHOT

Getting your booster shot is FREE and easy! Visit healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine for more information, and to find a location that offers the Pfizer vaccine near you.

To register through the Health Department website:
Visit healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine
Click the “make an appointment” button.
Log in to your account. Have the information you need to log in ready.
If you are eligible by work or medical conditions, you may need to update your details in the registration system before making an appointment. Go to the Dependent/Household/Client tab and click the UPDATE DETAILS button.
Proceed with making your appointment.

If you have not previously been vaccinated through the state registration system, need assistance or speak a language other than English, call 855-722-7878.

You will not need to show proof that you’re eligible or have to be a Vermont resident, but please bring your vaccination card. You must have an appointment for the vaccine clinic.

Health officials are also reminding Vermonters that it’s time to get your annual flu vaccine, and that there is no waiting period between getting a COVID-19 booster and getting your flu shot.

COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective, and a booster dose gives your body extra protection. This is especially important as the world continues to face the Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19. Moderna and Johnson and Johnson boosters have not yet been authorized by the CDC, and we will keep Vermonters up to date as we await guidance.

Weathersfield has 131 cumulative case of COVID-19 since March 2020. Eight (8) new cases since last week.


Vermont Current Cases by County

 
Vermont State Resources and COVID-19 Response Information

COVID-19 In Vermont Communities

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/faqs
COVID-19 vaccinations: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine

Stay Safe
  • Get vaccinated (and boosted!) as soon as you are eligible
  • Stay home if you feel sick
  • Get tested if you have any symptoms, may be a close contact, or have taken part in activities that could put you at risk, such as large gatherings
  • Wash your hands regularly

Wearing a mask:
The Health Department currently recommends wearing a mask in public indoor settings, because a significant portion of the population remains unvaccinated and the more transmissible Delta variant is spreading.

Wearing a mask helps protect you and the people around you from getting or spreading COVID-19. A mask helps contain your respiratory droplets and can keep them from reaching other people. COVID-19 can spread even if a person does not have any symptoms. This is how we reduce spread of the virus and outbreaks in our communities, schools and businesses.

If you are fully vaccinated – it is still possible to get and to spread the virus, but the risk is lower. Wearing a mask in public indoor settings is recommended, but you can also assess whether a mask is needed based on a space’s size, the number of people in it, the amount of time you’ll be there, and case rates in the county and in the community.

We urge everyone to follow the prevention steps to protect yourself and the people around you, especially if:
  • you have a weakened immune system or are around someone who does
  • you have children who can’t yet be vaccinated
  • you’re traveling to a place with high transmission and low vaccination rates


The Vermont Health Department has posted the following :
  • ISOLATE at home away from other people  
  • How to Isolate: CLICK HERE
  • begin reaching out to close contacts immediately
  • How to Notify Your Close Contact: CLICK HERE 
The Health Department will prioritize contact tracing to people at higher risk. You may not receive a phone call from a contact tracer, but you still need to stay home and away from others, and follow the steps below to stop further spread.

If you are POSITIVE WITH SYMPTONS


If you are POSITIVE WITH NO SYMPTONS

Home COVID-19 Test Kits-How to Use Them
VT Digger-Riley Robinson

A lot of us are thinking about how to celebrate the holidays while feeling a little more Covid-19-safe this year. Testing is one tool for that, and here’s posted by VT Digger a little how-to video on using an at-home rapid test.

Below is a partial transcript of an interview in the video with Dr. Benjamin Lee, a pediatric infectious disease doctor at UVM Medical Center, edited for length and clarity.

Dr. Benjamin Lee: The biggest differences are that more of the at-home tests tend to be what we call antigen tests, so those tests are looking for bits of viral protein. Whereas the state-run tests are typically going to be PCR tests, and PCR tests are looking for tiny little pieces of the genetic code of the virus that can then be amplified.
And that difference means that PCR tests are going to be more sensitive than antigen tests. The PCR tests can detect much lower quantities of virus, so that’s one important difference.

The other important difference is that, with any test, there’s always the risk of operator error.
That being said, most of the available at-home tests are pretty straightforward to use.
Part of the challenge is that everybody has to have a willingness to accept the result.

A positive take-home test should be treated as a true positive. And that would mean isolating for 10 days from the onset of symptoms, or from the positive test results. And letting close contacts know that we’ve had this positive result.

There isn’t any single test result or strategy that’s going to guarantee that there’s no risk for infection. And so I think that it’s important that people recognize that, even with the addition of testing, what we can do is lower the risk, but not eliminate the risk.

READ MORE

Follow the latest USA vaccination and COVID Risk Maps at

 COVID ActNow


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Nancy Nutile-McMenemy is an Upper Valley freelance photographer and writer who loves paddle, hike, attend concerts and local events in and around Weathersfield and the Upper Valley.

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