Brooks Memorial Library has trustee vacancy
BRATTLEBORO - The Brooks Memorial Library Board of Trustees is seeking “an enthusiastic and dedicated Brattleboro resident and library user” to fill an open position on the board, according to a news release.
Reiki class coming up
BRATTLEBORO - A Reiki I certification class will be presented on Saturday, Jan. 9, from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Brattleboro Holistic Health Center, 62 Elliot St. The day will include teaching and practice time, the Reiki I “attunement,” and time for questions and discussion.
Lauren Potter, assistant professor of energy techniques in the Massage Specialties Program at River Valley Community College in Claremont, N.H., will be the presenter.
Participants will take home a 150-page William Rand Reiki I and II Manual, plus one other book of their choosing, a folder of handouts, and a Reiki I certificate. Healthy snacks will be provided.
For cost information, and to register, contact Potter at 802-591-0507 or laurenpottervt@gmail.com.
Osher Midwinter lectures on American politics continue
DUMMERSTON - The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) announces the second in its midwinter series of three lectures on the future of American politics, to be held on Monday, Jan. 11.
The lecturer will be Michael Krasner, of the political science faculty at Queen's College, State University of New York. Professor Krasner will consider the state of our political life in what promises to be a momentous election year. Monday's lecture will ask how close to oligarchy our democracy has come. January 25 will be the designated snow date.
All lectures are held at the Vermont Learning Collaborative, 471 Vermont Route 5, Dummerston. The fee for the lectures is $6 per lecture. Light refreshments will be served. For further information, call the Learning Collaborative at 802-257-8600 or 866-889-0042.
Free tobacco cessation support group at Grace Cottage
TOWNSHEND-Ready to give up tobacco? Get the tools and encouragement you need with the Vermont Quit Partners program at Grace Cottage Hospital. Free nicotine replacement products are available to any Vermont resident enrolled in this program.
This free support group will be held on four consecutive Mondays, Jan. 11 to Feb. 1, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., at the Grace Cottage Community Wellness Center, 133 Grafton Rd. (Route 35). Terri Kneipp, the Tobacco Program Coordinator at BMH, will lead the group. To register, call Kneipp at 802-251-8456.
Lead paint safety courses offered
BRATTLEBORO - Lead Safe Homes, in collaboration with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, is offering both state and federal lead paint safety courses for landlords, contractors, childcare providers, and others interested in using lead-safe renovation techniques.
The Vermont Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) courses will be offered free of charge from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Vermont law requires that all landlords, property managers, contractors and daycare facility owners follow EMPs to maintain painted surfaces in properties built before 1978.
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Refresher course will be offered on Thursday, Jan. 14, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the Brattleboro VFW. This certification is required for all contractors or landlords disturbing more than six square feet of paint in properties built before 1978. The cost for federal re-certification is $125 per person.
During both courses, participants will learn about the requirements of state and federal regulations governing lead, the health effects of lead in children and adults, lead-safe work practices, and how to protect themselves from liability. The federal certification requires a refresher every five years. The state certification never expires.
Registration is strongly suggested at all locations due to limited space, and is required for the federal RRP classes. Contact Michelle Pong at 802-463-9927, ext. 208, or email Michelle@parksplacevt.org. Lead Safe & Healthy Homes is a nonprofit program of Parks Place Community Center.
BF Woman's Club to meet
BELLOWS FALLS - Members of the Bellows Falls Woman's Club will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the United Church on School Street, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The program presenter will be Lisa Bloch, assistant director of development at Kurn Hattin.
The club was involved in several projects during December. Members provided cookies for the Rotary Club-sponsored movie and community Christmas party on Dec. 5. Several members attended the Dec. 10 luncheon and concert at Kurn Hattin. Members helped wrap gifts that the children of Central Elementary School chose for their family members at the school's Dec. 16 “Shopping Mall.”
The club also placed holiday decorations in the waiting room at the health center and made monetary donations to the Angel Project at the Bellows Falls Police Department and to the Rockingham Christmas Fund. At the Dec. 8 club's meeting, members decorated small candy jars and boxes that were subsequently given to area agencies as table favors for the residents.
The Bellows Falls Woman's Club is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, an international women's organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. For information, contact Barbara Comtois, membership chair, at 802-344-0025.
BizUp West B! offers networking opportunities
WEST BRATTLEBORO - On Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m., the Community Development Action Team of the West Brattleboro Association will host the first-ever BizUp West B! This will take place in the center conference room at 55 Marlboro Road.
Connect, Collaborate and Innovate! BizUp events intend to connect local business owners and organizational leaders with one another, providing the possibility of sharing resources, supporting collaboration, and sparking innovation.
Attendees will be encouraged to design a small poster board representing their business or organization. The walls will be lined with these poster boards, so all can see the range of business resources in the community. Facilitated games will help participants to learn about one another and encourage connections.
Any businesses from West Brattleboro or nearby are more than welcome to attend and will be provided a poster board with registration. Register by Friday, Jan. 8 by emailing westbrattassoc@gmail.com. If you have any questions, contact Erin at 808-469-1303.
In case of dangerous wintry conditions, the snow date will be Tuesday, Jan. 19.
Workshop offers help in preventing teen drug abuse
PUTNEY - One in 20 Windham County high-school students reported they had misused a prescription pain reliever or stimulant in the past 30 days.
Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition, in partnership with Putney Family Services and Putney Central School, is offering a presentation to build awareness, to educate, and to equip teens and adults with credible information about teen prescription drug misuse and abuse, as well as effective strategies to take action to help prevent it.
The presentation will be held at Putney Central School on Wednesday, Jan. 13, from 6-7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be offered. Teens and adults will listen to separate presentations.
Low-vision support group moves meeting site
BRATTLEBORO - The monthly low vision support group, Peer Assisted Learning Support (PALS), sponsored by the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (VABVI), will now be meeting in the Community Room on the fourth floor of Holton Hall at the former Austine School.
VABVI recently moved from 38 Park Place, where it has operated for more than 25 years, to the second floor of Holton Hall.
The group, which is open to anyone with a visual impairment, meets the third Tuesday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon. The next meeting will be on Jan. 19. The Holton Hall building is fully accessible with an elevator to the fourth floor.
PALS members meet to discuss the practical, social, and emotional challenges of vision loss and to share coping strategies to retain their independence. For more information about VABVI, PALS, or the volunteer transportation program call 802-254-8761.