Christian Science Church hosts Thanksgiving Day Service
BRATTLEBORO - There's a reason the day is called Thanksgiving. Gratefully acknowledging our blessings is a deeply healing spiritual practice. First Church of Christ, Scientist will host a special gratitude service on Thanksgiving morning at 10:45.
Lay readers will read “The President's Thanksgiving Proclamation” and scriptural selections of praise and healing. The service also includes the vocal solo “Sing to The Lord of Harvest,” hymns, and expressions of gratitude.
Everyone is welcome to this joyful, healing service. The church is at 57 Putney Rd., opposite the Common. Questions? Contact John Kohler at 617-584-5866 or john@kohlercs.com.
Brattleboro Rotary Club's 48th annual Christmas Tree Fundraiser begins Nov. 30
BRATTLEBORO - The 48th annual Brattleboro Rotary Club Christmas Tree Fundraiser officially begins Saturday, Nov. 30.
Since 1965, the Club has sold Christmas trees as a fundraiser for local student scholarships. Vermont-grown trees of all shapes and sizes will be sold daily in front of Brattleboro Bowl on Putney Road from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sales will begin the Saturday after Thanksgiving and continue until the trees are gone.
Proceeds from the Christmas Tree Sale support the club's annual student scholarship awards of $2,000 to $3,000 each. The club has so far awarded close to $500,000 in scholarships.
For more information about Brattleboro Rotary Club or Gateway Foundation, visit www.brattlebororotaryclub.org.
Holiday open house at The River Artisans
SAXTONS RIVER - The River Artisans, formerly the Jelly Bean Tree Crafts cooperative, invites the public to its Holiday Open House on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 26B Main St.
Join with the members in celebrating the beginning of the holiday season. Those present will be eligible for member-donated door prizes that will be drawn throughout the event. The open house is free, and light refreshments will be served.
The River Artisans has been a favorite stop for many to find unique gifts for friends and family. The store will be open during the event for anyone interested in purchasing something special for themselves or others.
The River Artisans is a cooperative organization dedicated to promoting local artists and craftsmen and the store gives members a place to market their goods. The group always welcomes new artists and application forms are available in the shop.
For more information, write shop@riverartisans.com, visit www.riverartisans.com, or call 802-869-2099.
Kids' Craft Fair at Gallery Walk
BRATTLEBORO - The annual Kids' Craft Fair is Friday, Dec. 6, during Gallery Walk, at the River Garden in downtown Brattleboro.
All children are invited to participate. Please register in advance. There is a nominal registration fee (amount to be determined) to help cover costs. Participants are asked to bring a bake sale donation to support the nonprofit sponsor, Vermont Wilderness School.
This event is also sponsored by Oak Meadow, Independent Learning since 1975. For more information or to register, write jebreen@sover.net.
Santa comes to Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department welcomes Santa Claus on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Santa will arrive at the Gibson-Aiken Center on Main Street at 1 p.m. on a tractor provided by The Robb Family Farm, and will be escorted by the police and fire departments. Children can visit with Frosty, Santa and his elves, and can have their picture taken for a donation.
“Santa's Workshop” will be open for children to decorate Christmas cookies, which are made and donated by “The Hideaway” at Brattleboro Union High School. The BUHS Band will be on hand, playing Christmas tunes. This event is for children of all ages. For more information, call the Recreation & Parks Office at 802-254-5808.
Christmas bazaar at Guilford Church on Dec. 7
GUILFORD - Guilford Community Church's annual Christmas Bazaar is Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Handmade crafts of all kinds will be for sale, as will decorated wreaths, baked goods, holiday sweets, specialty cookie platters, and a wide variety of white elephant items.
The raffle table will feature a handmade eight-pointed star quilt, American Girl doll, gift basket of Vermont products, gift certificates to area businesses, and much more.
Coffee and goodies will be available throughout the day, and delicious luncheon fare will be served. All proceeds from the Bazaar benefit the church, which actively supports more than 20 local programs and organizations serving the wider community.
Directions: From Interstate 91 Exit 1 (Brattleboro), go south on Route 5 to just past the Guilford Country Store, turn left on Bee Barn Road, then turn left on Church Drive.
Wardsboro Holiday Bazaar planned for Dec. 8
WARDSBORO - The Friends of the Wardsboro Library sponsor the 13th Annual Holiday Bazaar on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Wardsboro Town Hall on Main Street. Admission and parking are free.
