Route 30 closure planned in early July
BRATTLEBORO - Route 30 will be closed next week so that the project team can erect “traveler form” equipment that will be used to construct the new Interstate 91 bridge over the West River in Brattleboro.
Traveler forms are forms used to construct segmental cast-in-place concrete bridges.
A short section of Route 30 (where it crosses beneath I-91 in Brattleboro) will be closed for, at most, eight hours from 3 to 11 a.m., and for one day only, sometime between Wednesday, July 8, and Saturday, July 11. Because this work is weather-dependent, the closure date will be determined based on weather forecasts. The team will give stakeholders at least 48 hours advance notice of the closure date.
Also, the southbound lane of I-91 between Exits 3 and 2 and the Exit 3 on-ramps will be closed to all vehicles on Sunday, July 12, from 5 to 9 a.m., to make it possible to conduct a routine bridge inspection.
This time period was selected because it is the period of lowest traffic volume during the daylight hours needed to conduct the inspection.
Southbound traffic will be routed to Exit 1, and northbound traffic attempting to use the Exit 3 on-ramp will be routed north on Route 5 to Exit 4 in Putney. Officers will be on hand to control traffic. I-91 northbound will remain open.
For the latest on the bridge project, visit www.i91brattleborobridge.com.
Newfane Garden Club to meet
NEWFANE - This year's Newfane Garden Club tour will take place on Thursday, July 2. Participants should plan to meet at 10 a.m. at the Newfane Church to carpool. The tour starts with two non-member gardens and ends up at a longtime member's garden for lunch.
The first garden includes a pond, a woodland stream, planted terracing near the house, and stonework by Dan Snow.
The second homeowner has a garden in the backyard that's hidden from view from the road. Their garden is maintained by Barbara Barber, a local landscape and garden specialist.
The last venue is a garden full of perennials and annuals, including many old-fashioned favorites. Participants are encouraged to bring a bag lunch and a lawn chair. Hostesses Joyce Orgera and Dee Dee Garofalo will provide beverages and dessert.
Summer services at Christ Church begin July 5
GUILFORD - St. Michael's Episcopal Church will hold services at Christ Church, the first Episcopal church in Vermont, on the first Sundays of July, August, and September.
The initial service of this summer at Christ Church will be Holy Eucharist at 8 am this coming Sunday, July 5. All are welcome at these services at St. Michael's “mother church,” just off Route 5 in Guilford. For more information, call the church office at 802-254-6048.
Magic and comedy presented at RFPL
BELLOWS FALLS - On Monday, July 6, at 5 p.m., the Rockingham Free Public Library welcomes Tom Joyce, who will be performing “You are a Hero: A Magical Comedy Show!” This is a free program for all ages.
Joyce has had over 35 years of experience as a magical comedy entertainer, since performing his first show at the age of 8. Tom is the former magician at the world famous F.A.O. Schwartz toy store in New York City. His show combines magic, comedy, laughter, and fun for children and adults.
This program is presented as part of the RFPL's Youth Department's Summer Reading Program and is free and open to the public. For more information visit the library at 65 Westminster St., call 802-463-4270, email sam@rockinghamlibrary.org, or go online to rockinghamlibrary.org.
Vermont Botanical artwork by Maggie Lake donated to Westminster Cares
WESTMINSTER - An original Vermont Botanical by the late Putney artist Maggie Lake is being sold at silent auction to benefit Westminster Cares.
The “jack-in-the-pulpit” piece was donated by Lake's friends and family, and is the last of her original artwork that will be offered to the public.
Lake, who died on Jan. 16, 2015, gathered plant specimens from Vermont's forests and gardens, as well as from far-flung places such as the Alaskan tundra, to create her unique botanicals.
The auction of Lake's artwork will run through the Westminster Cares Garden Tour, July 11 and 12. The piece will go to the highest bid received by the end of the garden tour, 3 p.m., Sunday, July 12. Emailed bids will be accepted through July 9. The current bid is $250. See photos of the print at www.westminstercares.org.
