Mount Holly Newsflash- Wednesday, December 29, 2021- morning edition

Mount Holly Newsflash - Wednesday, December 29, 2021  The weather today in Mount Holly - Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Southwest wind around 3 mph. Archived Newsflash emails can be read at: https://mthollynewsflash.blogspot.com Vermont Home Gardener   Garden Dreams:  First Seeds   Once the Holidays have passed thoughts turn to garden dreams.  There may be no better way to overcome the mid-winter doldrums than to imagine your next garden and decide what new things to grow this year.  Despite the calendar, now is the time to get your plans and seeds organized so you'll be ready when spring arrives.  Unlike "normal" times, this year may again be challenging to get what you really want to plant.  Seed catalogues have already been arriving and it's not too early to make your selections.   If you're undecided about specific varieties, there is a nice list of Easy-to-Grow Vegetables in Vermont at https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/easytogrow.html.   Of course, if you aren't into starting your own seedlings but prefer ready-to-plant seedlings then you have plenty of time.  There are many good seed sources nationwide but if you prefer to buy locally, as I do, here are some suggestions.   High Mowing Seed Company  -  Vermont based, all organic seeds, great selection. FEDCO Seeds  -  based in Maine, good seeds, supplies, & tools, lower prices. Johnny's Selected Seeds  -  based in Maine, organic & non-organic seeds, huge selection Vermont Bean Seed Company – beans, vegetables, fruits, and more. Vermont Wildflower Farm – wildflowers, perennials, bulbs, and veggies. Maine Potato Lady  -  specialize in potatoes & onions   Online catalogues for researching and buying are easy to use.  Don't overlook their extensive guidelines and technical information that these companies provide online and in their free catalogues.  Vermont Home Gardener will continue providing local advice and guidelines beginning January online and the Mount Holly Newsflash.  You can subscribe and get the archives of all previous articles at https://vermonthomegardener.com/ .  It's all free and your comments and questions are always welcome.     NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 28, 2021 CONTACT: Jill Jesso-White jjwhite@chcrr.org (802) 855-5393   NatureRx - The Nature Prescription A Community Health Wellness Program Rutland - Let's talk about the beautiful parks and trails and the abundance of nature-related activities in Rutland and surrounding counties. Then, let's talk about how outdoor activity can be a prescription for your health. Put them together and you get a movement called NatureRx. Community Health has partnered with Come Alive Outside (CAO) for two 12-week NatureRx programs designed to help people develop healthy lifestyles by being active and spending more time outside.   "Individuals or families will have access to a health coach once a week," said Andrea Wicher, Community Health's director of population health and quality. "NatureRx participants will keep a journal of their activity and their provider will document basic health data like blood pressure and weight and maintain a progress report."   The Community Health program is designed to work with cohorts of 50 patients twice a year, aiming to reach 100 patients with this preventative wellness program.   Here's how it works.  Doctors and health care providers initiate conversations with patients about the health benefits of spending time in nature. The NatureRx referral suggests activities such as working in a garden twice a week, or taking a short walk three times a week. These activities increase the amount of time a patient spends outside and increases their level of physical activity. The CAO NatureRx coordinator will support participants after they get an outdoor referral from their health care provider. During the 12-week program, each participant receives one-on-one weekly health coaching, as well as tools for setting and tracking their goals. Participants will check in with their Community Health provider to look at how the program is impacting their health and wellness. "We are thrilled that Community Health is sponsoring and having such a hands-on partnership with the NatureRx program," said Come Alive Outside Program Director Myra Peffer. "Having Community Health's providers capture pre- and post-health data on program participants will show the health benefits of this program in a way we never have been able to measure before. We hope this program becomes a model across Vermont." Several ParkRx/NatureRx programs exist around the US, Peffer said. Working with UVM, Come Alive Outside recently rolled out an updated NatureRx model incorporating other best practice programs from across the country. For more information on ParkRx/NatureRx programs visit https://www.parkrx.org/ Community Health is Vermont's largest FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center), a network of primary care, pediatric, behavioral health, dental and pharmacy services with offices in Rutland, Brandon, Castleton, West Pawlet and Shoreham. Community Dental offices are located in Rutland and Shoreham; Community Kids Dental is in Rutland; Community Health Pediatrics is in Rutland and Behavioral Health services are available at all of our locations. Community Health Express Care, open 7 days a week, is located at the Rutland and Castleton Community Health Centers. Community Health Express Care in Rutland and Castleton will be open on New Year's Day. Check our website for our locations and hours. All Community Health locations are accepting patients. For more information about career opportunities, hours and Community Health locations check our website.                                                                                             The mission of Community Health (Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region) is to be the foremost integrated community health center providing quality and collaborative care that is accessible to all people, so that they can live their best lives and build strong communities.                                                    ##                                                 Copyright © Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region 2021. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Community Health 71 Allen St., Suite 101 Rutland, VT.  05701

