Area law enforcement agencies participate in national 'Click it or Ticket' campaign
BRATTLEBORO - Law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Click it or Ticket campaign beginning this week and continuing through June 2.
State, local and county law enforcement officers will be conducting high visibility enforcement, in those areas, identified by data, as high crash locations. Enforcement efforts will be supported by federal funds received from NHTSA and provided to agencies by the state's Governor's Highway Safety Program.
During 2012, 77 lives were lost on Vermont roadways in fatal crashes. Of those deaths, nearly half of the occupants were not properly restrained. Many of these deaths may have been avoided simply by buckling up.
“Sheriffs in Vermont understand that there are two things which will reduce the likelihood that a deputy will die in the line of duty - wearing body armor and wearing a seatbelt,” said Windham County Sheriff Keith Clark, president of the Vermont Sheriff's Association. “During the Click it or Ticket campaign, our deputies will be enforcing seatbelt laws to make sure motorists are less likely to die in the event of a crash on our busy roadways.”
The upcoming Highway Visibility Enforcement campaign is designed to remind drivers and their passengers that they are required, by law, to wear their seatbelts. Research, conducted by NHTSA, indicates wearing a seatbelt is the single most significant safety measure a person traveling in a motor vehicle can take.
Book, Bake, and Plant Sale in Westminster
WESTMINSTER - On Saturday, May 25, the Women's Fellowship of the Westminster First Congregational Church will host a Book, Bake, Plant Sale and Cookout from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
This event will be held on the front lawn of the church on Route 5 in Westminster and will feature a variety of items including books, fabric, bulbs, plants, and plant starts, as well as quality odds and ends. The cook-out will include hot dogs, chili, as well as baked goods and other surprises.
Brattleboro Garden Club hosts annual plant sale
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Floral Arts and Garden Club will hold its annual fall plant sale on Saturday, May 25, starting at 9 a.m. The sale will take place at a new location - the Green Mountain Chapel parking lot on Western Avenue, next to the Creamery Bridge.
Available for purchase are high-quality perennials, herbs, and annuals that are well-suited for spring planting. They are all grown locally by members of the Garden Club and are reasonably priced to support community members who are creating or expanding their gardens.
In addition to the plant sale, members of the Green Mountain Chapel will be offering a planting activity for children, snacks, and a tool give-away. These are all free of charge. The event will take place rain or shine. Come early for the best selection and preview the plants starting at 8:30. For more information about the event, or about the Brattleboro Garden Club, contact Ann Newsmith at 802-257-4710 or ann.newsmith@gmail.com.
First Congregational Church presents annual chicken barbecue
WEST BRATTLEBORO - A chicken barbecue will be sponsored by the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) on Saturday, May 25, starting at 11 a.m. and lasting until gone, at the First Congregational Church on Western Avenue. And while you're there, you can also get dessert at the bake sale sponsored by the First Congo Church.
For $5, you can get half a barbecued chicken, or you can enjoy it with sides of baked beans and cole slaw for $8.
The recipes used to make these goodies have a local history.
The chicken barbecue sauce recipe is one used for the Guilford Fair Fireman's Barbecue for many years by Joe Jewett when he was a member of the fire department. Jewett is the “griller extraordinaire” for this semi-annual barbecue and he still makes the Firehouse sauce.
The baked beans offered with the chicken are an original Thurber (yes, the farm) recipe. Marjorie Thurber's Home Baked Beans have been a staple on the farm for many years, and her daughter Helen is carrying on the tradition. She says this recipe appeared in Great New England Recipes, a cookbook published by Yankee magazine in 1983 when she and her mother-in-law (Bertha Robb) were featured along with other New England cooks.
Proceeds from the barbecue will go toward the upcoming West Brattleboro Community Fair on Saturday, June 22.
Memorial Day service to be held in Vernon
VERNON - The Vernon Historians will hold their annual Memorial Day Service at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, May 27, at the Pond Road Chapel, 634 Pond Rd.
The speaker for this year will be Don Streeter, whose presentation is titled, “Defender of the Union: A Vernon Boy Answers the Call.”
Also, the Vernon Historical Museum will be opening for the 2013 season on Sunday, June 2. There will be a plant and pie sale on opening day from 2 to 4 p.m. Their special attraction for this season will be a newly constructed Civil War Display.
