Walk for Animals to be held Saturday
BRATTLEBORO - The Windham County Humane Society's 2011 Walk for Animals, will take place this Saturday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m., on the Brattleboro Town Common. Local companies and residents are encouraged to sign-up and Walk the Walk for their favorite furry friend.
The event will start with a free breakfast at the Town Common. Following breakfast, the parade of animals and those Walking the Walk for Animals will travel through downtown Brattleboro. Well behaved dogs on leashes are welcome to join the Walk for Animals.
The Windham County Humane Society is asking for local residents to sign-up as an individual or a team. Teams can be formed with 2 to 6 people; if you have more than 6 people, you can form additional teams. Walkers are asked to get pledges from friends, family and colleagues. Participants that raise more then $50 will get a free T-shirt.
All proceeds will benefit homeless, abandoned and neglected animals. Registration forms can be downloaded online at wchs4pets.org.
Centre Congregational hosts Fall Jumble Sale
BRATTLEBORO - Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St, presents its annual Fall Jumble Sale on Friday, Sept. 23, 5-7 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 24, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be clothing and accessories for sale, along with toys, books, household items, and games. Sponsored by the church's Department of Mission and Service.
Clift offers writing course at RFPL
BELLOWS FALLS - On Saturday, Sept. 24, from 10:30 a.m.-12;30 p.m., the Rockingham Free Public Library (RFPL) offers an inspiring and creative workshop, “Getting Real: Writing from the Spiritual, Creative and Political Self,” led by local writer and Commons columnist Elayne Clift.
What are we passionate about? In that private sphere where we really reside, what do we know, feel, think, believe? Our busy lives, the various roles we have in our communities, and the multitude of interests we pursue, all influence us. What experiences have informed our values and shaped who we are?
Inspired by the wisdom and “fire” of others, and through facilitated exercises, participants will explore their own reality and how the world reacts to it. Work will be shared voluntarily in the spirit of support. This workshop is free and open to the public, and is limited to 10 participants. Call the library at 802-463-4270, or contact Clift at 802-869-2686 or eclift@vermontel.net.
Putney Cares presents Walk for Healthy Aging
PUTNEY - The annual Walk for Healthy Aging, a fundraiser for Putney Cares, takes place on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 1:30 p.m. at Putney Cares Activities Barn on Kimball Hill.
People of all ages will come together in support of Putney Cares, an organization that sponsors programs for seniors in the Putney community. Enjoy a quick 1 mile walk or a longer 3 mile challenge. People are encouraged to seek individual sponsors and bring donations on the day of the event.
Those who would like them may pick up sponsor forms at the Putney Cares Activities barn or call 802-387-5593. Light refreshments will be provided after the walk. Bring your own water bottle. The rain date is Oct. 2.
Keystone XL pipeline presentation, discussion
BRATTLEBORO - On Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., at the Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St., there will be a short presentation and discussion on the issues surrounding the tar sands of Alberta and the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.
The tar sands in Alberta are a vast reservoir of petroleum, with estimated reserves second only to Saudi Arabia's. Getting the oil out of the tar sands, transporting it to refineries, and consuming it will release huge amounts of carbon pollution into the atmosphere. NASA scientist James Hansen says that if the tar sands oil is extracted and burned, it will be “essentially game over for the climate.”
Canadian energy companies meanwhile have proposed that a new pipeline - the Keystone XL pipeline - be built to transport this oil from Alberta south through the middle of the U.S. to the Gulf Coast. The pipeline would pass over the huge Ogallala Aquifer, threatening the quality of this important water source. All the major U.S. environmental organizations are united in opposition to the proposal.
Vermont author and environmentalist Bill McKibben organized a two-week action at the White House to rally opposition to the pipeline project. The protest, held from Aug. 20 through Sept. 3, resulted in more than 1,250 arrests for civil disobedience. Several local people who were part of the protest will be at the discussion to give their first-hand account. For more information, contact Paul Cameron at 802-251-8135 or Michael Bosworth at 802-258-6475.
Dover Democrats plan caucus
DOVER - The Dover Town Democratic Committtee will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m., at the Dover Free Library in East Dover.
For more information, contact Town Chair Marshall Brooks at 802-464-5584.
