Kindergarten sign-ups set in Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO - Kindergarten registration for the Brattleboro Town Elementary Schools will be held on Thursday, March 2.
Registration for all Brattleboro students entering kindergarten will be held at the VFW on Black Mountain Road. Children do not need to attend the registration. School assignments will be made by principals later in the spring.
Any Brattleboro resident with a child who will be five years old on or before Sept. 1, 2017, should call Sue Dyer at 802-257-7924 for further information and to schedule an appointment. Appointments will be confirmed by mail.
Anyone wishing an exception to the policy regarding age for entrance must send a request in writing to Sue Dyer, Coordinator of Kindergarten Registration, 40 Chase St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, by April 1. In no case will a request for testing for early admission be allowed for a child whose birth date falls more than 20 days after the Sept. 1 date.
Vermont law requires proof of immunization for school enrollment. Children may be exempt from immunization for medical, religious, or moral reasons.
Youth, future of prevention is subject of BF meeting
BELLOWS FALLS - Greater Falls Connections will host their monthly coalition meeting from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, at Parks Place Community Center on 44 School St. Lunch will be provided.
Youth leaders from the Advanced Above the Influence group will facilitate a group activity and give an update on their work. This will be followed by a discussion on future funding opportunities, and the input of the community is needed.
Additional projects, which would be funded with possible new funding sources, are also being considered. Find out more at www.greaterfallsconnections.org.
Transition Dummerston to discuss reducing climate change
DUMMERSTON - Transition Dummerston will hold its monthly potluck and program on Friday, Feb. 24, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Southeast Vermont Learning Collaborative on Route 5. This month's program will be on the theme, “Reducing Climate Change,” and will feature the showing of the film, Joanna Macy and the Great Turning.
Following the film will be a discussion that explores the insights of Macy in relation to the current crisis of climate change and possible responses to it. The program is free and open to the public. The potluck begins at 6 p.m, and the program will go from 7to 9 p.m. Contact Catie at 802-257-2007 or TransitionDummerston@icloud.com for more information.
Rescue Ride-In BBQ is canceled
STRATTON - The Wardsboro Pathfinders Snowmobile Club planned its annual Rescue Ride-In BBQ on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Stratton Rec Area, but this week's warm weather forced the event to be canceled.
The Pathfinders grooming crew said it believes the 710 snowmobile trail won't be able to hold up for much longer.
“If we didn't have all the rain in January and the ground stayed frozen, this warm spell may not have affected the trail so badly,” explained Trail Master Gary Urbinati in a news release. “But the ground never really froze up.”
The club will decide on an donation amount to the Wardsboro Rescue Squad at the club's March 18 meeting. If anyone would like to contribute, contact them at wpsc@wardsboropathfinders.com.
For more information about the Pathfinders and current trail conditions, visit www.WardsboroPathfinders.com.
Green burial to be discussed at Putney Library
PUTNEY - Green burial is an internment practice that seeks to minimize the negative impacts of burial while at the same time benefiting the environment. Many Vermonters are surprised to learn that green burial isn't an option in Vermont. However, a new bill introduced at the Statehouse could change that by changing the mandatory minimum burial depth.
On Saturday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m., come to the Putney Public Library, 55 Main St., to learn about the bill, why burial depth is important, and the environmental benefits of green burial on rehabilitating, preserving, and conserving habitats.
This program is hosted by end-of-life specialist and green-burial educator Michelle Acciavatti and wildlife biologist and green-burial educator Carl Anderson.
It will include a screening of the short documentary, Dying Green, followed by a brief presentation and discussion about green burial in Vermont.
For more information visit vermontgreenburial.wordpress.com and direct questions to vermontgreenburial@gmail.com. This program is free and open to the public.
BF Rotary Club hosts spaghetti dinner
BELLOWS FALLS - On Saturday, Feb. 25, the Bellows Falls Rotary Club hosts its annual Spaghetti Dinner, served from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Bellows Falls Moose Club, 59 Westminster St.
Freshly prepared and served by BF Rotary Club members, the menu includes homemade spaghetti sauce and homemade meatballs, freshly made crisp salad with a balsamic maple dressing, bread, dessert, and beverage. Vegetarian sauce will also be available. Adults are $8, Children $5, and kids under 5 are free.
Takeout is also available. Tickets will be sold at the door or you may ask a Rotarian. There also will be a signup sheet for delivery of a dinner to the Canal House and Riverview apartments. Call 802-376-9972 with questions.
All proceeds support Rotary-sponsored community projects, scholarships for graduating students, sponsorship of foreign exchange students, and specific local programs such as Our Place, Parks Place, and numerous other organizations.
Climate Change Café to hold 'Heartful Conversations'
BRATTLEBORO - The Climate Change Café will host an interactive, community-building presentation, “Heartful Conversations,” on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 6 p.m., at Brooks Memorial Library on Main Street. As always, the event is free, and light refreshments will be available.
