Brattleboro seeks to fill committee vacancies
BRATTLEBORO - The town of Brattleboro seeks citizens to serve on the following committees and boards: Agricultural Advisory Board; Arts Committee; Citizen Police Communications Committee; Development Review Board (alternate); Energy Committee; Honor Roll Committee; Inspector, Lumber, Shingles, and Wood; Senior Solutions representative; SEVCA representative; Town Service Officer; and Tree Advisory Committee.
Applications for appointment by the Selectboard at its Nov. 19 meeting are due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14. For more information on committees and boards, visit www.brattleboro.org or call the Town Manager's office, 802-251-8151.
Applications may be submitted online, by e-mail (tmsecretary@brattleboro.org), by hand, or by mail to: Brattleboro Town Manager's Office, Attn: Committee Vacancy, 230 Main St., Suite 208, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
Brooks Memorial Library seeks trustees for 2014 vacancies
BRATTLEBORO - The Board of Library Trustees of Brooks Memorial Library seeks enthusiastic and dedicated library lovers to fill three upcoming vacancies on the board.
One candidate will be elected at the March 2014 Representative Town Meeting to complete one year of an unexpired term. Two others will be elected at town meeting to fill three-year terms. Candidates for this position should have an interest in maintaining a strong and visionary library. Trustees must be residents of Brattleboro.
The board of nine trustees meets at the Library from 4:45 to 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, September through June. Members are asked to serve on two or more committees that convene as needed.
For more information on the library, please visit brookslibraryvt.org and click on “About Brooks,” where library history, the most recent strategic plan, summary, and Trustee agendas and minutes are available.
Applicants should send a résumé or CV, and a letter or an email describing their interest in serving on the Library Board, no later than Friday, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. Write: Trustee Position, Board of Trustees, Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St. Brattleboro, VT 05301 or info@brookslibraryvt.org.
Toastmasters meeting Oct. 24 at Marlboro College Graduate Center
BRATTLEBORO - BrattleMasters, the Brattleboro-based chapter of Toastmasters International, meets Thursday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St.
Three speeches and evaluations are planned, volunteers are welcome to try their hand at one-to-two-minute off-the-cuff speeches, and four new members are being inducted. Guests are welcome, and refreshments are provided.
There is no pressure to speak, and members - from all walks of life - are working at their own pace and with assigned mentors to help them meet their speaking and leadership goals.
For more information, visit http://brattleboro.toastmastersclubs.org.
Transition Putney's fall film series continues
PUTNEY - Transition Putney announces that the second screening in its fall film series is Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Putney Public Library.
The program includes a video of Michael Pollan's 25-minute talk to the Bioneers' Group, “Beyond the Barcode.”
It is a provocative piece which asks that we move beyond the “organic label.” In it, Pollan describes local food as one of the most important political movements, and encourages us to put our faith in relationships rather than technology and regulation.
This is preceded by “The Story of Stuff ”(2007) and “The Story of Solutions” (2013), both written by Annie Leonard and Jonah Sachs, directed by Louis Fox, and produced by Free Range Studios.
Hallowell singers join Manitou healing walk
WILLIAMSVILLE - The Manitou Project holds its final healing walk of the season on Friday, Oct. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. This event includes an honoring of those who have died and their ancestors, featuring members of the Hallowell Singers.
Remembering those who have come before and loved ones who have died is a long-held tradition this time of year, from the Christian All Souls Day to the Celtic festival of Samhain to All Hallow's Eve.
The group gathers at the Manitou parking area at 4 p.m., for contemplative walking, shared silence, communion in song with members of the Hallowell singers, and reflective exchange in nature, rain or shine.
For more information, contact Kirsten Edelglass at 802-579-4496, or kedelglass@marlboro.edu.
Transition Dummerston hosts community potluck
DUMMERSTON - Transition Dummerston holds its monthly potluck dinner on Friday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Dummerston Community Church. The program asks, “How do we build community for resilience?”
Through brainstorming and large- and small-group discussion, participants will engage in a conversation about ideas for increasing connection and collaboration among neighbors, so all can thrive in the era of climate disruption and create a positive future.
The potluck supper begins at 6 p.m., with people encouraged to include local food in their dishes. The program begins at 7.
The Dummerston Community Church is located in Dummerston Center. For more information, contact Susal at 802-275-7449, or Fred at 802-387-2681.