Helping Haiti is subject of talks in Saxtons River area
SAXTONS RIVER - Margaret Trost, founder and director of the What If? Foundation, will be speaking at Christ's Church in Saxtons River on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m.
Since 2000, The What If? Foundation has partnered with members of the Tiplas Kazo community in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to bring much-needed food and educational opportunities to impoverished children. Today, the foundation funds 9,000 meals each week, 212 school scholarships, an after school program for 240 youth, and a summer camp for 550 children.
Trost will share with the audience the remarkable journey that inspired her to start the What If? Foundation and write her book, On That Day, Everybody Ate: One Woman's Story of Hope and Possibility in Haiti.
As Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health, wrote in his forward to her book: “It is moving and suffused with optimism…and conviction…that no one should be denied the right to survive and that anyone and everyone can do something to make a difference in the lives of our closest neighbors.”
Refreshments will be served after her presentation. Her book will be available for sale along with some beautiful Haitian art. Everyone is welcome to this free program. Donations are appreciated. She will also be speaking at Bellows Falls Union High School, the Compass School, and Vermont Academy. The public is welcome to attend the Vermont Academy program on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 10:15 a.m. in Horowitz Hall. For more information call 802-869-3695 or e-mail starbooks06@yahoo.com.
Petrak to talk about backyard birds
DUMMERSTON - The Dummerston Conservation Commission presents Brattleboro Reformer birding columnist Chris Petrak at the Dummerston Community Center, West Street in West Dummerston, on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.
For more than a decade, Petrak has chronicled birds on a weekly basis, interweaving the experiences of bird watching and birding ventures with stories of the lives, biology, and survival challenges the birds face. He has collected 52 of his columns in a new book, Tails of Birding.
Petrak has been birding for more than 30 years. He is a retired minister who lives in Newfane. Also an accomplished photographer, he has traveled extensively throughout the United States and in Europe, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, and India. His most recent travels were to Texas, Trinidad, and Québec and Alberta, Canada.
All are welcome to this free talk.
Vendor space available for Pumpkin Festival
TOWNSHEND - The 27th annual Townshend Pumpkin Festival is Saturday, Oct. 15, and there are still spaces available for craft vendors and artists who wish to sell their works.
Those craft vendors interested in obtaining a booth space, or who have questions, may call Stephi at 802-874-4953, or you can find an application at www.townshendvermont.org, under “2011 Pumpkin Festival Application.”
In addition to the crafters and artists offering their wares, the Pumpkin Festival includes a pumpkin decorating contest, a Halloween costume parade, a scarecrow decorating contest, a best pumpkin pie contest, free pony rides for the kids, plus food vendors. The event is sponsored by the Townshend Business Association.
Experienced Goods to reopen soon
BRATTLEBORO - Experienced Goods Thrift Shop, 77 Flat St., is still undergoing recovery efforts from the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene. Professional cleaners were in the store to clean the water damage, and crews from the town are expected put up drywall and paint soon.
The shop will not be able to accept donations until the Flat Street shop is ready. They are, however, are accepting financial donations at their home furnishings store at 51 Elliot St., and through the Brattleboro Area Hospice Flood Relief account at Brattleboro Savings & Loan.
The Elliot Street shop remains open for extended hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Keep them in mind for housewares, linens, gifts, furniture or other sundry items. All proceeds support local Hospice programs. Keep up with store happenings through regular updates on their Facebook page.
'Universal Class' comes to Brooks Memorial Library
BRATTLEBORO - Brooks Memorial Library is giving its cardholders access to a new database entitled Universal Class.
Universal Class is offered at no cost to all Vermont public libraries by the Vermont Department of Libraries. All Vermont residents who have access to the services of a public library are eligible to use this online learning resource for free in the library or 24/7 via the Internet.
Cardholders have access to over 500 online courses. One is welcome to enroll in up to 5 courses, with up to 6 months to finish each course. Attend class and do assignments on your schedule. Each course has a real instructor who you may communicate with using email.
These are non-credit courses and are provided for personal enrichment, and are not intended to be a substitute for any state, government, licensing, or educational requirements. For more information, contact the library at 802-254-5290 or visit vermontstate.universalclass.com.