The museum is located at 4201 Fort Bridgman Rd. It will be open each Sunday afternoon, June through September, from 2 to 4 p.m. There is no charge for admission.
Class in social media marketing offered in Wilmington
WILMINGTON - “Advance Social Media Marketing,” an interactive training session on how to expand and manage a small business' social media presence, will be held on Thursday, May 30, at 4 p.m., at the Twin Valley High School Library.
Participants will be introduced various social media outlets such as Facebook and LinkedIn and how to use secondary and tertiary social media outlets such as Twitter and YouTube. They will also be introduced to social media management tools such as HootSuite, and how to track online successes.
This class is sponsored by the Vermont Small Business Development Center and the Vermont Council on Rural Development. For information, contact Patrick Ripley at pripley@vtsbdc.org.
Transition Dummerston hosts potluck and film night
DUMMERSTON - Transition Dummerston's monthly potluck and program will be on Friday, May 31, from 6-9 p.m., at the Dummerston Community Center, off Route 30 at 150 West St. in West Dummerston.
The program features the film, “The Economics of Happiness.” This award-winning documentary about localization features Bill McKibben, Vandana Shiva, David Korten, Helena Norberg-Hodge, and others.
The film describes two parallel and opposing stories: the story of globalization's “unholy alliance” of big business and government - that breeds cultural self-rejection and competitiveness while reducing democracy around the globe - compared with the inspiring story of people all over the world who are resisting the policies of globalization, forging a very different future of localization, social change and community.
The community Potluck will begin at 6 p.m., with opportunity to socialize with neighbors. Bring a seasonal dish to share; local food encouraged. The film will begin at 7 p.m., and will be followed by discussion. There will also be a vegetable plant exchange, so bring surplus plants to share. For more information, contact Susal at 802-275-7449 or susalstebbins@hotmail.com.
'Paint the Pavement' work session on June 1
BRATTLEBORO - On Saturday, June 1, neighbors from the Cedar, Myrtle, Spruce, Sycamore, and Laurel streets area are coming together to “Paint the Paverment” and paint a street mural. From 10 a.m until 6 p.m., the approved and permitted project design will be chalked out and painted on.
True to the street names in the area, the mural is a graphic depiction of trees and leaves. Crosswalk and stop line signage have been incorporated into the design. Safety and beauty are the two watchwords of this project.
Project planners hope that motorists will slow down as they pass through this busy neighborhood intersection. Rain dates are scheduled for Sunday, June 2, and Sunday, June 9. For more information, contact acharkes@myfairpoint.net.
3SquaresVT debit cards now accepted at Bellows Falls Farmers' Market
BELLOWS FALLS - The Bellows Falls Farmers' Market now accepts debit cards and 3SquaresVT EBT (electronic benefits transfer) cards.
“We want everyone in our community, regardless of income, to have access to quality, nutritious foods at our farmers' market,” said Rachel Ware of the Bellows Falls market. “That's our main goal.”
More than 93,000 residents in Vermont currently receive 3SquaresVT (formerly food stamp) benefits, bringing more than $11 million in federal SNAP benefits into the state each month.
During the 2010 market season, EBT and debit card sales at 25 participating markets totaled nearly $60,000. This year, 37 markets across the state will be accepting electronic cards.
The Bellows Falls Farmers' Market is open Fridays from 4-7 p.m. at the Waypoint Center in Bellows Falls.
Friends of Moore Free Library to sponsor community tag sale
NEWFANE - The Friends of the Moore Free Library in Newfane are reserving spaces now for the 11th annual Community Tag Sale to be held on the Newfane Common on Saturday, June 29, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Spaces cost $15 each, or $20 each if reserved after June 1. Sellers must provide their own tables. The sale will be held rain or shine, with no refunds given.
To reserve a space, contact Julie at 802-365-7278 or julielav@sover.net or pick up a reservation form at the library on 23 West St. If the library is closed, you may take a form from the envelope provided on the front porch.
The Friends of the Moore Free Library raise funds to help support the functions and activities of the Library, a private institution that serves as a public library but without benefit of federal, state, or town money.