This was the first community event the Friends sponsored, and it has remained one of the most popular in the community. This year's bazaar features perfect ingredients to usher in the holiday season: kids and families visiting Santa, homemade holiday cookies, ornaments, and fresh balsam wreaths and decorations.
A big fire truck will bring Santa Claus to Town Hall at noon where he'll visit with the younger set until 2 p.m. Santa's visitors will receive a free souvenir photo and a special gift.
A coffee shop adjacent to the bake shop will be open throughout the bazaar. Shoppers can purchase homemade baked goods, including holiday cookies and candies (individually or by the dozen), jellies, relishes, and more holiday treats. Cookies will be specially packaged for gift-giving upon request.
A large selection of handcrafted holiday ornaments, fresh balsam wreaths, and holiday decorations will again be a highlight of the bazaar. New, reasonably priced gifts will round out the merchandise available in Santa's Gift Shop. A large selection of new and nearly new books exclusively for kids will be featured in the Children's Book Shop, and the always-popular gift items from the Friends will also be for sale.
All proceeds from the bazaar will benefit the Friends of the Wardsboro Library to support the Gloria Danforth Memorial Building, the home of the Wardsboro Public Library. For more information, call 802-896-3416 or visit www.friendsofwardsborolibrary.org.
Grafton Winter Christmas Market accepting vendors
GRAFTON - The Grafton Church is organizing a Winter Christmas Market and is seeking handcrafters. For a vendor application, call Christine at 802-843-2346 .
The Market will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Grafton School. They will have a wide variety of locally made products including Christmas decorations, note cards, hand-sewn quilts and bags, fresh centerpieces, photographs, and homemade jams, jellies, fudge, and mustard.
They will also have antiques, and a quilt raffle. A soup lunch will be available, along with dessert and baked goods. There will be a Kids Cookie Table where children can decorate their own cookies for 25 cents each.
Holiday of Horses parade in Townshend
TOWNSHEND - Townshend's first Holiday of Horses Parade is Sunday, Dec. 8, at 1 p.m., weather permitting.
A whimsical tribute to equines and local nonprofits, the parade starts at Leland & Gray Union High School, proceeds to Valley Cares, then returns. The Town Hall is available for you to warm up with hot drinks, good conversation, and an instant gift drawing. Come enjoy the costumes, clowns, and candy.
Friends of the Rockingham Library host holiday party
BELLOWS FALLS - On Saturday, Dec. 7, from noon to 2 p.m., the Friends of the Rockingham Library invite the community to celebrate the 2013 holiday season at the newly renovated Rockingham Free Public Library.
Come for excellent refreshments, raffle drawings, music, and holiday cheer. Everyone is welcome.
This year's holiday raffle abounds with wonderful donations from local businesses and community members: 2014 Roots on the River Festival passes, a Kobo Arc, gift certificates, and more. Anyone can enter the raffle; stop by the library to purchase tickets, which are available for $1 each or 6 for $5.
For more information, call the library at 802-463-4270 or visit www.rockinghamlibrary.org.
BAJC announces December offerings
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (Congregation Shir Heharim) is instituting a community education program that will include regular events, listed below, along with occasional special events that will give people a chance to get together and to connect to the Jewish community at the synagogue in settings other than religious services. All activities will take place at the synagogue at 151 Greenleaf St. in West Brattleboro.
• Monthly Movie Night, Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. (and continuing on the second Tuesday evening of every month). Join them for a fun movie night. Be prepared to laugh and eat popcorn and watch movies by Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, and others. Admission by donation.
• Monthly Havdalah Song Jam, Saturday, Dec. 7, 6:30 to 8 p.m. (and continuing on the first Saturday night of every month). They will start the evening with Havdalah songs and blessings and will combat the weekday blahs by singing together a mix of songs, some that are lively and some that are meditative, some that involve movement, and many that involve harmonies. Drummers, guitarists, clarinetists, and other musicians will accompany the singing. All are welcome to join, even those who think they can't carry a tune.
• Monthly Torah Study, Saturday, Dec. 28, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and continuing on the last Shabbat of every month. A gathering to study the weekly Torah portion with local scholars.
• Learn to read Hebrew. If there are a few people are interested in “decoding” Hebrew and learning to read prayer-book Hebrew, e-mail www.chesterfielduu.org by Wednesday, Dec. 1. For more information, call Shannon McNamara at 603-357-2735.