'Load the Latchis' to collect for for Drop In Center
BRATTLEBORO - For the second straight year, WKVT-FM morning man Peter “Fish” Case is collecting food for the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center.
Flooding from Tropical Storm Irene forced the “Load the Latchis” event out of the Latchis Theatre last year, where the goal was to fill all 750 seats in the main theater with a bag of food.
With the Latchis high and dry this year, Case is once again shooting for a theatre full of food for the Drop In Center on Friday, Aug. 31.
Items most needed by the center include tuna, pasta and sauce, peanut butter, soups and crackers, rice, canned meals, canned fruits and vegetables, canned protein items, baby food, juices, cereals and other nonperishable foods, personal care items, feminine hygiene supplies, and diapers and baby formula.
Case and other volunteers will be on hand on Flat Street from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to collect bags of food for donors.
Book Sale to benefit Grafton Public Library
GRAFTON - Hundreds of books both culled from the Grafton Public Library shelves and donated by friends of the library will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the library green in historic Grafton on Saturday, Sept. 1.
The latest fiction, classics, children's favorites, non-fiction, and biographies are will be on sale. We also have audio-visual materials available. The daylong event is extremely important for the finances of the town library, as well as an opportunity for friends and visitors to stroll around the village and buy baked goods from the Grafton Historical Society's annual bake sale.
Bags and boxes will be available for carrying home your bargains. Prices, with a few exceptions, are $2 for hardbacks, $1 for paperbacks and $1 for audio-visual materials.
Retreat presents annual Walk to End Alzheimer's
The Alzheimer's Association is inviting Brattleboro-area residents to participate in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's.
Brattleboro Retreat will be the site of the walk on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 9:30 a.m.
Walk to End Alzheimer's is more than a walk. It is an experience for hundreds of participants in Brattleboro who will learn about Alzheimer's disease and how to get involved with this critical cause, from advocacy opportunities, the latest in Alzheimer's research and clinical trial enrollment to support programs and services. Each walker will also join in a meaningful ceremony to honor those affected by Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is now the nation's sixth-leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease will rapidly escalate, increasing well beyond today's estimated 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer's. In addition to the optional one- or two-mile walk, participants will enjoy a special tribute to those who have experienced or are experiencing Alzheimer's.
Westminster West Community Fair to be held Sept. 8
WESTMINSTER WEST - The 23rd annual Westminster West Community Fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 8, with a theme of “Celebrating A Peak Experience,” which honors the founders of the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association.
As always, the small-town country fair will feature a road race, informal parade, live music, and, this year, a “Bubble Magic” show for kids at noon by Rob Mermin of Circus Smirkus.
Live music at 11 a.m. will be provided by Grafton Cornet band, and the parade will celebrate the Pinnacle Association, which was founded in 1991 and now has 21 miles of trails across five towns: Westminster, Rockingham, Brookline, Athens, and Grafton.
Other activities include the “chop-a-matic” game with corn cobs, a “fun run” geared for children up to age 12, face painting, live music and a popular barbecue lunch.
“It's a great place to catch up with neighbors and enjoy a home-grown fair in a classic Vermont village,” said Betsy Williams, one of the fair organizers. “Fair proceeds also support a community resource that many people rely on.”
A silent auction and golden elephant sale also offer the chance to buy a wide array of bargains. This year, Westminster West resident Jack Keil, creator of McGruff the Crime Dog, will auction off the chance to have that famous voice on voice mail of the winning bidder.
The fair runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Westminster West. Attendance is free, and there also is a barbecue chicken lunch and other food, including hot dogs, ice cream and corn on the cob, for sale. The fair also features a talent show open to all, art show, vegetable contest, and other activities.
Proceeds from the fair help support the community use of the Congregational Church of Westminster West building and community suppers held there.
Fast Friends hosts annual Walk for the Greys
WALPOLE, N.H. - Fast Friends Greyhound Rescue is hosting their sixth annual Walk for the Greys and second annual Chili Cook-off at Alyson's Orchard on Route 12 on Sunday, Sept. 9, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Walk is open to all breeds of dogs and is an easy walk through the orchard. Registration is $15 and all participants are encouraged to collect sponsorships. You can even create a fundraising page at www.firstgiving.com/15204.
The Chili Cook-off is $15 to enter as a contestant and just $5 to come taste all of the entries. All registration forms and event flyers can be found at www.HelpingGreyhounds.org.
Fast Friends will have some of their adoptable greyhounds available to meet. Other activities include face painting, apple picking, hay rides, a K-9 demonstration, and lots of great chili to taste. All proceeds go toward the care and feeding of the 45 greyhounds waiting for new homes. Call 603-355-1556 with questions or for more information.
Start or join a team today at alz.org/walk.
Session covers resources available for seniors, caregivers
GRAFTON - Many people are unaware of all the help available for them and their aging loved ones. Whether it's planning for future care needs, or addressing current challenges such as senior depression, loneliness, and caregiver stress, at this program you'll discover you're not alone.
Staff from the nonprofit Senior Solutions (formerly the Council on Aging) will present information and answer your questions about resources and services for local seniors and their families and unpaid caregivers on Friday, Sept. 7, at 3 p.m. at the Grafton Public Library. There will also be information about volunteer opportunities.
If you help someone with daily necessities, transportation and such, then you probably fall in the category of family caregiver. If you're the primary caregiver for a qualified individual, you may be eligible for respite care to allow you to attend this program. To find out, contact the Senior HelpLine as soon as possible at 1-800-642-5119 or info@seniorsolutionsVT.org