Author to discuss Eastern cougars
BRATTLEBORO - Author Robert Tougias will discuss his book, The Quest For The Eastern Cougar: Extinction Or Survival?, on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 4 p.m., in the Brooks Memorial Library's Meeting Room.
Tougias will pose the question: “Why does this phantom of the Eastern woods stimulate such passion among so many people?”
“For decades, wildlife biologists have been telling us that they do not exist east of the Mississippi,” he says. “Yet each year, there are hundreds of people claiming to have seen one. Is there any truth to these claims, or are they misidentifications, wishful thinking, or tall tales?”
Tougias, a nature writer, journeys deep into the world of the cougar and into the reasoning of those that believe they exist and those that do not.
The Quest For The Eastern Cougar tells about the cat's historic demise and alleged modern human encounters. The scientific explanations as to why one ought to believe or dismiss the cougar's presence are unraveled.
For information this event, call the library at 802-254-5290.
Workshop focuses on plaster restoration for historic buildings
BELLOWS FALLS - The Rockingham Historical Commission will offer a free workshop on plaster stabilization and repair for all skill levels on Saturday, Jan. 21, at noon in the Woman's Club room at the Town Hall.
Participants will begin by learning about how and why plaster works, how and why to stabilize plaster, how to blend plaster components, and how to create the longest-lasting repair.
The workshop will also probe some of the more difficult challenges faced in older buildings, including electrical retrofit and the blending of patching materials.
Rory Brennan, an expert on the conservation of historic plasters, will lead the workshop. His business, Preservation Plastering, specializes in the re-creation and restoration of lime plasters, renders, washes, and the replication of original lime or gypsum ornamentation.
This fall, Brennan completed repairs to the ceiling of the Rockingham Meeting House, where the original plaster dates back to the late 18th century. He has also worked on buildings such as Widener Library at Harvard University, Ira Allen Chapel at the University of Vermont, the Massachusetts State House, and the Vermont State House.
For further details, or to reserve a spot at the workshop, email the Rockingham Historical Commission.
Marlboro Alliance hosts annual free book swap
MARLBORO - The Marlboro Alliance will hold its 11th annual free book swap on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Town House in Marlboro Center.
“You don't have to bring books to take books!” organizers write. “Browse and take home any books you like. Enjoy refreshments, compliments of the Alliance (donations are welcome). You may leave your remaining books for recycling.”
Want to help? Bake something to share? Other questions? Contact Michelle Holzapfel at 802-254-2908 or dmholzapfel@gmail.com.
Tracking workshop offered in Londonderry
LONDONDERRY - Forester and author Lynn Levine will present a one-hour interactive program investigating New England wildlife on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 10:30 a.m.
The presentation, hosted by the South Londonderry Free Library, will take place at the Londonderry Town Assembly Room, just up the hill from the library.
Levine, the author of Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Tracking Guide and Snow Secrets, will offer attendees skills to interpret signs of the wildlife neighbors in one's backyard or in the woods.
This program is offered free, but donations are welcome. For more information, contact the library at 802-824-3371.
Independent day school fair to be held on Jan. 21
BRATTLEBORO - An information session on independent day schools will take place at the Marlboro College Graduate Center on Vernon Street on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon.
The event includes children's activities and a panel presentation with a question-and-answer session, as well as an opportunity to visit with individual school leaders from the Neighborhood Schoolhouse, Hilltop Montessori School, Oak Meadow School, St. Michael's School, Compass School, and the Grammar School.
For more information or to reserve child care space, email svtschools@gmail.com. The event is free and open to the public.
Ham and bean supper benefits Dummerston fuel fund
DUMMERSTON - A baked ham and bean supper will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Evening Star Grange in Dummerston Center.
The supper is sponsored by Dummerston Cares, Dummerston Congregational Church, and the Grange to raise funds for the town fuel assistance fund.
On the menu is baked ham, beans, scalloped potatoes, the Grange's famous corn pudding, coleslaw, and homemade gingerbread with real whipped cream.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 5-12 years old.
For tickets, or to volunteer, contact Rev. Susanna Griefen at 802-275-5095, Sallie at 802-257-0387, or Jean at 802-254-9212.
For fuel aid for Dummerston residents in need, call the Helpline at 802-257-5800, or the Dummerston Town Office 802-257-1496.
Donation checks can be mailed to Dummerston Cares, 1324 Rice Farm Road, Dummerston, VT 05301.
Soup and movie fundraiser to honor King's legacy
BRATTLEBORO - A fundraiser for the student group AWARE, which promotes multicultural awareness at Brattleboro Union High School, Brattleboro Area Middle School, and in the community, will take place Saturday, Jan. 21, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Stone Church, 210 Main St.
