Pre-Kindergarten now available at WSESU schools
BRATTLEBORO - The Windham Southeast Supervisory Union announces that school districts in the towns of Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney, and Vernon will be offering limited (10 hours per week) publicly-funded pre-kindergarten services in partnering preschools for 3- and 4-year old children, and 5-year olds not in kindergarten, who reside in those towns.
Applications for this opportunity are available at area preschools, on the WSESU website, www.wssu.k12.vt.us, or by calling Janice Stockman at 802-254-3755.
Presentation looks at days gone by through the lens of Porter Thayer
WILLIAMSVILLE - Newfane resident, orchardist, and photographer Porter Thayer captured local life in Windham County more than 100 years ago, and his collection has been well-preserved.
The Historical Society of Windham County and Williamsville Hall will present a film and lecture on Thayer's work on Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m., at Williamsville Hall.
In the late 1970s, Dummerston filmmakers Allan and Sally Seymour produced a film featuring Thayer's work, enhanced with comments by six people who recall their rural lives during the early 20th century in this region. They discuss farming, education, transportation, leisure activities, festivities, and question the benefits of change.
Attendees will be invited to share recollections of landmarks and activities depicted in Thayer's images. There will also be a discussion of the changes in photographic methods. For more information, call 802-348-7891.
Brattleboro announces leaf pickup schedule
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro's curbside Spring Leaf Collection will take place on Friday, April 24, and Friday, May 8.
All leaves and clippings must be in brown paper leaf bags and at the curb by 7 a.m. on scheduled leaf collection days. Acceptable waste includes leaves, grass, clippings, garden waste, twigs, and branches no larger than 1 inch in diameter and 2 feet long. No other household trash is to be included.
No plastic bags or other containers will be accepted, as the materials collected will be used for compost. Brown paper leaf bags are available for purchase at local businesses.
These will be the only days scheduled for curbside leaf pick up. There will be no Saturday pickup.
Transition Dummerston gets ready for spring
DUMMERSTON - This month's Transition Dummerston potluck program will be “Transition to Spring,” on Friday, April 24, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Dummerston Congregational Church in Dummerston Center.
As our local glaciers melt, folks will share gardening insights and other spring resilience project ideas.
Come join this open conversation on what everyone is doing and dreaming for this year's vegetable gardens (bring extra seeds and starts to share) and our other warm weather resilience projects. The potluck will go from 6 to 7 p.m. (local food encouraged). The conversation will begin around 7. For more information, contact Susal at 802-275-5098 or Ken at 802-387-5288.
RFPL offers free early literacy event
BELLOWS FALLS - The Rockingham Free Public Library, the WNESU Early Education Center, and “Let's Grow Kids” will be presenting “Little Lit: More Than Feelings,” a free, fun evening with books, activities about early literacy and raising healthy children on Saturday, April 25, at 6 p.m., at the WNESU building located at Cherry Hill.
Families with children aged birth through five are welcome to take part in this free program. Each family will receive free books and lots of activities to help their children develop healthy social-emotional and early literacy skills so that they will be ready to succeed in school. Free dinner and childcare will also be available during the program; families that need childcare should call in advance.
“The earliest years offer the greatest opportunity for children to develop strong thinking and social-emotional skills that will help them succeed in school, relationships, and the workforce,” says Youth Services Librarian Sam Maskell. “Books, shared by parents and caregivers, can be powerful tools to help young children develop those skills.”
“Let's Grow Kids” will be a special guest at this Little Lit program to speak about early literacy and healthy child development. “Let's Grow Kids” is a statewide public education campaign to raise understanding of the importance of the earliest years in the lives of Vermont's children.
The program is sponsored by the WNESU Early Education Center, the Rockingham Free Public Library, and the Vermont Early Literacy Initiative. For more information and to arrange childcare, please call the Library at 802-463-4270, email sam@rockinghamlibrary.org, or go online to rockinghamlibrary.org/littlelit.html.
BMH hosts free talk on Osteoarthritis
BRATTLEBORO - As part of the Wellness in Windham Spring 2015 calendar, BMH certified orthopaedic physician assistants Maureen Mahoney, PA-C, ATC and Wayne Temmen, PA-C, will present a program on Monday, April 27, at 6 p.m., in the Brew Barry Conference Center. Their topic of discussion will be living with osteoarthritis.
“Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It is a chronic condition in which the material that cushions the joints, called cartilage, breaks down,” says Mahoney. “This causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of joint movement. About 27 million people in America have osteoarthritis.”
With the right support, you can lead a healthy, active life with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis doesn't necessarily get worse and doesn't always lead to disability. Mahoney and Temmen will discuss recognition of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis as well as treatment options.
There is no cost for this program, but registration is requested. To register for this program, call 802-257-8877 or register online at www.bmhvt.org/events.
Marlboro Grad School offers free “WordPress for Beginners” workshop
BRATTLEBORO - “WordPress for Beginners” will be held at the Marlboro College Graduate & Professional Studies Center, 28 Vernon St., on Tuesday, April 28, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The workshop is free, but register by visiting www.marlboro.edu/hotmix.
This workshop, led by Marjorie Ray, is designed for beginners who want to build their first WordPress website or, for those with existing websites, to answer basic questions about site features and capabilities. Participants will gain a basic understanding of how to plan and develop a simple WordPress website.
SeVEDS Young Professional Program launches new spring programming
BRATTLEBORO - Southern Vermont Young Professionals is launching a variety of new spring programming, starting Tuesday, April 28, at Hermit Thrush Brewery in Brattleboro from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The event is the first of a series designed to promote professional development, community engagement, and economic prosperity throughout southern Vermont. New programming will include an entrepreneurial speakers series, professional development resource curation, community engagement opportunities, and most importantly, fun.
The event at Hermit Thrush Brewery will provide a generous sampling of each. The kick-off event will feature a presentation by Hermit Thrush Founders and Young Professional members Christophe Gagne and Avery Schwenk about being the newest and youngest brewery in Brattleboro. The presentation will be followed by tastings, tours, refreshments, and discussion.
Marlboro Cares presents Galapagos Islands lecture
MARLBORO - Marlboro Cares will present a lecture by Bob Engel about the Galapagos Islands, including recent, ground-breaking research, on Wednesday, April 29, at 7 p.m., at the Meeting House in Marlboro Center.
The talk will include slides that show the islands' dramatic landscapes as well as the spectacular marine and terrestrial life that calls the islands home. Engel is a retired Marlboro College biology professor who has traveled to the islands. For more information, or to arrange a ride to the lecture, call 802-258-3030.
Master Gardeners offer help with rain gardens
BRATTLEBORO - On Wednesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m., the Windham County Chapter of UVM Extension Master Gardeners will host the program “Rain Gardens: Beauty with Benefits” presented by Marie Caduto, Agency of Natural Resources watershed coordinator for southeastern Vermont.
Rain gardens are a simple yet highly effective concept: a basin-shaped garden designed to catch and retain rainwater run-off from impervious areas such as roofs, roads, driveways, parking lots, even compacted lawns.
Using a variety of wetland edge plantings such as wildflowers, ferns, rushes, shrubs, etc., these “holding areas” allow the water to be absorbed into the garden and then travel through the earth's natural filtration system before re-entering streams and rivers. This natural process provides moisture redistribution, returns water vapor to the atmosphere, and helps to prevent erosion, pollution, and flooding.
The presentation will be held in Room 2E of the Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St., and is free and open to the public. The UVM Extension Master Gardener program cultivates gardening communities through volunteer education and demonstration. Volunteers work throughout the state to promote successful, safe, and environmentally prudent home gardening practices.
Parenting education classes being offered on April 29
BRATTLRBORO - Are you a parent or caregiver of an older youth or teen? You are invited to upcoming free parenting classes - Guiding Good Choices (grades 4-8) and Parenting Teens Wisely (10- to 19-years-old) for parents and caregivers.
Guiding Good Choices is an interactive five-session course (sessions are two hours) for parents and caregivers that provides tools and strategies to meet the challenges of guiding your child through adolescence. This includes setting set clear guidelines, controlling and expressing anger constructively, and preparing kids with “refusal” skills.
The next Guiding Good Choices will start on Wednesday, April 29, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Ledgewood Heights Community Room in Brattleboro (off Fairview Road). Dinner is included and childcare is offered upon request.
Parenting Teens Wisely is a three-hour workshop that provides parents and caregivers of children who are 10 to 19 years old. Learn how to set boundaries and expectations; discover new ways to handle conflict; improve and strengthen family communication; teach your kids how to make healthy choices.
The next Parenting Teens Wisely will start on Wednesday, April 29, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Putney Central School, 182 Westminster Rd. Dinner is included and childcare is offered upon request.
