Brattleboro Conservation Commission seeks members
BRATTLEBORO - Are you a Brattleboro resident interested in the natural environment? Do you have special natural-resource knowledge that you are interested in sharing? Are you concerned that invasive species are threatening the health of our environment? If so, the Brattleboro Conservation Commission needs you.
The Commission's responsibilities include raising public awareness about the town's natural resources, guiding development in sensitive areas, and encouraging community stewardship regarding town conservation issues.
The commission is developing a plan to map invasive species. Other projects include helping the Vermont River Conservancy with a floodplain restoration and developing and maintaining trails on land throughout town.
Over the years, the Conservation Commission has led field trips, collaborated with other conservation commissions and environmental organizations, and arranged for lectures and workshop on conservation and environmental issues. The Commission is always open to additional projects as well.
If you are interested in becoming involved in any of the above areas or have ideas for the Commission, consider joining. Meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month, from 5:15 to 7 p.m. at the Municipal Center. An online application is available at www.brattleboro.org. For more information, contact Town Planner Sue Fillion at sfillion@brattleboro.org or 802-251-8112.
Food distribution in Putney
PUTNEY - All are welcome to come for free produce distributed by the Vermont Foodbank and Putney Foodshelf.
This event, held on the fourth Thursday of each month from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at Putney Meadows on Carol Brown Way, is open to anyone in the community. Bring shopping bags.
Healing walk at Manitou
WILLIAMSVILLE - The Manitou Project will hold a healing walk Friday, Aug. 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. This meditative walk led by Mary Stowe on Manitou's Sanctuary Trail will include poems or other readings and chances to share about the experience. Rain or shine, healing walks will be held every second and fourth Friday of each month until October.
The Manitou Project seeks to foster community with Nature, on its 235-acre land preserve in Williamsville, located at 300 Sunset Lake Rd. Directions: go 1.4 miles up Sunset Lake Road from Williamsville Village and look for the sign on the right. Or approximately 5 miles on Sunset Lake Road from Route 9 in West Brattleboro. Meet at the parking lot at 4 p.m. For information, contact Mary at 802-246-1152.
Community picnic and sing at Dutton Pines State Park
DUMMERSTON - Transition Dummerston invites everyone to another opportunity to enjoy the newly revived Dutton Pines State Park on Friday, Aug. 26. Gather with neighbors for food, fellowship, and song, as they continue to commemorate the life of Susal Stebbins-Collins, who was always an enthusiastic singer at these picnics.
Arrive early to hike the Myron Dutton Memorial Trail, a pleasant 20-minute stroll through the pines. The picnic begins at 6 p.m. Bring a dish for the potluck - local foods encouraged. From 7 p.m. to dusk, there will be songs around the campfire, led by Fred Taylor, Peter Siegel, and others. Bring your instruments and favorite songs to share. Makings for s'mores will also be on hand.
This event is rain or shine, under the picnic shelter. Bring your camp chair or picnic blanket. Sponsors for the event are Transition Dummerston and the Dummerston Conservation Commission. For more information, contact Bill at 802-257-1020 or Fred at 802-387-2681.
Farm-to-table dinner benefits West River Community Project
WEST TOWNSHEND - The West River Community Project in West Townshend will hold its third annual Farm to Table Benefit Dinner on Saturday, Aug. 27. All food will be sourced locally and prepared by chef Mike Butler of the acclaimed Windham Hill Inn and the West Townshend Country Store café team, led by Christopher Mattson.
There also will be a silent auction featuring artwork, hand crafted items, gift certificates, and more. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a cocktail reception and the opening of the silent auction bidding. Dinner is at 6. Tickets are available for $125 per person at The West Townshend Country Store on Route 30 at the junction of Windham Hill Road in West Townshend.
The West River Community Project is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting agricultural, economic, and social activities in the West River Valley.
Library hosts Grafton Cornet Band
GRAFTON - On Sunday, Aug. 28, at 4 p.m., the Grafton Cornet Band will have a concert on the Grafton Library lawn on Main Street (Route 121), or in the White Church if it rains.
There will be an informal, hour-long mix of familiar and upbeat music for the whole family. The concert is free, but donations are welcome. Bring chairs or a blanket and maybe a picnic. More information at www.graftonband.org.
Dog Days of Summer at Main Street Arts
SAXTONS RIVER - Main Street Arts is taking a “paws” at the end of the summer before fall activities start up with a Dog Days of Summer event Sunday, Aug. 28, from 3 to 5 p.m.
The pooch-friendly gathering is a gift to the community and will feature an opportunity for dog-and-owner photos and art in the tradition of Jackson Pawlick, with tail-wagger treats for canines and hot dogs for their human counterparts. Leashes, please.