Free tobacco cessation class at Grace Cottage
TOWNSHEND – Those ready to give up tobacco may attend Grace Cottage Hospital's FreshStart Tobacco Cessation Class. 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, July 7-28, from noon to 1 p.m., in the Grace Cottage Hospital Community Wellness Center, 133 Grafton Rd. (Route 35).
To register, contact Mel Lively, RN, Clinical Care Coordinator, at 802-365-3715, ext. 166, or mlively@gracecottage.org.
Garden club hosts annual tour
BRATTLEBORO - The annual garden tour of the Brattleboro Garden Club will take place on Monday, July 13, at 5:30 pm. The tour includes several gardens of club members in Brattleboro and refreshments afterwards.
Those interested in joining the tour should meet at 5:15 pm at Green Mountain Chapel on Western Avenue, near the Creamery Bridge. For more information, contact Ann Newsmith, 802-257-4710 or ann.newsmith@gmail.com.
United Way launches Get Connected Windham County
BRATTLEBORO - The United Way of Windham County is launching Get Connected Windham County, a new and improved online volunteer referral system that connects the community with volunteer opportunities.
Residents can browse volunteer opportunities, in-kind needs, upcoming events, and organizations to find out where they can make the greatest impact at www.unitedwaywindham.org. The website is designed to serve Windham County nonprofits and volunteers wishing to bring HOPE (Health, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Education) to Windham County.
Registration for volunteers is quick and easy. Volunteers can browse available opportunities and receive customized information based on their interests and/or skills. Simply visit www.unitedwaywindham.org and click on “Volunteer.”
United Way of Windham County will be supporting organizations wishing to post volunteer opportunities on the site with a series of “Lunch & Learn” sessions - the next session is on Wednesday, July 29, at 11:30 a.m., at the UWWC office.
For more information or to RSVP for the Lunch & Learn session on July 29, please contact Victoria Chertok, Volunteer Engagement Manager, at volunteer@unitedwaywindham.org or by phone at 802-257-4011, ext. 111.
Sheriff's Dept. hosts Camp Leadership Challenge
WESTMINSTER - The Windham County Sheriff's Department will host the Camp Leadership Challenge. The program is a residential camp that incorporates paramilitary-styled training to “cadets,” with a goal of establishing, developing and honing leadership abilities and positive lifestyle choices.
The camp is an opportunity for teens to learn from area law enforcement and the Army National Guard. Guest speakers and demonstrators will highlight the values most called upon at critical life moments, with the aim that camp attendees will leave at the end of the week with a heightened sense of their own abilities and strengths.
Students interested in law enforcement and/or the military are strongly encouraged to attend.
Camp Leadership Challenge 2015 is an overnight camp running from July 19-25 at the Army National Guard Armory in Westminster. Cost to attend is $75 per cadet, which includes all meals and a souvenir t-shirt.
For more information on how to register, contact Sgt. Jessica Fellows at 802-365-4942 or visit www.facebook.com/CampLeadershipChallenge.
Get On Board Fellows ready for service
BRATTLEBORO - This spring, 12 board fellows completed the Get On Board program offered by the Center for New Leadership at Marlboro College. The program gives Windham County residents, age 22 to 44, the opportunity to build leadership skills and networks while preparing for service on a local nonprofit board.
The list of graduates includes Trista Kerber, Lindsay Cox, Alex Beck, Candace Pearson, Karen Ross, Kara Hamilton, Sean Auth, Kathryn Collins, Avery Schwenk, Amanda Whiting, Gail Makuch, and Julien Geiser.
By popular demand, Marlboro also offered its first Board Leadership Institute (BLI) this spring to introduce board members and fellows to the most important knowledge and skills for successful board service.
Get On Board fellows, along with representatives from eight local boards, took part in BLI. Together they participated in workshops on a range of topics from Board Roles and Responsibilities and Board Development to Fundraising and Fiscal Responsibility & Fraud Protection.
Graduating organizations include, AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, Westgate Housing Incorporated, Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, United Way of Windham County, Friends of Brooks Memorial Library, Turning Point of Windham County, Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, and the Brattleboro Historical Society.