Still time to reserve a spot for Townshend Farmers' Market
WEST TOWNSHEND - The Townshend Farmers' Market is looking for more vendors for the coming season. This is a medium-size market that offers - along with some great vendors - freshly-baked pizza from a community-built outdoor oven, a variety of live music, and kids' cooking classes.
The market is located behind the West Townshend Country Store, and is part of the West River Community Project, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting local, agricultural, economic, and social activities. The market runs from May 26 until Oct. 6.
Vendor applications are due April 15 and are available at the West Townshend Store and online at www.westtownshend.org. For more information, contact Judy Harrigan at farmers@WestTownshend.org.
Tech talk on cybersecurity
BRATTLEBORO - Codestar, Inc. will offer a free Tech Talk, “Disaster-proofing your business and computer systems,” on Thursday, April 13, from 5 to 6 p.m., at the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, 76 Cotton Mill Hill.
The incidence of cyber attacks and data breaches is growing fast. The goal of this event is to give attendees a better understanding of the tools and practices that can protect their organizations.
Charles F. Gibson, MSIA, will cover cybersecurity topics such as ransomware attacks, the human factor in office security, data backup options, and assessing the effectiveness of existing security and backup protocols.
The BDCC facility is wheelchair accessible. Reservations aren't required. Questions may be directed to info@codestar.us.
WBA to meet on April 13
WEST BRATTLEBORO - The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association will be held on Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m., in the Hayes Court Community Room on Garfield Drive (just west of the West Brattleboro Post Office).
The evening will include guest speaker Cassandra Holloway of the Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition, talking about efforts to address and prevent substance abuse.
Coming up for the Association are the April 19 BizUp event at the new MamaSezz business; Green-up Day on May 6; the next monthly association meeting on May 11; and the Chicken BBQ on May 27.
Tax march set for April 15
BRATTLEBORO - As part of the nationwide Tax March, there will be a Brattleboro Tax March on Saturday, April 15, at 1 p.m., starting at the Whetstone Walkway (the wide brick sidewalk that runs alongside the Brattleboro Food Co-op parking lot).
The purpose of the march is to call on President Donald Trump to release his tax returns. Without his returns, organizers point out, Americans are in the dark about Trump's conflicts of interest, his foreign entanglements, and whether he even pays any taxes at all.
The Brattleboro Tax March will travel through downtown Brattleboro, up the Main Street sidewalks to the Brooks Memorial Library, and then cross the street and head back down the sidewalks on the east side of the street. The march will end at Plaza Park (the triangular park on Holstein Place) with a speech by Patti Whalen, a former international judge who specialized in war crimes.
This event is sponsored by Women Marching Forward, The Action Pod, The Putney Huddle, and The Family Solidarity Action Network.
Easter egg hunt in Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO - The annual Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by the Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department, will be Saturday, April 15, at Living Memorial Park on the Lower Softball Field.
Children must bring a basket or container to collect eggs. Children age 4 and under will have their hunt at 9:30 a.m., while children age 5 and older will hunt at 9:45 a.m.
There will be six stuffed-animal prizes in each age group, and the Easter Bunny will visit. In the event of rain or mud, the hunt will be held in the Nelson Withington Skating Facility. For more information, call 802-254-5808. This program is for Brattleboro residents only.
Vernon Library offers floral arranging class
VERNON - The Vernon Free Library will be offering an “Easter Basket Floral” arranging workshop on Saturday, April 15, at 10 a.m., at the library.
Registration is required by Thursday, April 13. The fee is $20, due at registration. For more information, contact the library at 802-257-0150, or email vernonfreelibrary@comcast.net.
Osher lectures continue
DUMMERSTON - The Brattleboro Chapter of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute continues its spring series of morning and afternoon lectures on Monday, April 17.
In the morning lecture, William Edelglass, Professor of Philosophy and Director of Environmental Studies at Marlboro College, will examine the concept of race in the 20th century.
In the afternoon series, “Solving Conflicts,” Bruce Dayton, professor at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, will consider the cyclical nature of conflict and resolution, with case studies.
All lectures are held at the Vermont Learning Collaborative, 471 US Route 5, Dummerston. Parking and handicapped access are available, and light refreshments are served at the lectures. For further information, contact Julie Lavorgna at 802-365-7278 or julielavorgna@gmail.com.
Historical society seeks flag stories
DUMMERSTON - Do you have an older American Flag and a story to share? Bring both to the Dummerston Historical Society Quarterly Meeting on April 20 at the Society's Schoolhouse in Dummerston Center (adjacent to the Town Office).
Stewart McDermet will give a talk on the history of a huge (12 foot by 7 1/2 foot) flag made sometime after 1896 which, when in better condition, had previously flown over his and Kris' Dummerston property. The flag has 45 stars on it (Utah became the 45th state in 1896) and the 46th star wasn't added to the American flag until 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. Attendees are invited to bring their own flags and share their stories.
The 7 p.m. business meeting will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by McDermet's presentation on his flag and his property which includes a home built from bricks from the Carr Brickyard. The public is invited, admission is free, and the Schoolhouse is handicapped-accessible. Information: 802-254-9311.
Red Cross plans 'Disaster Bootcamp' in Wilmington
WILMINGTON - The workforce of the American Red Cross is 90 percent volunteer staff. Volunteers from all walks of life bring their talent and compassion to help the Red Cross alleviate suffering.
In New Hampshire and Vermont, the Red Cross deploys volunteers to respond to disasters that displace families, on average, every 17 hours. A strong corps of volunteers trained to deliver comfort and care seeks to ensure that no family goes without.
The need for local volunteers is critical. While pockets of dedicated volunteers continue to support the residents of New Hampshire and Vermont, more hands are needed.
With that in mind, the Red Cross is presenting what they call “Disaster Bootcamp,” a fast-track training opportunity for individuals interested in becoming American Red Cross Disaster Responders.
The bootcamp is a day-and-a-half-long training session for new volunteers and is also an opportunity for current Disaster Responders to brush up on vital skills.
It will be held April 21-23 at the Wilmington Fire Department, at 18 Beaver St. To register, visit volunteerconnection.redcross.org/?nd=vms_public_form & form_id=1233. For more information, contact David Muse at 802-598-0338 or David.Muse@RedCross.org.
Applications available for CCV's Karen Raylene Clark Memorial Scholarship
MONTPELIER - Applications for the Community College of Vermont 2017 Karen Raylene Clark Memorial Scholarship are now being accepted. Clark was a long-time Academic Coordinator at the College's Brattleboro campus until her death in December 2015. The first scholarship was awarded in 2016 to CCV-Brattleboro student Cheryl Caldwell-Lahue, who was Clark's advisee.
Clark believed in the value of hard work, commitment, and the power of learning from experience and, for more than 15 years, she instilled those values in the students she advised.
Her family and friends created this endowed scholarship fund to honor Clark's memory and her passion for helping students persist in their studies and reach their career goals. Clark's parents, Helen M. Clark and T. Wayne Clark, established the endowment with other family members and friends.
Applications for the $1,000 scholarship, to be awarded for the fall 2017 semester, are due May 8. To learn more, visit ccv.edu/pay/scholarships.