AWARE was started in 1995 to support students of color in the town's middle and high schools. It is raising funds to continue its work in the community and to attend a student-led Global Kids conference in New York City.
Along with lunch, a screening of At the River I Stand, a documentary about the 1968 sanitation workers' strike in Memphis, Tenn., will explain what happened when 1,300 sanitation workers walked off the job in their fight for a livable wage and fair treatment, and why the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Memphis to support their cause.
This event is free, but donations are welcome.
Putney Cares serves its monthly lunch
PUTNEY - The January luncheon at Putney Cares will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Putney Cares Barn.
On the menu is shepherd's pie, biscuits, mashed butternut squash, apple crisp, coffee, and tea. The lunch will be prepared by Pamela Cubbage and is sponsored by Putney Cares and Senior Solutions.
To reserve a seat, contact Putney Cares at 802-387-5593 or putneycares@svcable.net.
Prenatal yoga offered at Main Street Arts
SAXTONS RIVER – A prenatal yoga class will be offered at Main Street Arts this winter Wednesdays from 9 to 10:15 a.m. for five weeks beginning Wednesday, Jan. 25.
Madeline Still Bergstrom leads the class, which will include gentle stretching, strengthening, and relaxation exercises designed to be safe and comfortable for pregnant women's bodies.
The class is open to women at any stage of pregnancy. As with any prenatal exercise program, women are advised to obtain permission from a doctor or midwife before beginning.
The fee is $37.50 for members and $50 for nonmembers. Preregistration is requested by contacting Main Street Arts at 802-869-2960 or info@mainstreetarts.org.
League of Women Voters meet on Jan. 24
BRATTLEBORO - The League of Women Voters, Southeast Unit, will hold a community meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 5:15 p.m., in the Hanna Cosman Room of the Municipal Center on Main Street.
On the agenda: preparing League members and guests for voter registration prior to town elections in March.
The program will include remarks by Town Clerk Annette Cappy, who will review the voter registration process and how to run a successful voter registration drive.
Also present will be Selectboard member Ken Schneck, a member of the League, who will bring as guests several town meeting members.
Town elections take place Tuesday, March 6, and the Annual Representative Town Meeting on Saturday, March 24.
Program on reducing flood hazards
DUMMERSTON - On Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m., Shannon Pytlik, a river scientist with the Agency for Natural Resources, will discuss ways to reduce flood hazards.
This program, at the Community Center in West Dummerston, will provide an overview of the Agency's Fluvial Erosion Hazard (FEH) assessment and mapping program. Most communities in Vermont participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and have adopted the federal inundation-based maps and regulations.
Since flood-related erosion is the primary mode of damage in Vermont, inundation-based maps don't fully characterize the nature of flood hazards.
Pytlik will discuss why mapping and regulation of Fluvial Erosion Corridors are a critical tool to avoid and minimize conflicts between human investments and river dynamics. She will also discuss the geomorphic assessment of streams, restoration of streams to their to natural state, stream stability, preventing flood hazard, and regulations/ordinances that towns can enact.
This program is sponsored by the Dummerston Conservation Commission and is a public presentation; town officials from Dummerston and other towns are encouraged to attend. Call Mary Ellen Copeland at 802-257-0012 for more information.
Dummerston School hosts Kids Fun Day
DUMMERSTON - The Dummerston School Class of 2013 will present a Kids Fun Day on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the school gymnasium.
There will be several inflatable rides, including an obstacle course, a giant slide, and a Velcro wall. Tickets, at $10 per child or $24 for three children, entitle children to unlimited riding time. Parents must remain on the premises.
Coffee, drinks, and bake items will be also be available. For more information, call 802-380-4122 or email jump@sover.net.
New hours at Worn Again Thrift Shop
SAXTONS RIVER - The Worn Again Thrift Shop on Main Street has changed its hours to Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The new Worn Again Thrift Shop manager, Joann Petelle, will offer a wide selection of men's, women's, and children's clothing for all seasons, plus shoes, boots, knick knacks, books, children's toys, and many household items.
The shop is run by volunteers from the West River Missions, with churches in Putney, Townshend, Stratton Mountain and Saxtons River.
SEVCA, United Way provide free tax return preparation
WESTMINSTER - The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help for taxpayers who have household income up to $50,000.
IRS-certified volunteers receive training to prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. Communities in southeastern Vermont are served through a partnership between Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) and United Way of Windham County.
Free tax preparation will be offered at two locations, in Brattleboro and Westminster, from Feb. 1 until early April.
The volunteers can help with special credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit. They will also prepare Vermont income tax returns, property tax adjustments, and renter's rebate claims at the same time.
VITA sites also offer free electronic filing. Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper - even faster, when tax refunds are deposited directly into a bank account.
Free tax preparation is available by appointment only. Call 2-1-1 in Vermont to schedule an appointment at either location.