More information: mainstreetarts.org or 802-869-2960.
Rock Voices begins fall season
BRATTLEBORO - Rock Voices, the community choir that sings only rock and roll, is seeking new members. There are no auditions, and you don't need to know how to read music (although it helps if you can carry a tune).
This fall, the program is all music of the choir's choice (including songs by the Beatles, Paul Simon, Carole King, Peter Gabriel, Amy Winehouse, Talking Heads, and Adele. The final performance will be Friday, Jan. 13, 2016. Brattleboro rehearsals are Monday nights, 7-9 p.m., at the Vermont Jazz Center (in the Cotton Mill building).
The first rehearsal is Aug. 29. Visit www.RockVoices.com for more information.
Coffee with a Cop in West B
WEST BRATTLEBORO - On Monday, Aug. 29, officers from the Brattleboro Police and residents will once again come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee.
All community members are invited to attend between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. at Cumberland Farms, 317 Marlboro Rd. (Route 9), in West Brattleboro.
Coffee with a Cop provides an opportunity for residents to ask questions and learn more about the department's work in Brattleboro's neighborhoods. It is part of a national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
Contact Detective Ryan Washburn or Officer Adam Petlock with questions at 802-257-7950.
Book sale to benefit Grafton Library
GRAFTON - Nearly new and gently used books will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the library green in Grafton on Saturday, Sept. 3. Selections will include books recently published, older gems for the book collector, and audio-visual materials and music CDs.
The daylong sale is extremely important for the finances of the Grafton Public Library, as well as an opportunity for friends and visitors to stroll around the village and buy baked goods at the Grafton Historical Society's annual bake sale.
Bags and boxes will be available for carrying home your finds. Prices (with a few exceptions) are $2 for hardbacks, $1 for paperbacks and $1 for audio-visual.
Tobacco cessation workshop
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Memorial Hospital offers a tobacco cessation workshop, starting Sept. 7.
The tobacco cessation workshop is a free quit-smoking program that meets for an hour each week in a caring and encouraging group format. Each week, participants will be given concrete strategies to use on working toward your goal of tobacco-free living.
Together, the group will develop an understanding of the dynamics of tobacco addiction and the ability to choose alternative behaviors. The role of nutrition and healthy habits is covered as well as goal-setting and follow-through.
The group is facilitated by a licensed social worker who has been trained as a tobacco treatment specialist. Group members are encouraged to discuss tobacco treatment medicines with their primary care providers in addition to this behavior modification program.
Classes meet every Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. at BMH in Conference Room B. The workshop is also available at Parks Place in Bellows Falls from Sept. 6-27 from 5 to 6 p.m. To register in advance or get more information on either location, call 802-251-8456.
Indoor yard sale at the Moose Lodge
BELLOWS FALLS - An indoor yard sale will be held at the Moose Lodge, 59 Westminster St., on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Individuals, vendors, and crafters are welcome. Nonprofits seeking to conduct fundraisers are encouraged to participate.
The cost per 8-foot table is $20, and chairs will be provided. Prepared goods such as jams, pickles, and honey may be sold, but perishable foods aren't allowed.
Set-up must be done by vendors on Friday, Sept. 9, from 6-9 p.m. Doors will open to the public Sept. 10 at 9 a.m.
Desserts and other food will be available to purchase, prepared by Moose Lodge members, and the bar will be open. To learn more or to reserve a table, contact Jeanie Levesque at breakaleg1@comcast.net or 603-445-7037.
Trivia Night to benefit Literary Festival
BRATTLEBORO - The Sunrise Rotary Club will host charity quiz challenges, beginning Monday, Sept. 12, from 6:15 to 8:45 p.m. at American Legion Post 5 on Linden Street.
Sunrise Rotary hosts a monthly trivia night at the Legion on the second Monday of every month. Teams of up to six players are invited to compete each month for a cash prize. The entry fee of $20 each (cash or check) includes a dinner entrée and donation to the charity as determined by the Rotary club each month.
September's recipient is the Brattleboro Literary Festival. For more information or to register your team, contact sunriserotarytrivia@gmail.com.
Parks Place receives grant
BELLOWS FALLS - Parks Place and its Lead Safe and Healthy Homes program has been awarded $10,000 from TransCanada's Community Investment grant.
The grant will support the core mission of Park Place Community Resource Center, which is to open doors to opportunities by connecting people and resources in the Greater Falls Community. Lead Safe and Healthy Homes' mission is to help children grow in healthy indoor environments where families are given the resources and the education to ensure they grow to their full potential.