WBA to meet at Hayes Court
WEST BRATTLEBORO - The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held on Thursday, June 9, at 6 p.m., in the Hayes Court Community Room on Garfield Drive, just west of the West Brattleboro post office.
After a review of the treasury report and an update on the spring plantings, the BizUp report and other pending issues will be addressed. A report on the results of the recent Chicken BBQ over Memorial Day weekend will be given.
Other items on the regular agenda to be discussed include the group's response to their letter sent to the Planning Services Department regarding notification to abutters about public hearings when the abutting property is owned by a co-operative or collective.
In addition, the group will further discuss the Neighborhoods Fund which helps WBA provide mini-grants to neighborhood groups for their own service work, improving their grounds, and other projects. There will also be an update on neighborhood safety in regards to drug dealing. The group will discuss the latest information available involving the re-use(s) for the current West B Fire Station and/or fire station grounds.
Wardsboro Yoked Parish begins summer schedule
WARDSBORO - The Wardsboro Yoked Parish made its annual move to South Wardsboro for summer worship at the Congregational Church on Cobb Reed Road.
Services will be each Sunday at 10 a.m. through Aug. 28. All are welcome.
Forum examines hidden history of the Abenaki in the Connecticut Valley
BRATTLEBORO - The Root Social Justice Center hosts “Decolonizing Our Minds and Our Spaces” on Sunday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Root Social Justice Center on Williams Street.
The event features Abenaki scholars Dr. Lisa Brooks and Judy Dow, who have been working to reclaim the history of their ancestors in the Connecticut River Valley. The forum is free and open to the public. Childcare is provided. There will be ASL interpretation and light refreshments. Participants are asked to come fragrance-free.
At 2 p.m., artist Judy Dow will hold a “Mapping Your Story” workshop, open to 20 participants who wish to assist with telling the story from another perspective. Sliding scale $0-$50. Those wishing to particpate may call or email to pre-register at 802-254-3400 or therootsjc@gmail.com.
Open house at Village Early Learning Center in Saxtons River
SAXTONS RIVER - The Village Early Learning Center (VELC) in Saxtons River will host an open house on Monday, June 13, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Families and their children are invited to come learn about the morning preschool program and full-day childcare offerings beginning in the fall. Staff will be available to answer questions and children will be welcome to explore the classrooms.
VELC is located at 24 Main Street on the lower level of Christ's Church, directly across from the Saxtons River Village Market. For more information: 802-869-5437.
Program offers history of milk bottles and bottlers in Windham County
TOWNSHEND - On Thursday, June 16, at 7 p.m., at the Town Hall, Neil Pelsue will give a talk on milk bottles and bottlers in Windham County.
Over the years there have been many farms and businesses that bottled fluid milk for consumers in Windham County and beyond. Pelsue, a former UVM milk marketing economist, will use some of the milk bottles from his collection to tell where and how some of these bottlers served their customers.
Pelsue will explain a bit of the history of milk marketing in the region, noting some of the substantial changes that have taken place from the early 1900s to today. He will also bring along some of his favorite bottles used in Vermont and other places.
The talk is sponsored by the Historical Society of Windham County. For more information, email info@historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty.org or call 802-348-7891.
Death Café comes back to Bellows Falls
BELLOWS FALLS - On Thursday, June 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Brattleboro Area Hospice will host a Death Café at The Valley Café in downtown Bellows Falls. This free event is part of an international movement begun in Europe (www.deathcafe.com) and is dedicated to taking death out of the closet in order to discuss it publicly.
Previous events that have taken place throughout Windham County have been met with tremendous praise. People have reported them as comfortable, supporting a full range of emotions - from tears to raucous laughter, easier than anticipated, energy charged, inspirational and fun.
A Death Café isn't a support group, a counseling session, or even a workshop. It is simply a gathering of people sharing respectful, thought-provoking, life-affirming conversation about living and dying in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere while enjoying warm beverages and delectable treats.
The public is welcome and encouraged to attend, but space is limited to 25 people. Contact Cicely Carroll at 802-460-1142, ext. 108, to reserve a spot. Participants are asked to arrive promptly, as doors to the event will close at 6:40 p.m.
Retreat to host weekly farm stand on campus grounds
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Retreat will begin hosting a weekly outdoor farm stand on the front lawn of the hospital's campus starting Tuesday, June 21.
The farm stand will be open to the public and will be held throughout the growing season on Tuesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 pm.
Fresh vegetables from New Leaf Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm in Dummerston will be for sale. This new venture was spearheaded by Retreat CEO Dr. Louis Josephson and New Leaf CSA farmer Elizabeth Wood.
For more information, call 802-254-2531 or e-mail farmer@newleafcsa.com.
Medicare Boot Camp in Londonderry
LONDONDERRY - Senior Solutions staff provides unbiased information about the Medicare system at Medicare Boot Camp. This free class will be held in Londonderry on Tuesday June 21, from 10 a.m. to noon.
The class is for Vermonters who are new to Medicare, and the family members who help them. Space is limited, so call in advance to the Senior HelpLine for registration and detailed location information at 800-642-5119. More classes are listed at www.seniorsolutionsvt.org.
Senior Solutions is also seeking volunteers to help with the Medicare department and outreach. To learn more, please call the Senior HelpLine.
Sunrise Rotary Club raises funds for disaster survivors a world away
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club recently raised $1,000 from their Dinner Raffle to benefit ShelterBox, a humanitarian relief charity that assists survivors of disaster and humanitarian crises around the globe.
ShelterBox provides humanitarian aid to help families rebuild their lives after losing their homes and possessions following a disaster such as an earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami, or conflict. The organization is currently responding to disasters in Ecuador, Fiji, Paraguay, Democratic Republic of North Korea, Niger, Cameroon, and the Syria region.