Stroll presents Cabin Fever, a food and drink tasting event
BRATTLEBORO - On Friday, Feb. 19, from 5 to 8 p.m., Strolling of the Heifers presents Cabin Fever - a festive food and drink tasting event to kick off Harris Hill Ski Jump weekend.
Taking place at the River Garden in downtown Brattleboro, Cabin Fever will offer a warm atmosphere where people ample specialty foods, fine spirits, wines, and craft brews.
Live music will be provided by Kevin Schnell and The Grave Diggers Union, a band from Northampton, Mass., playing hard-driving bluegrass, old time country, ad classic rock.
The Stroll's art gallery, Gallery at the Garden, will be open, featuring an exhibit of oil and watercolor paintings by Crystal Bartlett and acrylics by Steven Meyer.
Admission is $20 and covers sampling all food and drink. Alcoholic beverage samples are restricted to persons 21 or older.
WWAC talk examines Paris climate agreement
BRATTLEBORO - On Friday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m., the Windham World Affairs Council presents Paul Morgan, Ph.D., who will speak on, ”The Paris Climate Agreement: Emissions Accomplished?”
This talk, which is free and open to the public, takes place at the Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St. Coffee, tea, and conversation will precede the talk at 7 p.m.
Morgan will reflect on the “Paris Agreement” reached at the most recent UN climate change conference (COP21). In particular, he will share what he learned while attending COP21 as an official observer, and address whether and to what extent the agreement helps put the world on a path that avoids climate catastrophe.
For more information, visit www.windhamworldaffairscouncil.org.
Brattleboro Winter Farmers' Market offers POP Club for kids
BRATTLEBORO - Starting Feb. 20 and running through March 26, the Brattleboro Winter Farmers Market welcomes kids from the ages of 5 to 12 to join the POP (Power Of Produce) Club.
Each week, POP Club members come to the market and check in at the POP club table, and then participate in a fun activity or two intended to foster an awareness of vegetables, fruits and other local food products: both where they come from and who grows or makes them.
Kids will get to meet farmers, taste different foods, select their own unique reusable market tote, and earn POP Club market bucks for their own shopping after completing the week's activity. No registration is needed.
The Winter Farmers' Market is located at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden, 157 Main St. For more information, contact Sherry at 802-869-2141 or at farmersmarket@postoilsolutions.org.
Animal tracking hike on Hogback planned
MARLBORO - On Saturday, Feb. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, George Leoniak will lead a ramble on the north side of the Hogback Mountain Conservation Area, looking for animal tracks and other signs of wildlife.
Leoniak is an expert and will teach many ways to identify who made the tracks, and how to read the story of what the animal or bird was doing. Limited to 15 people, so sign up in advance by emailing hogbackvt@gmail.com.
Children under 14 are welcome, and must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs. Attendees are advised to bring snowshoes if the snow is deep and to meet in the big parking lot on the north side of Route 9, just past the gift shop. The free program is sponsored by the Hogback Mountain Conservation Association.
Caregivers' support group begins Feb. 22
BRATTLEBORO - A prolonged physical illness or debilitating condition takes a toll on the person with the disease, but it also affects those who love and care for him or her. Too often, caregivers feel like they are all alone with their situations. That's why Grace Cottage is offering a free caregivers' support group.
Planned as a six-week series, the group will begin meeting on Monday, Feb. 22, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
The group's leader will be Caroline Chase, MS, Grace Cottage's Behavioral Health Specialist, and a member of the Grace Cottage Community Health Team.
This “Emotional Renewal for Caregivers” group is intended for family members caring for a loved one. The focus will be on “looking after yourself while helping a loved one.”
Group discussions will provide emotional support and will help caregivers understand and recognize the various stressors impacting them while caring for a loved one. Topics to be covered include the need for self-care, ways to boost self-love, and techniques for healing stressful feelings.
The group will meet in the Grace Cottage Community Wellness Center's Holt Conference room, 133 Grafton Road (Route 35). To register for this free workshop, call Caroline Chase at 802-365-3715 ext. 6.
CCV offering free course to high school students
BELLOWS FALLS - The Community College of Vermont is offering a free course to area high school-aged students beginning next month. The course, Introduction to College Studies, will be held on Mondays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and will run from Feb. 22 to May 16. It will meet in the conference room at the Waypoint Center, 17 Depot St.
Introduction to College Studies is a non-credit course that provides an orientation to the college experience and career exploration for high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. This course helps students make the transition to college and career by providing a thorough overview of the skills and expectations necessary to succeed in academic and professional settings.
Students can enroll at ccv.edu/apply. For more information about the course and how to sign up, contact Debra Grant at 802-885-8372 or Debra.Grant@ccv.edu.
After School StoryShare at Putney Library
PUTNEY - Do you have a story to tell that involves magic? Kids and adults are invited to tell their kid-appropriate, 5-minute story to an appreciative after-school audience on Wednesday February 24th at 4 p.m. at the Putney Public Library.
Kids are welcome to read from written stories, and adults are asked to prepare their story to tell from memory. Call or email the Library to sign up: 387-4407 or putpub@svcable.net. Or just come and listen!
Putney Public Library is located at 55 Main Street in Putney. This program is free and open to the public.
Tai Chi/Qigong at Grace Cottage
TOWNSHEND - The Grace Cottage Community Wellness Center will continue to host a Tai Chi/Qigong class on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. A new six-week series begins Feb. 25. The fee is $5 per class or $25 for all six classes.
Tai Chi and Qigong began as martial arts, but they have evolved into graceful forms of exercise that help to improve balance, reduce stress, and promote serenity. Practitioners exercise, learn to be present in the moment, and calm any pent-up stress. This class is appropriate for all experience and fitness levels.
The instructor, Jason Sperling, is an area educator who has studied Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation practices for years. Class size is limited; register by calling the Grace Cottage Wellness Line at 802-365-3649.
Senior Awareness Day celebration pays tribute to Joe Reagan
DOVER - The Gathering Place, Windham County's only Adult Day program located in Brattleboro, will be celebrating Senior Awareness Day with a special tribute to the life and work of Joe Reagan at Betsey's Dot's of Dover, 2 Mountain Park Plaza, Dover, on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Members of the community are invited to come by for a visit, to meet with friends, volunteers, caregivers, and staff members old and new, as well as the Gathering Place's executive director and members of the board of directors. The lunch and a birthday celebration with birthday cake will be in remembrance of Regan. Donations are encouraged and proceeds will benefit The Gathering Place. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
The Gathering Place provides specialized adult day services to promote empowerment, independence, and quality of life for elders, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers. It is now offering home care services in an ever-expanding offering of community and home-based services to Windham County and the greater Deerfield Valley area.
Fiesta dinner, dance party at Compass School
WESTMINSTER - On Saturday, Feb. 27, from 6 p.m. onward, Compass School will host its annual Fiesta dinner, dance, and silent auction.
An all-inclusive multi-course Caribbean-inspired meal will be served, followed by the Eugene Uman Latin Jazz ensemble performing dance music. Uman is a renowned pianist and composer who is director of the Vermont Jazz Center.
There will be a silent auction with items from local businesses, gift certificates, art work, ski equipment, services, and more. All proceeds will support the junior class Global Connection expedition to Peru in May.
Tickets are $18 adults, $12 students, or $48 for a family. Tickets will be available at the door, or can be purchased ahead of time from Compass School (802-463-2525), or can be reserved by emailing ryan.hockertlotz@compass-school.org.