Have breakfast with a deputy in Putney
PUTNEY - On Thursday, Aug, 7, from 9 to 11 a.m., Windham County Sheriff's Department Corporal Melissa Martin will be making her famous sausage gravy and biscuits at the Putney General Store.
During this time, Martin will be available to engage with residents to hear any questions or comments they may have about the concerns they see facing Putney. Thirty percent of proceeds from the sale of coffee and plates of sausage gravy and biscuits will be donated to Putney Family Services to support the Family Food Bag, a collaboration between Putney Family Services and the Putney Foodshelf.
Thompson House Glee Club plans concert
BRATTLEBORO - The Thompson House Glee Club will perform a “sing-along concert” of summertime favorites at the Marina Restaurant on Friday, Aug. 8 at noon.
Interested singers and listeners are invited to come join in the singing, rain or shine. The Glee Club is an enthusiastic group of singing elders that meets monthly under the leadership of local musician Becky Graber and Thompson House activities director Sandy Ware.
Healing walk at Manitou
WILLIAMSVILLE - The Manitou Project will hold a healing walk on Friday, Aug. 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. This meditative walk on Manitou's Sanctuary Trail will be guided by Kirsten Edelglass, including poems or other readings, and chances to share about the experience.
Healing walks will be held every second and fourth Friday until the middle of October. Directions: go 1.4 miles up Sunset Lake Rd. from Williamsville Village, and look for the sign on right. Meet at the parking lot at 4 p.m. For information, contact Kirsten at 802-579-4496.
Public invited to Trail Talk for I-91 bridge project
BRATTLEBORO - The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the public on Saturday, Aug. 9. These talks take up the status of the Interstate 91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and allow the public to ask questions.
The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the Marina. The talk is led by Caleb Linn, project manager for PCL (the lead contractor), and Garrett Hoffman, design manager for FIGG (the bridge designer).
Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead at 8 a.m. The talk begins at 8:15. Participants will walk the trail to the I-91 bridge site, so wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
Our Place hosts Pizza Night benefit
BELLOWS FALLS - Pizza is on the menu of a benefit for Our Place Drop-in Center Tuesday, Aug. 12, at Orchard Hill Breadworks in Alstead, N.H.
The daytime shelter and food pantry is inviting the public to bring their pizza toppings to the bakery, which supplies the dough for a pizza they can top in any of many creative ways before being popped into the wood-fired oven by Orchard Hill owner Noah Elbers.
The dough is ready at 5 p.m., and guests are encouraged to come early to avoid the long line of pizza lovers that gathers for the weekly pizza party that benefits a different non-profit each week. The cost is $7, or $9 for gluten-free dough. Tomato sauce and cheese are provided for less creative pizza makers, plus whatever extra toppings others bring.
The event is held rain or shine under the new pavilion erected this winter. Pizza, music and socializing are the order of the day. Guests are asked to bring their own beverages, and a take-home container and a lawn chair are other suggestions. Orchard Hill Breadworks is located off Route 123 on Old Settlers Road, 10.6 miles from the intersection of Routes 12 and 123 by Aubuchon Hardware in Walpole.
Further information is available by contacting Our Place at 802-463-2217, ourplace@sover.net, or on Facebook.
Wild Walkers gathering to be held at The Nature Museum
GRAFTON- The Nature Museum at Grafton announces the third gathering of Wild Walkers, a partnership program with the Vermont Wilderness School on Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
At Wild Walkers, youth from 10 to 14 build self-confidence and resiliency outdoors while learning ancient wilderness skills. Examples of potential activities include animal tracking, wilderness navigation, shelter building, fire making, outdoor cooking, the arts of stealth and camouflage, safely using wild plants as food and medicine, and much more.
Experienced instructors from Vermont Wilderness School guide kids in a safe, fun, respectful experience of living close to the earth. Wild Walkers will take place at The Nature Museum, 186 Townshend Rd., in Grafton. Participants need to dress appropriately for a day spent outdoors and bring a bag lunch and a refillable water bottle.
For more information, contact the museum at 802-843-2111, or visit www.nature-museum.org.