This is the re-scheduled January Café that was forced to cancel because of bad weather. Check iBrattleboro.com, WTSA, WKVT, or, if you are on the Climate Change Café list-serv, check your e-mail for a notice of cancellation in case of a storm.
The Café will use a format called “heartful conversations” that through a specific process of conversation 'rounds' in small circles supports connection, reaches across differing perspectives, and inspires something new to emerge.
This Café will be facilitated by Wendy Webber.
The Climate Café is a project of Post Oil Solutions that convenes the fourth Tuesday of most months. For further information, contact Tim Stevenson, bereal@vermontel.net or 802-869-2141.
Computer classes at the South Londonderry Free Library
SOUTH LONDONDERRY - Computer whiz Marc Chapman will be on hand to help solve the mysteries of how computers and tablets work - and how they can be used - on Wednesday, March 1 and 8, at 7 p.m.
Chapman will provide one-on-one instruction and will encourage participants to help each other. Participants are asked to list what specifically they want to know and bring their laptop, digital device, or tablet with them.
Signup is required. Call the Library at 802-824-3371, stop in, or email southlondonderryfreelibrary@yahoo.com.
School Without Walls holds open house
BRATTLEBORO - Oak Meadow's new collaborative learning center for high school students, Brattleboro School Without Walls, will hold an informational open house on Wednesday, March 1, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 132 Main St., in the Brooks House.
Hot chocolate and refreshments will be served as Director Jessica Turner describes how the program works. Current students and their families will share their experiences.
The program provides a high-quality, low-cost, hybrid learning environment. Students spend three days a week taking Oak Meadow courses at the center and the other two earning high school credit through participation in arts, performance, outdoors programs, internships, and life-experience opportunities in and around Brattleboro.
Brattleboro School Without Walls offers a rigorous high school curriculum, a small, close-knit community, one-to-one teacher support, study spaces, wifi, and kitchen facilities.
Partner organizations include: New England Youth Theatre, New England Center for Circus Arts, Insight-Photography, River Gallery School of Art, Brattleboro School of Dance, Brattleboro Music School, Vermont Wilderness School, Circus Yoga, Vermont Jazz Center, BCTV, and Express Fluency. Marlboro College also offers one course per year at no cost to area high schoolers. Visit bsw2.org for more information.
Rabies clinic in Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO - The town of Brattleboro will present a low-cost rabies and micro-chipping clinic for dogs and cats on Saturday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Auto Mall, 800 Putney Rd.
This clinic is open to pets from everywhere. Rabies vaccinations are $10, and micro-chipping is $20.
Dogs must be on leashes, and cats must be in carriers. Dog licensing for Brattleboro animals will be available. For further information, contact Brattleboro Animal Control at 802-257-7950.
Sugar on Snow supper in Guilford is March 4
GUILFORD - Broad Brook Grange's annual Sugar on Snow Supper will be held Saturday, March 4, at the Grange hall in Guilford Center. The meal features ham, baked beans, deviled eggs, cole slaw, potato salad, rolls, pickles, homemade donuts, and Guilford maple sugar on Guilford snow.
There will be three seatings: at 5, 6, and 7 p.m. At each seating, a half-gallon of Guilford maple syrup will be raffled.
This longtime annual fundraiser helps support the many activities of the Grange, which serves as a town community resource, hosting pre-town meeting, Green-Up Day, Independence Day activities, the Food Pantry, and a community Thanksgiving dinner, and provides Christmas stockings for seniors, free dictionaries for every Guilford third-grader, and a college scholarship.
The newest program at the Grange is Guilford Center Stage. In addition, the building is used for private rentals and town and community meetings, and is the polling place for general elections.
Tickets for the supper are $12 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12, and $2 for kids age 4 and under. Reservations for a particular seating are recommended, as the supper usually sells out in advance. A waiting list will also be kept, and those with reservations who can't make it are asked to phone their cancellation.
There are usually a few unreserved seats left for the 7 p.m. seating, for those who show up without a reservation. Reservations may be made by calling Thayer at 802-257-5359. The Grange hall is located on Guilford Center Road, four miles west of the Guilford Country Store.
Town solicits information for survey regarding ADA-accessible venues
BRATTLEBORO - The town's Americans with Disabilities Act Committee is seeking information regarding public or private venues that are handicapped accessible.
The Brattleboro town website (www.brattleboro.org) is adding an informational page listing wheelchair-accessible venues available to the public for events, meetings, and gatherings. This page will make it easier for all event and activity coordinators to secure appropriate accessible locations in the Brattleboro area.
The town ADA committee says it would appreciate it if every potential venue filled out the brief survey. To participate in the survey, contact the committee at brattleboroada@gmail.com or call 802-387-5285.