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YOUTH NEWS LYNDON — A common merganser painting by Cassy Pan, a student at Lyndon Institute, won the Best of Show in the Vermont competition of the 2025 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Art Contest. The judging was held at the North Branch Nature Center on March 27. The Vermont Best of Show artwork will now compete in the National Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Art Contest, as well as be included in an exhibit that will tour the United States for the coming year.
Proceeds from the Junior Duck Stamps support environmental education by providing awards and scholarships for students, teachers and schools. WINOOSKI — Winooski High School student Mapenzi Selemani, winner of the Vermont State Poetry Out Loud competition will travel to Washington, D.C.
, to represent Vermont at the national level. Twenty-four Vermont schools participated this year. AROUND TOWN MANCHESTER — Mother Myrick’s Confectionery announced the return of its annual Easter Egg Decorating Contest to support Neighbor to Neighbor Vermont, a nonprofit organization helping elderly and housebound citizens in southern Vermont stay independent with no-cost volunteer services.
Open to all ages, entry fee is $5 suggested donation, entry drop off starting Sunday, April 6, at Mother Myrick’s; entries due by Sunday, April 13. To help participants prepare, egg-decorating events at: — Manchester Community Library — for all ages 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m. Saturdays, April 5 and 12; for ages 8 and above after school Wednesday, April 9; supplies will be provided and contest entry fees will be covered by the Library.
— Willoughby’s Depot Eatery — for grownups 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9; supplies will be provided.
For more information, call 802-362-1560 or email [email protected] . CHESTER — Whiting Library is among over 100 public libraries nationwide awarded funding by the Public Library Association to increase digital literacy using Digitallearn.
org resources. Whiting Library’s efforts will focus on targeted outreach and training for senior citizens but anyone is encouraged to attend workshops or to call the library for assistance. Workshops, as listed, will be held at 1 p.
m. Fridays at Whiting Library, 117 Main St., Chester.
To reserve, call 802-875-2277 or visit WhitingLibrary.org . April 11, Internet Basics; April 18, Email Basics; April 25, Cybersecurity Basics; May 2, Videoconferencing Basics; May 9, Android Mobile Devices Basics; May 23, iOS Mobile Devices Basics.
DORSET — The Dorset Players, along with Charlie’s Coffee House and Burns Insurance, present “Meteor Shower” by Steve Martin at the Dorset Playhouse, 104 Cheney Road, Dorset. Performances are at 7:30 p.m.
April 4, 5, 11 and 12; and 2 p.m. April 6 and 13.
Show sponsors are Baierlein Landscaping and The Bank of Bennington. Tickets available at www.dorsetplayers.
org or call 802-867-5777. Discounts for first responders (police, fire, EMT) on the first weekend, with ID. TOWNSHEND — The public is invited to a free screening of “Bills Lumber” at Dutton Gym next to Leland and Gray High School, 2030 Vermont Route 30 in Townshend.
Showtime is 7 p.m. Saturday, April 5; snow date Sunday, April 6.
The 45-minute documentary follows octogenarian brothers Alan and Everett Bills and their co-owner niece, Debbie Bills Bauer, after the Bills family’s 86-year-old sawmill in Wardsboro was sold along with 433 adjoining wooded acres. MIDDLEBURY — Town Hall Theater and Jazz Middlebury’s House of Jazz Series present the Amanda King Trio performing Ella Fitzgerald, The Early Years at 7:30p.m.
Saturday, April 5, at THT, 76 Merchants Row, Middlebury. This event is sponsored by Vermont Public. Tickets are $15-$40 and available at townhalltheater.
org , by calling 802-382-9222, or by visiting the THT box office from noon to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WOODSTOCK — Billings Backyard series offers workshops held from 10 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a 30-minute Q&A, Saturdays as listed, at Billings Farm & Museum for adults interested in gaining practical skills for sustainable living.
April 12, “Flavorful Fungi” with Melany Kahn; May 3, “Cool Compost” with Andy Scherer; Aug. 30, “Seed-Keeping” with Brian Stroffolino; Sept. 13, “Root to Fruit Apple Growing” with Henry Weiser; Nov.
15, “The Art of Spoon Carving” with Andre Souligny. Each session is $20/person and $15/member, except Flavorful Fungi workshop is $25/person, $20/member. Registration and course details are at billingsfarm.
org/billings-backyard online. AROUND VT Gov. Phil Scott officially declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Vermont.
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont (PCAVT) provides evidence-based programs in three categories: Family Support Programs, Safe Environments for Infants and Toddlers, and the Healthy Relationships Project. PCAVT recommendations to raise awareness and make an impact. — Wear blue April 4, Wear Blue Day, and share photos or videos on social media using the #WearBlueDay2025 hashtag while tagging PCAVT.
— Follow PCAVT on social media and share its posts throughout April and beyond. — Create a pinwheel garden, as pinwheels symbolize safe and happy childhoods for all children. Purchase pinwheels at www.
pcavt.org/purchasepinwheels and plant them in your yard to demonstrate support and raise awareness. — Check out the calendar of family-friendly activities and additional resources at pcavt.
org/cap online. — Reach out for parenting advice to Parent Helpline 1-800-Children. The Office of Workforce Strategy and Development announced the members of Vermont’s new State Workforce Development Board, which includes business owners, workforce specialists, municipal officials, and representatives from state government.
Together with the new Office of Workforce Strategy and Development, the Board will support efforts to better address Vermont’s workforce crisis. The new 27-member board has federal and state responsibilities. Its duties include advising the governor on workforce policy and overseeing Vermont’s One-Stop American Job Center system as outlined under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Under both state and federal law, the governor or their designee also serves on the board. The first meeting of the new board will be held virtually from 10 a.m.
to noon April 14. Visit vwdb.vermont.
gov for more information. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation reminds the public mud season is here and many trails around the state are closed to protect sensitive vegetation, reduce erosion, and ensure trails are in good shape for the upcoming hiking and biking season. In addition, FPR asks the public to: — Check trail status resources like trailfinder.
info , Green Mountain Club Visitor Center (802-244-7037), and VMBA Trail Conditions. — Turn around in muddy conditions. — Seek durable surfaces.
— Avoid hiking in the alpine zone. — Respect trail signage. — Check weather reports.
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