Bereaved parents support group forms at Hospice
BRATTLEBORO - A new eight-week bereaved parents support group for parents mourning the death of their teenage or young adult child will be held at Brattleboro Area Hospice.
The group will meet Tuesdays, beginning Aug. 19, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Cheryl Richards will be the facilitator. Call her at 802-257-0775, ext. 108, by Aug. 12 to register for the group.
The death of a child is one of life's most devastating losses. Sharing and connecting with other grieving parents can be a powerful component in the healing process.
Brattleboro Area Hospice also offers other bereavement support groups. These groups are free, provide aid to individuals grieving any death loss at any time in the past, and it is not necessary to have a prior connection with Brattleboro Area Hospice in order to participate. Contact Richards at the above number if you are interested in joining a group.
AARP to host annual picnic
BRATTLEBORO - AARP Chapter 763 will hold its annual picnic on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at noon, at Living Memorial Park.
Area seniors are invited to join local members in the Senior Picnic Area which is located on the far right of the lower parking lot. Bring your own plates and utensils and a main dish, salad, or dessert to share. Iced tea and lemonade will be provided.
Musicians Ken and Cal Heile will provide the entertainment with folk songs to enjoy and old favorites to sing along with. For more information, call Mal Herbert at 802-387-4060 or Frankie Gibson at 802-254-4265.
Motorcycle ride benefits Deerfield Valley Food Pantry
WEST DOVER - Deerfield Valley Food Pantry's fourth annual Benefit Motorcycle Ride takes place on Saturday, Aug. 23, starting at the Valley View Saloon on Route 100.
Registration is from 9 to 10:30 a.m., with a “blessing of the bikes” at 10 a.m. A $20 per participant advance registration donation ($25 on the day of the event) includes the 100-mile scenic, self-guided ride through the Green Mountains, an event t-shirt, and a barbecue meal at the after-event party at the Valley View Saloon from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. All donations benefit the Deerfield Valley Food Pantry.
To pre-register by August 15 or for more information, contact bikeride@deerfieldvalleyfoodpantry.org or follow the event's FaceBook page at “Deerfield Valley Food Pantry 4th Annual Benefit Motorcycle Ride.”
Space still available for crafters at Bondville Fair
BONDVILLE - The Bondville Fair, Vermont's oldest fair, takes place rain or shine Friday through Sunday, Aug. 22-24, at the Fairgrounds on Route 30.
The fair still has spaces open for crafters. They are looking for crafters who make unique items. All items must be handcrafted, no commercial items are acceptable. Crafters' hours are from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday with set up beginning at 9 a.m.; the hours for Saturday are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and for Sunday, from 10 a.m. to closing at 5 p.m.
Each crafter will receive two free passes on to the grounds. The passes will be good for all three days. Any other persons entering with the crafter - including children - will need to pay the entrance fee.
To receive an application, contact Estelle at 802-297-1172 or 802-375-4831 and leave a clear message with your name, address, phone number and a short description of your craft. You may also request an application by email at grandmothersjoy@gmail.com.
Tuition loan money available for Dummerston residents
DUMMERSTON - There is tuition money available for any Dummerston resident who has completed high school and is going on to pursue some form of higher education through the Juliette Miller Educational Loan Fund.
The fund is not restricted by age, and not just for college programs. It can be used for career changes, as well as skills training or enhancement. This is an interest-free loan to be repaid in monthly increments after employment starts, and is administered by the Dummerston Women's Association.
Information and application forms are available through Ruth Barton at 802-254-1128 or rhbarton@myfairpoint.net.
EBT coupons welcome at Farmers' Market
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Farmers Market, open Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Route 9 in West Brattleboro, and on Wednesdays on the Whetstone Pathway by the Brattleboro Food Co-op from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., welcomes EBT customers to participate in the Harvest Health Coupon matching program.
Come to market and spend EBT dollars and get free matching coupons to double your money up to $10 per market visit. Now is a great time to shop local and farmer-direct: blueberries and raspberries are in, plus juicy tomatoes, fresh zucchini and cucumbers, green beans, garlic, potatoes, and veggies of all kinds and colors.
EBT can be used to purchase maple products, eggs, jams, breads, and meats. EBT cannot purchase hot lunches. Call 802-254-8885 for more information.