Council on Rural Development to visit Vernon
VERNON - All Vernon residents, community organizations, groups and businesses are invited to attend an informational meeting with the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD).
VCRD Executive Director Paul Costello and associate Jenna Whitson will speak on the what the VCRD Community Visit program has to offer the Vernon community.
This informational meeting will be held Thursday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m., in the Vernon Elementary School cafeteria. The snow date is Feb. 12, same time and place.
A description of the VCRD Community Visit program and a list of other communities that have participated can be found at www.vtrural.org.
Auditors' reports now available in Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Town and Town School District Auditors' Reports for fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 are available upon request and may be picked up at the Town Clerk's office, 230 Main St.
The auditors' reports will also be available as part of the Town and School District Annual Report, which will be available at the Town Clerk's office no later than Feb. 20.
The town no longer mails the Auditors' Reports to all voters. Therefore, persons interested in obtaining a copy of the auditors' reports should contact the Brattleboro Town Clerk (802-251-8157). Copies are available on the website or for pick up, may be transmitted electronically, or sent by first class mail.
AARP Driver Safety Course offered at Grace Cottage
TOWNSHEND - Grace Cottage Hospital will host an AARP Driver Safety Program on Saturday, Feb. 7, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The program is a refresher course for mature drivers, addressing changes that may occur in vision, hearing, and reaction time due to aging, and providing useful driving safety tips for handling these changes. The program also reviews the impact of changes in vehicles, including new technology, and new roadway features such as roundabouts that may impact driving safety.
Some drivers may be eligible for insurance discounts upon completing the course; consult your insurance agent for details. AARP membership is not required before taking the course.
A $20 fee covers the cost of materials ($15 for AARP members). The program will be held in the Grace Cottage Hospital Community Wellness Center, 133 Grafton Rd., Townshend. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, contact the program leader, Elliott Greenblott, at 802-254-4489 or egreenblott@gmail.com.
'Death & Dying for Beginners' class offered by Hospice
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Area Hospice is once again offering its popular Death and Dying for Beginners, a four week course for those interested in exploring end of life issues through readings, discussions and introspective exercises. Classes will be held Wednesdays, Feb. 11 through March 4, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The class will provide opportunities to reflect on personal attitudes and feelings about death and dying, as well as learning how to offer assistance to a friend or neighbor during a time of loss.
Classes will be facilitated by Cheryl Richards, Brattleboro Area Hospice Education Coordinator. This course is free, but registration and a pre-course conversation are required. For questions or to register, call Brattleboro Area Hospice at 802-257-0775, ext. 108.
BF Woman's Club to meet
BELLOWS FALLS - Members of the Bellows Falls Woman's Club will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the United Church on School Street, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Speaker for the meeting will be a representative from the Windham County Sheriff's Department. Members are encouraged to wear red in honor of Valentine's Day and American Heart Month.
Area women wanting information on the club and its many programs and projects may contact Barbara Comtois at 802-344-0025.
Jamaica Memorial Library provides free tax services
JAMAICA - No computer? No problem. United Way of Windham County is partnering with Jamaica Memorial Library to provide a free federal and state income-tax preparation service to taxpayers with a household income at or below $60,000.
The IRS estimates the average cost is $210 to have a professional prepare a 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ tax return. Jamaica Memorial Library is hosting a MyFreeTaxes.com site where eligible taxpayers can self-file their taxes for free.
Library hours are Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For further information, call the librarian at 802-874-4901.
RFPL presents 'Freedom & Unity: The Vermont Movie'
BELLOWS FALLS - The Rockingham Free Public Library will present part one of “Freedom & Unity: The Vermont Movie,” on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m., followed by a discussion.
Part one, entitled “A Very New Idea,” looks at how, from 1777 to the present, Vermont has been a beacon, a haven, a refuge, an idea, a symbol, a state shaped by independent and courageous decision-makers, thinkers, political leaders, workers, artists, immigrants and innovators.
This program is free and open to the public and accessible to people with disabilities. This film lasts approximately 80 minutes, and the discussion, led by Elayne Clift, will last up to an hour. For more information call the Library at 802-463-4270, email anne@rockinghamlibrary.org, or go online to rockinghamlibrary.org.
Bingo night benefits Townshend sixth-graders
TOWNSHEND - The sixth-grade class at Townshend Elementary School hosts a bingo night at the school on Friday, Feb. 13. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
All games are for prizes chosen by the winner. One game is for money, and the bonus round is a 50/50 (cards for bonus round are sold separately). Admission - $10 for adults, $5 for kids - includes one bingo game card (10 games).
Food will be sold and there will be a silent auction with great items up for bid. Proceeds go for the sixth-graders' class trip.
SEVCA offers free tax return preparation
WESTMINSTER - The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help for taxpayers who have household income up to $53,000. IRS-certified volunteers receive training to prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country.
Communities in southeastern Vermont are served by Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA). Free tax preparation will be offered at locations in Westminster and Londonderry from February through early April.
The volunteers can help with special credits, such as the Earned Income Tax and the Affordable Care Act's Premium Tax Credits. They will also prepare Vermont income tax returns, property tax adjustments and renter's rebate claims.
In addition to free tax return assistance, VITA sites offer free electronic filing. Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper - even faster, when tax refunds are deposited directly into a bank account.
Free tax preparation is available by appointment only. Call 800-464-9951 to schedule an appointment at SEVCA.