West Brattleboro Association to meet
WEST BRATTLEBORO - The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held at the New England House on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m.
Ongoing items, such as progress on the planned welcome signs for the village and whether to continue to pursue Vermont non-profit status, will be discussed. The group will have a follow-up discussion on the “Revitalizing Southern Vermont's Villages – West Brattleboro” report about which the group recently hosted a special meeting.
The report, which was made available through the Windham Regional Commission and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, includes four key strategies: Support Community Development; Enhance the Streetscape; Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Connectivity; and Support Economic Development. The WBA has been an advocate of bettering each of these strategies.
The group will go over aspects of the West Brattleboro Bicycle Pedestian Scoping Study, which is likely to be discussed at the Nov. 18 Selectboard meeting. Once again, the WBA has been an advocate of changes being made on Western Avenue for safety reasons.
Urine nutrient reclamation project explained at RFPL
BELLOWS FALLS - On Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m., the Rockingham Free Public Library presents Rich Earth Institute's co-directors Abe Noe-Hays and Kim Nace. They will lead a presentation about their Urine Nutrient Reclamation Project – the first of its kind in the nation.
Whether you're a gardener or a permaculture enthusiast, you can learn how their methods will help to enrich farmland and keep nitrogen pollution out of our waterways.
Since 2012, the Institute has been collecting urine from over 170 volunteer participants in and around Brattleboro. After sanitizing the urine, it is applied to farmland that is producing hay. Throughout the process, they collect detailed data on the effect of urine fertilizer on the quantity and quality of the hay harvest and on the properties of the soil.
This program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 802-463-4270, email anne@rockinghamlibrary.org, go online to rockinghamlibrary.org, or stop by the library at 65 Westminster St.
BUHS students host Indian dinner
BRATTLEBORO - Students at Brattleboro Union High School, along with diversity coordinator Mikaela Simms, and social studies teacher Megan Scherer, are planning a trip to Bangalore, India on April 17-29, 2015.
Students will be staying at Dalit school there, and working with children, along with traveling around southern India for fun.
To raise funds for the trip, the students will host an Indian dinner on Friday, Nov. 14 (BUHS Diversity Day) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the BUHS multipurpose room. Indian dishes will be donated and served at the buffet. A $5 minimum donation is required.
Community Radio Silent Auction on Nov. 14
BELLOWS FALLS - WOOL, Black Sheep Radio 91.5-FM in Bellows Falls, a nonprofit community radio station broadcasting to the Connecticut River Valley and on the web at www.wool.fm, is holding its seventh annual Silent Auction on Friday, Nov. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m., in the Common Room of 33 Bridge St. in Bellows Falls.
Items range from artwork, antiques, household items, and books, to gift certificates, gift cards, and unique items donated by area businesses.
If you support community radio and have something to donate, contact Mary at 603-446-6201 or mblank@myfairpoint.net. Proceeds from the auction go directly to support programming and operating costs.
Chowder luncheon, bake sale benefits BF church
BELLOWS FALLS - The Women's Fellowship of the United Church of Bellows Falls will host its annual corn chowder luncheon and sale on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the church on School Street.
The luncheon includes chowder, choice of sandwiches, apple crisp a la mode, and beverages. Cost is $7 for adults and $3.50 for children 10 and under. An a la carte menu and take out will be available.
The sale includes baked goods and a raffle of three items: a basket of Vermont products, a Halladay's Harvest Barn gift certificate, and a certificate for a turkey from Lisai's market. There will also be a silent auction of goods and services provided by church members.
The church hall is accessible to all. Enter from the back, lower level of the church building.
Hospice offers book making workshop for teens
BRATTLEBORO - A free book making workshop for teens who have experienced a death loss of someone close to them is being offered on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal St.
This workshop will provide participants the opportunity to find creative ways to understand, express and transform grief, and to meet others who have also experienced a loss. In a safe and supportive environment each teen will be able to create a personal, handmade book about his or her experiences, using words, old and new photographs, collage and other art materials.
