History Fair set for this weekend
NEWFANE - Residents are invited to step back in time at the fifth biennial Windham County History Fair on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Held on the historic Newfane Common, the fair is a festival of vintage exhibits by the county's Historical Societies and the Vermont Historical Society, along with demonstrations and historic tours featuring Windham County's rich heritage.
Residents can bring attic treasures for a professional antique appraisal and old books for a professional restoration evaluation. The fair also includes muskets, flint knapping, carding, spinning, woodworking, pottery making, bee keeping, old maps, old postcards, antique cars, tractors, fire engines, simulated train engine, crafters, raffles, food, and a bargain table.
Tours of the County Courthouse, the former County Jail, the old Newfane Railroad Station, the old Newfane Cemetery, and the Historic Village will be given. Admission is free. For an updated schedule of events, visit www.historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty.org.
Cornet Band to play outdoor concert
GRAFTON - On Aug. 23, at 4 p.m., the Grafton Cornet Band will present a concert on the Library lawn on Main Street (Route 121).
In case of rain, the concert will be in the White Church. This will be an informal, hour-long mix of familiar and upbeat music for the all ages. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Attendees are asked to bring chairs or a blanket. More information can be found at www.graftonband.org.
Sanders supporters set meeting for N.H. campaign work
BRATTLEBORO - At the July 29 meetings of supporters of Bernie Sanders's campaign for president, some participants spoke of the strategic importance of the New Hampshire primary. To take the organizing to the next step, a meeting will be held on Thursday, Aug 27, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at 118 Elliot St. (across from the Brattleboro Fire Department).
One or more of Sanders's staff from Cheshire County will be present to share their plans and how Vermonters might best lend support. There will be sign-up sheets to indicate one's interest in various activities - such as canvassing, leafleting, phone banking, etc. - and any skills one might wish to contribute. Next organizing steps will be planned.
In addition, other topics may surface such as the desire for training, or interest in supporting the campaign in other states. All are invited, whether or not they attended one of the July 29 meetings and whether they are from Brattleboro or other Windham County towns.
For more information contact Nancy Braus, Tim Kipp, Leslie Sullivan Sachs (802-763-8459), or Charlie Curry-Smithson (802-380-2561), or go to www.facebook.com/WindhamCountyForBernie.
Brattleboro Area Hospice to host volunteer training in Bellows Falls
BELLOWS FALLS - Beginning on Monday, Sept. 14, Brattleboro Area Hospice will offer hospice care volunteer training in Bellows Falls. This 33-hour volunteer training will run on Mondays from Sept. 14 to Nov. 2, from 3 to 6 p.m., including two Saturdays, Sept. 19 and Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. First spots in the training will be held for Greater Falls area residents.
Throughout Windham County, hospice volunteers aid neighbors and their families who are living with life-threatening illnesses. Help may range from running errands to gardening to emotional and physical support. Hospice care volunteers report the work as challenging yet very rewarding.
Training topics include hospice philosophy, nuts and bolts of volunteering, ethical issues, reflection on personal attitudes toward death and dying, and grief issues, among others. Presenters include professionals from the community as well as hospice staff and volunteers.
Brattleboro Area Hospice serves all of Windham County and receives referrals from the Greater Falls area. In order to better serve people in the northern part of the county, volunteers from the region are needed. Neighbors helping neighbors is the way hospice care works.
Brattleboro Area Hospice is an independent, community-based, nonprofit volunteer organization that provides grassroots, volunteer-staffed programs to supplement and provide alternatives to the professional services utilized by dying and grieving community members. The home office is located at 191 Canal Street in Brattleboro. However, as the organization expands into the Greater Falls region, office space will be secured locally. Visit www.brattleborohospice.org to learn more about the organization.
Space is limited to 10 people. Contact Brattleboro Area Hospice for an application form or for additional information. Applications must be received by Sept. 4. Visit http://brattleborohospice.org/calendar/events-workshops-trainings.
Pratt Library plans book sale
DUMMERSTON - The Lydia Taft Pratt Library is preparing for its upcoming book sale. The tibrary is accepting donations of good used books (no textbooks please), DVDs. CDs and records during the library's regular hours: Tuesdays 2:30 to 7 p.m., and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The library is located at 150 West St., West Dummerston. Donations of five boxes or more can be picked up by calling the library at 802-258-9878. The sale will be held at the library in the Dummerston Communty Center, on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hospital to present Community Health Needs Assessment
TOWNSHEND- Grace Cottage Hospital invites the community to a presentation of its 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment.
This past spring, Grace Cottage Hospital worked collaboratively with Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, the Brattleboro Retreat and the Vermont Department of Health to gather information through community focus groups and surveys.
Additionally, the Vermont Department of Health provided population health indicators.
Based on the data gathered, Grace Cottage has prepared its 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment Report, which analyzes the survey results and population health indicators for the Grace Cottage service area.
Grace Cottage invites interested community members and organizations to attend a presentation of the Grace Cottage Community Health Needs Assessment Report at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, in the Grace Cottage Hospital cafeteria.
Space is limited; RSVP to info@gracecottage.org by Aug. 24.
The 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment can be found at gracecottage.org/about-grace-cottage/community-health-needs-assessments. To receive a hard copy of the 2015 CHNA, call 802-365-9109.