West Brattleboro Association to meet
WEST BRATTLEBORO - On Thursday, Oct. 11, from 8-9:30 a.m., the West Brattleboro Association will hold its monthly meeting at Sunny's Deli on Western Avenue.
The Association has been busy in recent months with the West Brattleboro Village Day in June, participation in both the town's traffic safety study as it regards Route 9 through West Brattleboro and the TriPark housing situation since tropical storm Irene, along with a concerted effort to help its recently burned-out neighbors, the Diamondstones.
In addition to a review of recent events, including the Association's Chicken Barbecue on Columbus Day weekend, this month's agenda includes discussion of the Housing Authority Alternative Site Study (for the senior housing flooded in Irene), information about the Stockwell Trail and the Brattleboro Town Plan, and a discussion about newly proposed signage for West Brattleboro.
The meetings (which are held on the second Thursday of the month at this time and venue alternately with an evening meeting held at the New England House) are open to all residents.
Townshend Pumpkin Festival to be held Oct. 13
TOWNSHEND - The 28th annual Pumpkin Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Common from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The festival includes a craft fair with more than 70 vendors. In addition to crafters, there will also be artists displaying their works and antique and food vendors. Local non-profits and school organizations are also participating.
There are many fun-activities for the youngsters, such as Kids Pumpkin Decorating contest. A free pumpkin is given to each youngster to decorate with his own materials. Prize ribbons are awarded.
This is followed by Halloween Costume Parade. In this event, each youngster prepares a costume ahead of time and wears it in the costume parade. Prize ribbons are also awarded.
The pumpkin decorating and the costume events are open to all school children, including preschool, nursery school and elementary school students.
The Scarecrow Decorating Contest starts at 10 a.m., with judging at 1:30 p.m. There are free pony rides from noon to 3 p.m. At 4 p.m. is a final wrap-up of events.
There are still spaces available for craft vendors at the Pumpkin Festival. For craft and art work vendors interested in a space or having questions, call Harold Kvitek at 802-348-7913.
Admission and parking are free. In addition to the crafts, artists, and food vendors, there will be locally grown pumpkins, apples, and cider on sale.
The Pumpkin Festival is sponsored by the Townshend Business Association and is supported by donations from over 60 local businesses.
Rummage sale at First United Methodist Church
BRATTLEBORO - The United Methodist Women of the First United Methodist Church will hold its fall rummage sale on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon.
New and used clothing will be featured. Prices are not marked. Customers may take what they need and pay what they can.
Monies received are given to both local and Methodist Mission needs; including the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center, Brattleboro Pastoral Counseling Center, Women's Freedom Center, Morningside Shelter, Hospice, Windham Child Care, CHABA, and others.
The church is located at 18 Town Crier Drive, off Putney Road, across from the Shell station. The entryway is handicapped accessible. For information, call the church office at 802-254-4218 or e-mail fumc@sover.net.
OLLI lectures on food, human body continue
DUMMERSTON-The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) continues this fall's six-week series of lectures on Monday, Oct. 15.
In the morning programs, Meg Mott discusses Plato's writings on food and eating. Mott teaches political theory at Marlboro College and is a popular OLLI lecturer.
In the afternoon lectures, Bob Engel, also of the Marlboro faculty and also an experienced leader of past OLLI programs, will speak on our bodies' need for and use of oxygen.
The morning programs begins at 10 a.m. and run until noon. The afternoon programs runs from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. All lectures take place at the Southeast Vermont Learning Collaborative, 471 Vermont Route 5, in Dummerston. Parking and handicapped access are available. Light refreshments are served at all lectures.
The OLLI lectures are produced by the local chapter of The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, now in its ninth year in Brattleboro. The Institute is a nationwide membership organization sponsoring programs for people aged fifty and over who wish to continue their education without tests, papers, or grades. Payment of full dues ($50) entitles members to attend all 12 lectures in the present series. Lectures are also open to non-members of OLLI for a fee of $5 per lecture.
For more information, call 802-257-8600 or toll-free 866-889-0042.
Impact of terminal illness on families discussed at BMH
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and Brattleboro Area Hospice are offering a free seminar entitled, “Helpful Tools for Resolving Family Conflicts When Facing Serious Illness” on Monday, Oct. 15, from 6-8 p.m., in the BMH Brew Barry Conference Center.
When life threatening or terminal diagnoses occur, families often struggle with decision making and planning. Led by Ryan Murphy, Client Care Coordinator at Brattleboro Area Hospice, and mediator Lisa Kunamen, MS, the session will explore methods of dealing with difficult emotions, disagreements, confusion and conflict so that successful mutual decision making and planning occurs.
Advance registration is available by calling 802-257-8877. Participants are encouraged to bring to this discussion specific questions, concerns and experiences about this challenging time in life.
Local AARP chapter to meet
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro AARP Chapter 763 invites its members and friends to attend its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at the Gibson-Aiken Senior Center.
