Johnson: Town library plans calendar full of summer fun, activities

Classes are held at the Johnson Elementary School gymnasium, and registration can be done through the Johnson Recreation website, johnsonrecreationvt.com.

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The Johnson Public Library has an exciting summer calendar filled with engaging and creative youth programming. Here’s a sampling of the first few weeks of summer vacation: there will be a Tie Dye Party on Tuesday, June 5, from 1-3 p.m. at the United Church of Johnson; “Early Bird Banding” will take place on Wednesday, June 26, at 8 a.m. at the Vermont State University rugby field, off 100C, take Gillen Avenue; a two-day mask making series with Chiara on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 2-3, 1-3 p.m. at the United Church of Johnson; as well as a two-day block printing workshop with Adrianna on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9 and 10, 1-3 p.m., at the church.

As always, these programs are free and open to all youth in the community.

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The Lamoille County Planning Commission has requested that the Johnson Selectboard reach out to property owners about buyouts. The commission has looked at where buyouts are happening and what critical properties would help protect downtown Johnson. The deadline for buyout applications has been extended to Aug. 16, but there have been new ideas about using easements for floodplain restoration as an alternative to actual buyouts.

The Lamoille County Planning Commission has identified Johnson as having experienced the most municipal damage of all the towns affected by the July 2023 flooding, and there are new plans in the works to potentially move the wastewater treatment facility, by utilizing grant opportunities. These shifts in long-term planning affect which properties are identified as having significant impact.

There is the potential for loss of value from the grand list from buyouts, but the town could also gain grand list value by preventing future flood damage. Tom Galinat will sit down with members of the planning commission to develop a list of potential landowners to inform them of upcoming deadlines and other options.

— Jasmine Yuris, jasmine.yuris@gmail.com