Current Town Newsletter

Jericho, Vermont - Updates and Upcoming Meetings/Events

Here are some updates that might interest you.

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Community News:

Green Up Day is Saturday May 3rd! Remember - Jericho does not provide trash pick up for the green bags. You must bring your filled bags to the HW Dept. during special hours. Get details on bags, breakfast, and more here.

Conservation Commission:

The Conservation Commission would like to remind Jericho residents that our bear neighbors are coming out of hibernation. Please do not teach them that our homes are a source of food. Clean and store your bird feeders until December and keep garbage cans and food scraps secured. If you participated in the recent survey with our Bear Ambassador UVM students - THANKS! We will share the results in the next few weeks.

Congratulations to Jericho’s Tree Warden, Don Tobi, the recipient of the 2025 Hamilton Award. This award is in recognition of a Tree Warden who has significantly advanced the goals of urban and community forestry through successful forestry practices, effective conservation planning, increased engagement, and active public education.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee:

Join the Jericho DEI/Affordable Housing/Food Hub committees on Monday, April 14th at 7pm for a screening of the film “Just Getting By” followed by a discussion led by the filmmaker Bess O'Brien of Kingdom County Productions. The film tells the stories of Vermonters living with food and housing insecurity. Watching O’Brien’s interviews can deepen our understanding of what it is like to find affordable housing, struggle to feed one's family, and navigate support systems. The film also introduces advocates and community organizers who are trying to support Vermonters in making ends meet. Read more.

Energy Task Force:

The JETF is pleased to present the 2024 award winning documentary “Plastic People” on Thursday, April 24 at the Deborah Rawson Memorial Library at 6:30 pm. This film investigates the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Almost all plastics break down into microscopic particles that drift in the air, float in all bodies of water or mix in the soil becoming a permanent part of the environment. Acclaimed author and science journalist Ziya Tong takes a personal approach by visiting leading scientists around the world, undergoing experiments in her home, on her food and body for all to rethink our relationship with plastic. Light refreshments will be served, but this is a waste free event. Please bring your own cups.

Food Hub:

The Jericho Underhill Food Hub continues to meet regularly on the 4th Wednesday of the month at the DRM Library meeting room. As the growing season is on its way, the team continues to look for ways to reach out to the Jericho and Underhill communities to share information about local produce, meats and other local products. During the Spring season several workshops have been and are being offered to help support our mission of education. A farmer's forum was held to bring together farmers and community members to share information and product offerings for the coming Summer. We are fortunate to have many hard-working farmers, sugar makers, beekeepers and fiber producers in the Underhill and Jericho area attend.

Planning Commission:

The Planning Commission is getting close to finishing a draft of changes to Jericho's zoning regulations which would make it easier to build more housing and small businesses in our Village Centers, especially in Riverside around the Jericho Market. The PC is using the state's zoning guide for Better Neighborhoods, and a local planning consultant for this zoning update. Public information sessions and a public hearing will be scheduled for May. The PC met this week with the Selectboard to review priorities and align work plans. And, two PC members were appointed alongside four other individuals to serve on a new task force chartered by the Selectboard to continue planning for developing a municipal wastewater system in Riverside. Questions or comments on planning in Jericho? Contact Jericho Town Planner Chris Shaheen - cshaheen@jerichovt.gov

Neighbors:

This month we feature Affordable Housing Committee member Friederike Keating. Read more: jerichovt.org/Celebrating-Each-Other

Upcoming Meetings:

Third Monday: Jericho Energy Task Force: jerichovt.org/JETF

Third Tuesday: Planning Commission: jerichovt.org/planning-commission

Third Wednesday: Conservation Commission: jerichovt.org/conservation-commission

Third Thursday: Selectboard: jerichovt.org/selectboard

Fourth Monday: Mobbs Farm Committee: jerichovt.org/Mobbs-Committee

Fourth Wednesday: Jericho Food Hub Task Force: jerichovt.org/agriculture-jericho

Fourth Wednesday (as needed): Development Review Board: jerichovt.org/DRB

Fourth Thursday: Jericho Community Development Corporation: jerichovt.org/JCDC

Missed a meeting? MMCCTV records and posts videos of our Selectboard, Planning Commission, DRB, and Affordable Housing Committee Meetings. To view past meetings click on the MMCCTV button, which can be found on the right side of each respective JIJ committee web page, and watch recordings on the MMCCTV YouTube page.

Thank you for being part of Join In Jericho. We look forward to having your input on our projects. Click here to leave feedback or make suggestions or at any time by scrolling down to the "ideas" section on the Home page.

Kind regards,

Jericho, Vermont