Applications now accepted for pre-K education
BRATTLEBORO - Children ages 3 to 5 living in the Windham Southeast Supervisory District towns of Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney, and Vernon qualify for 10 hours per week of publicly funded prekindergarten education at 18 community-based preschools.
Pre-K education is designed to provide young children with play-based early learning experiences aligned with Vermont Early Learning Standards to gain social and academic skills that prepare them for school.
Applications for the 2016-17 school year are available at area preschools, on the WSESU website: www.wssu.k12.vt.us, or by calling Janice Stockman at 802-254-3755.
Green Street retaining wall repairs start next week
BRATTLEBORO - Renaud Brothers of Vernon has been awarded the contract to rebuild the Green Street retaining wall.
Construction on the Green Street wall will begin during the week of March 21. The Department of Public Works anticipates that the project will be complete within 60 days. The DPW will release periodic updates for this project.
Emergency services, delivery vehicles, pedestrians, and local traffic will not be permitted through the closure during the construction season and drivers must seek an alternate route.
Questions can be directed to Public Works Director Steve Barrett at 802-254-4255.
Woodlands Association hosts maple tour
WEST BRATTLEBORO - On Saturday, March 19, at 11 a.m. Windham Regional Woodlands Association presents a tour of the Robb Family Farm Sugarhouse on Ames Hill Road.
From the Robbs: “Early each spring, just as the blush of new life begins to show in the Vermont countryside, sugaring time starts at the Robb Farm. Charlie Jr. collects the sap and then the sap is slowly boiled down the traditional way, with a wood-fired arch. Our family has been maple sugaring for generations, practicing sound woodland stewardship and taking great pride in the hard work required to bring you the very finest pure maple syrup.”
Robb Farm maple syrup and maple products will be available for purchase at the tour. This event is family-friendly, free and open to the public. For more information contact Sam Schneski at 802-885-8823 or Sam.Schneski@vermont.gov.
Rabies shot clinic in Newfane
NEWFANE - The NewBrook Fire Department will sponsor a pet vaccination clinic at the firehouse on Route 30 on Saturday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dr. Miles A. Powers of East Dover will be vaccinating both dogs and cats. This clinic is open to anyone. Fees will be $10 for rabies and $20 for a distemper complex vaccine for either a dog or cat, or $25 for both vaccinations.
Please have dogs on a leash and cats in a carrier. For further information or questions about additional vaccines, call 802-348-7918.
Guilford Church serves Sugar-on-Snow Supper
GUILFORD - The annual Sugar-on-Snow Supper at Guilford Community Church will be held on Saturday, March 19.
There are three seatings to choose from, at 4:30, 5:45, and 7 p.m. Prices are $11 adults, $5 children age 11 and under, and $3 for preschoolers. For reservations, call 802-254-9562 or email guilfordchurchsupper@gmail.com.
The menu features ham, baked beans, deviled eggs, potato salad, coleslaw, freshly baked rolls, sugar on snow, homemade doughnuts, pickles, and coffee, tea or milk. A half-gallon of maple syrup will be raffled off during each seating.
From Interstate 91 (exit 1 in Brattleboro), go south on Route 5 just past Guilford Country Store, take a left on Bee Barn Road, then left again to 38 Church Drive. Visit www.guilfordchurch.org for more information.
Free supper, concert in Townshend
TOWNSHEND - The Community Hope and Action group of Townshend will be putting on a free supper and concert on Saturday, March 19, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Townshend Town Hall.
This month's event will feature a square and contra dance led by locals Sally Newton, Michael Donahue, Alicia Moyer, Bob Naess, and Colin Blazej. This is an alcohol-free, family friendly event with childcare provided. Organizers encourage attendees to bring a potluck appetizer or dessert to share. Volunteers will provide the main meal and beverages.
Compassionate Friends to meet
BRATTLEBORO - The Compassionate Friends (TCF) of Brattleboro, a national self-help organization for families that have had a child die, will hold its next monthly meeting on Sunday, March 20, at 2 p.m., at West Village Meetinghouse, 29 South St., West Brattleboro.
The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family.
Meetings are for all families regardless of race, religious orientation, economic background, or the cause and age of the child at death, from pre-birth up. They welcome all immediate family members including adult siblings. Meetings are held the third Sunday of eachmonth.
Free legal advice for seniors
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Senior Center and Vermont Legal Aid will hold a free Legal Aid clinic for area seniors on Monday, March 21, at the Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St.
An attorney from the Senior Citizens Law Project of Vermont Legal Aid will offer a free 20-minute consultation, beginning at 9 a.m. The attorney will be able to give advice on issues such as wills, powers of attorney, landlord-tenant issues, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, SSI, other public benefits, debt collection, small claims, and other civil legal matters.
Criminal matters will be not discussed, and the concern must be one that relates to the attendee, and not a friend or family member. Call the Senior Center at 802-257-7570 to schedule an appointment.
County forester to discuss controlling invasive species
DUMMERSTON - The Windham County Farm Bureau invites everyone to attend an evening with Windham County Forester Bill Guenther on Monday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m., at Dummerston Congregational Church, 1535 Middle Rd.
Guenther will discuss “The Big Three,” the three non-native invasive insects that can have an enormous impact on the county's woodland resources. Hemlock woolly adelgid is already established throughout two-thirds of Windham County and has negatively affected the native eastern hemlock. The others, emerald ash borer and Asian long-horned beetle, have Vermont surrounded but have not yet been detected here.
He will offer tips on how to identify these pests, as early detection is key to containing any infestation. In almost every instance where one of these insects has cropped up, it was a knowledgeable concerned citizen, and not a natural resource professional, who made the first sighting.
Guenther will also give some background on how the pests got here, what species of trees they impact, and how they inflict damage to trees, as well as offer various control methods.
Windham County is 86 percent forested and is the timber capital of Vermont, with the state's two largest sawmills. Woodlands are an integral part of many of local diversified farming operations, so it is critically important to keep a watchful eye out for these invaders. Refreshments will be available through out the presentation.
Workshop offers coping strategies for anxiety
BRATTLEBORO - A free community workshop led by therapist Marc Laurens, LICSW, from the Brattleboro Retreat's Anna Marsh Outpatient Clinic, on Thursday, March 24, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. will share skills to better manage excessive worrying, fear, or other types of anxiety.
Laurens will demonstrate how to manage common forms of anxiety such as excessive worrying, fears of the unexpected, discomfort in groups, phobias, and PTSD. He will gently guide participants through a variety of cognitive and behavioral exercises designed to identify anxiety “triggers.” Each participant will then learn practical coping skills for addressing these “triggers” and decreasing the intensity and duration of anxious feelings.
This educational and experiential community forum is free and open to all. While registration is not required, it is desired for planning purposes. To learn more and register, visit www.brattlebororetreat.org/anxiety-free-workshop. Questions? Contact Jill Terrell-Ouazzani at 802-258-3785.
Free fresh produce at Putney Meadows, Grace Cottage Hospital
On Thursday, March 24, the Vermont Foodbank will hold its monthly free food distribution program for those in need at Putney Meadows and at Grace Cottage Hospital.
Distribution at Putney Meadows (white building across from the Co-op and Fire Station) takes place from 9 to 9:45 a.m., while distribution at Grace Cottage (in the ambulance garage behind the hospital) will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Food items available may include squash, potatoes, carrots, kale, apples, yogurt, and more. Pallets of fresh and frozen food will be unloaded. Participants are asked to take only what they need for their own household and to bring reusable shopping bags or a cardboard box as plastic bags may not be available. All are welcome, no questions asked.
This free food distribution program will continue at both locations on the fourth Thursday of every month.