No previous art experience is necessary. All materials and lunch will be provided. For more information or to register, call Brattleboro Area Hospice at 802-257-0775, ext. 105, or email info@brattleborohospice.org.
Turkey supper for hunters (and non-hunters) served in Halifax
HALIFAX - Celebrate opening day of deer season with a hunters' turkey supper on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the Halifax Community Hall at 20 Brook Rd. in West Halifax.
A turkey dinner with all the trimmings, plus pie for dessert, is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $5 for children 12 and under, and free for pre-schoolers. Everyone is welcome.
Rec. Dept. offers parent and tot open gym program
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department will begin the “Parent and Tot Open Gym” program for parents and preschoolers' ages 5 and under on Nov. 17. It will continue to run through April 23, 2015.
This is an unstructured program where the parent is responsible for their child(ren). The gym will be available for this program Mondays and Thursdays from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Open Gym is a place for parents and tots to get in out of the cold and enjoy playing with blocks, a playhouse, cars, toys, puzzles, a tunnel, a play kitchen, and big rubber balls.
The fee is $1 per child per day. For more information, call 802-254-5808.
Advance care planning tips offered at workshop
BRATTLEBORO - On Monday, Nov. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., Lisa Ahbel, RN, and Joanna Rueter, LICSW, will conduct an interactive workshop, “Advance Care Planning – Digging into the Details” at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.
Participants in the workshop will get familiar with the range of terms used, gain clarity on the choices, and learn who needs to have a copy of the completed directive.
Ahbel is trained in Hospice and palliative care, and is experienced and skilled at helping families understand the short- and long-term consequences of the many medical decisions they are called upon to make as their loved ones age. Currently, she works at Charlene Manor in Greenfield, Mass., on the Alzheimer's unit.
Rueter founded and directs Sustainable Aging, LLC (www.sustainable-aging.com) As a social worker, a hospice volunteer, and a family member, she knows the vital need for knowledge and decision-making in the face of modern medicine. She is a certified facilitator and instructor of Respecting Choices, an internationally recognized, evidence-based program in advance care planning.
The workshop is sponsored by the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and Brattleboro Area Hospice. For more information, contact Rueter at joanna@Sustainable-Aging.com or 802-380-0301.
Methodist Women prepare for their Christmas Bazaar
BRATTLEBORO - The Women of the First United Methodist Church will hold their annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Featured will be homemade crafts, personal painting of tree ornaments, “Grandma's Attic,” food table with fresh homemade donuts from their kitchen, applesauce, corn relish, frozen apple and blueberry pies, and many other Christmas items. Coffee, tea and doughnuts will be available.
Proceeds from the bazaar are donated to both local and church missions. The church is located at 18 Town Crier Drive, off Putney Road, across from Cota & Cota and is handicapped-accessible. For information: 802-254-4218 or fumcob@gmail.com.
Noted Buddhist Sharon Salzberg to speak in Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO - Sharon Salzberg, a nationally known meditation teacher and New York Times best-selling author, is set to speak in Brattleboro on Nov. 22 on “The Strength and Happiness of Compassion.”
Salzberg has authored nine books including “Real Happiness,” has been a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and Oprah Magazine, and, together with fellow Buddhist teachers Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield, is a founder of the Insight Meditation Society, one of the Western world's oldest and most-respected retreat centers.
Salzberg will speak at a special Vermont Insight Meditation Center program open to all spiritual traditions.
Her talk, set for Nov. 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro, requires reservations and is expected to sell out in advance. People are encouraged to register early by logging onto the website www.vermontinsight.org, with more information available there or by calling 802-254-7077 or emailing information@vermontinsight.org.
Brooks Memorial Library seeks book sale donations
BRATTLEBORO - The Friends of Brooks Memorial Library are seeking donations of “like new” and good condition hardback and paperback books for their Holiday Book Sale to be held on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6.
If you have books that are in good condition and that you are willing to donate to the Library, contact Therese Marcy at 802-254-5290, ext. 106.
Proceeds from the Holiday Book Sale will go to support the purchase of books, materials and equipment for the Library and the Children's Room.