Mount Holly Newsflash- Tuesday, December 28, 2021- morning edition

Mount Holly Newsflash - Tuesday, December 28, 2021  The weather today in Mount Holly - A chance of snow and a chance of freezing drizzle before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. West wind 6 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Archived Newsflash emails can be read at: https://mthollynewsflash.blogspot.com Happy Holidays everyone! Just a few reminders as we settle into the winter season here in Mount Holly: Library Hours are Mon 9-1, Tues 1-5, Wed 2-4, Sat 9-1 Holiday hours are: Library will be closed from 11 am 12/27 and will reopen on Monday 1/3/22 at 9 AM. The book drop is closed for the winter. Please return books inside. Please enter and exit the Library via the ramp next to the parking area. Due to ongoing issues with COVID variants, we require that you wear a mask at the Library. Thank you all for your cooperation Joe Galbraith, MLS, Library Director Mount Holly Town Library 26 Maple Hill Road Belmont, VT 05730 802.259.3707

Mount Holly Newsflash- Thursday, December 23, 2021- morning edition

Mount Holly Newsflash - Thursday, December 23, 2021  The weather today in Mount Holly - A chance of snow before 11am, then a slight chance of snow showers between 11am and noon. Partly sunny. High near 34, with temperatures falling to around 28 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 6 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Archived Newsflash emails can be read at: https://mthollynewsflash.blogspot.com The Mt Holly Transfer station will be closed on December 25 but will be open Sunday the 26 from 8-2 thank you and Happy Holidays dedicated to providing a local alternative to commercially produced factory food Happy Holidays! We'll make this newsletter short, as some of us have cookies to bake, shopping to do, and wrapping to finish.  We'll have our farm stand open regular hours, except we will be closed on Saturday.  And as always, we are closed on Mondays as well. Don't forget your meat for your meals this weekend.  Chicken, beef and pork are ready and waiting! Maple syrup has been flying off the shelves, but not to worry, we've got plenty here for you.  Need any last minute gifts?  Canvas prints, shadow boxes, handmade soap and more all here at the farm stand.  Or get a gift certificate and let your recipient choose what they'd like! No pastries or fresh bread this week (those bakers need a rest too) .. we do have some bread in our freezers. We wish each and every one of you a very happy holiday season.  We are beyond grateful for all of you, and can't thank you enough for following our farm!  May your weekend be filled with lots of love, great memories, good food and eggnog! Please be cautious and drive accordingly when driving in and out of our driveway.  Be on the lookout for farm equipment, dogs, other customers, and  grandchildren!    SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER! This is Jackson, our oldest grandson.  He has loved the holidays since he was a little guy!  And not just Christmas, but every holiday.   If you've been in the farm stand, you've noticed the decorations inside.  All of them put up by Jack.  And last weekend, he found this perfect sized tree in our 'forest' behind the farm.  He immediately grabbed whatever decorations he could find, and we placed it on the table for all to see.  We hope you'll take a minute to enjoy his tree when you're in the farm stand!!   Plew Farm 1966 Healdville Road     Mount Holly, Vermont  05758 www.plewfarm.com Farm stand open Tuesdays through Sundays (CLOSED ON MONDAYS) 12:00pm - 5:00pm   802.259.2250 plewfarm@gmail.com