Pierce's Hall hosts potluck, contra dance, and Halloween party for kids
EAST PUTNEY - Annie Frelich kicks off the Saturday, Oct. 26, Pierce's Hall annual Halloween Party with not-too-scary Halloween songs for younger children. A scavenger hunt in the “haunted” Hall follows.
After a potluck dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Amy Cann will lead family-friendly circle dances and beginning contra dance for all ages.
The Pierce's Hall “Last Saturday of the Month” contra dance will begin early, at 7:30 p.m., with the All Comers' Band providing the music. Activities are by donation. Costumes add to the fun.
Dinner to help fill emergency fuel fund
DUMMERSTON - A baked bean and ham supper will be held on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Evening Star Grange in Dummerston Center.
Sponsored by Dummerston Cares, Dummerston Congregational Church, and the Evening Star Grange, the event seeks to raise funds for fuel assistance so that no neighbor must go without heat.
The menu: baked beans, baked ham, (hot dogs if preferred) scalloped potatoes, coleslaw, marinated carrots, and rolls, with gingerbread with real whipped cream for dessert. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 5-12. Take-out available by calling 802-254-1138.
To volunteer, call the 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 802-257-5800 or the Dummerston Town Office at 802-257-1496. Donation checks can be mailed to Dummerston Cares, 1324 Rice Farm Rd., Dummerston, VT 05301
Fall Osher lectures continue
DUMMERSTON - The fourth in a series of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) lectures takes place on Monday, Oct. 28.
In the morning session, Amer Latif, professor of religious studies at Marlboro College, discusses human perfection and the Confucian tradition.
In the afternoon program, “American Politics through Film,” Michael Krasner, a member of the political science faculty at Queens College, SUNY, considers “Wag the Dog” (1997) and its view of money and reality in American politics.
Morning lectures run from 10 a.m. to noon; afternoon lectures run from 1 to 3 p.m.
All lectures will be held at the Southeastern Vermont Learning Collaborative, 471 Vermont Route 5, Dummerston. Parking and handicapped access are available, and light refreshments will be served.
For more information, including concerning cancellations, call 802-257-8600 or 866-889-0042.
State, federal lead paint certification courses offered
BRATTLEBORO - Lead Safe and Healthy Homes, in collaboration with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, is hosting free lead paint safety courses for those interested in learning more about Vermont's lead law.
Vermont's Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) classes will take place on Tuesdays: Oct. 22 at the Howard Dean Education Center in Springfield, and Nov. 19 at the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust's Daly Shoe Building in Brattleboro, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Vermont Law requires that all landlords, contractors, and daycare facility owners disturbing more than 1 square foot of paint in a rental property or child-occupied facility built before 1978 be EMP certified.
Lead Safe and Healthy Homes is also hosting EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) classes on Tuesdays: Oct. 29 at the Springfield Fire Station in Springfield, and Nov. 26 at the Daly Shoe Building in Brattleboro, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
These federal certification classes are $150 to register. All landlords and contractors disturbing more than 6 square feet of paint are required to obtain EPA certification or be supervised by a certified renovator.
Pre-registration is required. Contact Lead Safe and Healthy Homes at 802-463-9927, ext. 207 or 208.
Medicare open-enrollment period has begun
SPRINGFIELD - Medicare's annual open-enrollment period is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. This is an important opportunity for all Medicare beneficiaries to review their Medicare drug coverage and supplemental plan.
Enrollees may choose to remain in their current plan or switch plans. Should their current plan be discontinued, open enrollment is the only time to choose a different plan.
Medicare beneficiaries should ask these questions during open enrollment: Is the cost (premium) of my plan changing? Will my plan still cover the drugs I need? Are there any drug restrictions? How does my plan coordinate with any state or federal benefits? Is there a plan that fits my needs better than my current one?
Free personalized advice is available for Medicare beneficiaries in Vermont. Senior Solutions and the other Vermont Area Agencies on Aging help Vermonters learn everything they need to know about Medicare. Offerings include free classes, information by Internet and telephone, and in some cases one-on-one meetings.
For free, unbiased information about Medicare and open enrollment, call Vermont's Senior HelpLine at 1-800-642-5119, or see www.SeniorSolutionsVT.org/open-enrollment.
Also, www.Medicare.gov offers a comparison tool for drug plans, Medigap policies, and more.