The program will be “Social Security and Medicare - What is changing, and how these changes affect the recipients,” presented by State AARP Director Greg Marchildon and State AARP Director of Communications David Reville. Also, safety vests will be available. For more information, contact Frankie Gibson at 802-254-4265.
Dunham-Mason Fund application deadline is Oct. 15
BRATTLEBORO - The Vermont Community Foundation has announced that applications from the Brattleboro community are now being accepted for grants from the Dunham-Mason Fund.
The Dunham-Mason Fund was established at the Community Foundation in 2009 with the assets of the Dunham-Mason Foundation, which was dissolved in December 2008. The fund supports endeavors that contribute to the betterment and vitality of the Brattleboro area.
The Dunham-Mason Fund is interested in supporting organizations and projects that rely mainly on local financial support and focus on innovation, capital improvements, and historical renovation or preservation. Grants will range from $250 to $1,000. To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must be a tax exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation or provide a fiscal sponsor.
Interested parties should visit the Community Foundation's website at www.vermontcf.org/dunham-mason-fund for guidelines and an application. The deadline for applications this fall is Oct. 15; the deadline for the next round of grants is May 1, 2013.
AAUW to hear about police social work
BRATTLEBORO - Kathleen Bell, newly-hired as the HCRS Community Support Specialist for the Police Social Work program, will speak at the Oct. 16 meeting of the Brattleboro branch, American Association of University Women (AAUW) at the Marlboro College Graduate Center on Vernon Street.
“Supporting Women and Families: A different approach to police work” is her title for her presentation at 7:30 p.m., preceded by a 7 p.m. AAUW business meeting in the second floor meeting room of the Graduate Center.
The Police Social Work program connects people who have come into contact with police with community social agencies. Some of the problems may be physical abuse, substance abuse, and mental health.
Bell's background includes work at the mental health unit of the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, Windsor County Family Court, and crisis intervention services for New Beginnings.
AAUW is a national organization advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. For more information, contact Vivian Prunier at 802-387-5875.
Fresh Start tobacco cessation workshop offered at BMH
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will host another installment of the “Fresh Start: Tobacco Cessation Workshop” in BMH Conference Room B beginning Tuesday, Oct. 16.
The FreshStart Tobacco Cessation Workshop is a free program open to anyone interested in becoming tobacco-free. Terri Kneipp, a facilitator trained by the Vermont Department of Health Access, leads the four-week program. Free nicotine replacement therapy is available for Vermont residents.
Classes meet every Tuesday through Nov. 20 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. To register in advance or get more information, call 802-251-8456.
Warming shelter to hold training
BELLOWS FALLS - The Greater Falls Warming Shelter will hold two training sessions for volunteers as it prepares to open its cold weather shelter.
The first will be Thursday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. at this year's shelter location at 23 Church St. in North Walpole, N.H. Another session will be Sunday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m. at the same location. Volunteers can attend either session.
Volunteers are needed to staff the shelter seven days a week in two shifts from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. and 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. Two volunteers staff each shift and are expected to remain awake during their shift. Other volunteers bring in prepared meals.
The shelter location just over the bridge from Bellows Falls can accommodate 10 guests per night.
There will be an open house to view the facility and meet the staff and board Thursday, Oct. 25 from 4 to 7 p.m.
The shelter maintains a Facebook page at Greater Falls Warming Shelter and can be reached at bfwarmingshelter@yahoo.com.
'Halifax Strong' celebrates one year after Irene
HALIFAX - Everyone is invited to a townwide celebration on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Halifax School multi-purpose room to remember the events of the days surrounding Tropical Storm Irene.
Sharing your experiences during and after the storm with memories or pictures. The town has invited state officials and agencies to participate as well. A slide show of pictures from during and after the storm will be shown.
Organizers are asking friends and neighbors to bring refreshments to share, such as finger foods, cheese and crackers, fruit and veggie platters, cookies, and bars. Coffee, tea and other beverages will be provided. Contact Patricia Dow at 802-368-7390 or 368-7160 with what you will be bringing.
If you would like to help or have a suggestion regarding this celebration, contact Dow, Joan Courser (368-7733), Edee Edwards (368-7063), or Laura Sumner (368-2824).
Brattleboro Retreat to conduct Community Health Needs Assessment Survey
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Retreat is in the process of conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment Survey as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Professional health care providers and members of the larger community are encouraged to participate.
The survey's purpose is to help identify community needs, concerns and issues; public perceptions of mental illness; and barriers to accessing needed services resources required to meet the mental health and addiction care needs of the community
The Brattleboro Retreat's priorities to meet the mental health and addiction care needs in the areas served by the hospital target outreach programs for needed mental health and addiction care services, as well as services for mental health and addiction that community members would like to see offered or extended.
This 100 percent anonymous survey includes 15 questions and can be completed in 10 minutes or less. The survey can be accessed online throughout the month of October at http://www.research.net/s/brattlebororetreat2012.