For more information or to register for either class, visit WindhamParentingEd.org or contact Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition at 802-257-2175 or bapc802@gmail.com.
Meeting offers help in financing small businesses
BRATTLEBORO - Lenders and representatives from several financing organizations will be offering their expertise at a Business Financing Roundtable meeting on Thursday, April 30, 9 to 10:30 a.m., at the Marlboro College Graduate School, Room 2-E.
The U.S. Small Business Administration, USDA Rural Development, Opportunities Credit Union, Community Capital of Vermont, Vermont Community Loan Fund, Vermont Economic Development Authority, and Merchants Bank will participate in a panel discussion about the range of financing options available to small businesses. If businesses are interested, they can meet with a representative one-on-one after the meeting.
The meeting is sponsored by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation with assistance from Vermont SBA. This is a free event, open to the public, but registration is requested. To register, email bkilburn@brattleborodevelopment.com or call 802-257-7731.
NAMI Vermont hosts free mental illness and recovery workshop
BELLOWS FALLS - The Mental Illness and Recovery workshop is for family members, peers, professionals, and community members who want to learn more about mental illness and recovery. This daylong workshop will be hosted by Chroma Technology Corporation on Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The workshop will provide basic information about major mental illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder.
It will also provide an overview of effective treatments for mental illness, accessing services throughout the state, evidence based practices available in Vermont, coping strategies and crisis prevention, recovery and next steps for making progress.
Space is limited, and advance registration is required.For more information or to register, call 800-639-6480, email program@namivt.org, or visit www.namivt.org.
Saxtons River Rec to hold fishing derby
SAXTONS RIVER - The fish will be biting at the Saxtons River Rec Area on Saturday, May 2, when the annual fishing derby gets under way at 8:30 a.m., an earlier hour to avoid a conflict with another event.
Free registration for children 4 to 14 begins at 8 a.m. The pond is located 1.3 miles north of the rec area on Pleasant Valley Road. Prizes for the event have been donated by J & H Sporting Goods, and trophies are being donated by Matt Perry Land Management.
Participation in the derby is free, but the rec area will be conducting a 50/50 raffle and a bake sale to benefit its activities. Volunteers to help with the derby or provide baked goods are needed.
Further information is available by contacting Samantha Perry Fletcher at 802-869-1407 or e-mailing srrecreationarea@live.com.
Putney Public Library seeks donations for book sale
PUTNEY - While it might still be a little early to weed your garden, it's a perfect time to weed your books and support the library with a donation to the Putney Public Library Book and Plant Sale.
The library seeks book donations to support its annual Book and Plant Sale, which will take place on Saturday, May 23. Books of all kinds are welcome, with the exception of encyclopedia sets, magazines, textbooks, Reader's Digest condensed books, and anything that is musty, moldy, or in poor condition. DVDs and audiobooks are also welcome donations for the book sale.
Bring donations during library hours only: Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit the library at 55 Main St., call 802-387-4407, or email Emily Zervas at putpub@svcable.net.
Free tobacco cessation class at Grace Cottage
TOWNSHEND – Ready to give up tobacco? Grace Cottage Hospital's FreshStart Tobacco Cessation Class can help. Free nicotine replacement products are available for any Vermont resident enrolled in this program.
This free “Brown Bag Lunch and Learn” class will be held on four Tuesdays, May 5-26, from noon to 1:00 p.m., in the Grace Cottage Hospital Community Wellness Center, 133 Grafton Rd. (Route 35).
To register, contact Mel Lively at 802-365-3715 or mlively@gracecottage.org.
Marlboro Alliance offers scholarships for 2015
MARLBORO - The Marlboro Alliance is offering scholarships to students whose main residence is the town of Marlboro. These scholarships are made possible by the community's generous donations to the Marlboro Alliance Scholarship Fund.
Scholarship funds will be available for students grades K through 8 attending summer 2015 educational programs. Summer Activity Scholarships are also available for high school students grades 9-12 attending summer 2015 educational programs.
Scholarships for Marlboro's graduating high school seniors, or college students pursuing continuing undergraduate education in the 2015-16 academic year, are also available. Students who have already received a Marlboro Alliance Scholarships may re-apply.
Full guidelines for all scholarship applications are available online the Marlboro Alliance Website at marlboroalliance.com, and printed guidelines are also available at the parents' bulletin board at the Marlboro School and at the Marlboro Town Clerk's Office.