Farmers urged to track crop losses
MONTPELIER - The recent storms in Vermont were not kind to many of our farmers.
The Agency of Agriculture is urging farmers to document any losses from the flash floods. It's helpful to take pictures and keep detailed records. This information could be valuable for farmers, as well as state and federal officials as they calculate the economic impact of the wet weather this spring and summer.
“This has challenging start to the growing season for our farmers. The torrential rains just added another layer of difficulty for our farmers. It's important our farmers track their losses,” said Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts in a news release.
Anyone with specific questions can call the Agency of Agriculture at 802-828-2430 or contact the Farm Service Agency at 802-658-2803.
Join Brattleboro School Without Walls information sessions in July and August
BRATTLEBORO - Oak Meadow will hold information sessions about its downtown learning center for high school students, Brattleboro School Without Walls, on July 5 and Aug. 2.
BSW2 director Jessica Turner will lead the sessions, starting at 5:30 p.m., at Oak Meadow in the Brooks House, 132 Main St.
BSW2 provides a high quality, low cost, hybrid learning environment for students. Students enroll in Oak Meadow courses and work with a teacher at the center up to three days a week, freeing them to participate in other interests - be it arts, performance, and outdoors programs, or internships, work, or other life experience opportunities in the community.
BSW2 offers a vigorous high school curriculum; a small, close-knit, and collaborative community; one-to-one teacher support; comfortable study spaces; wi-fi, and kitchen facilities. Visit bsw2.org for more information.
Newfane Garden Club to meet
NEWFANE - The July meeting of the Newfane Garden club will take place Thursday, July 6. Participants can meet at the Newfane Congregational Church to car-pool.
On the agenda is tours of the gardens of two of the club's members. Bring a bag lunch; beverage and dessert will be provided. Cars will leave the church promptly at 9:45 a.m. Guests are always welcome.
Hospice offers 'First Thursdays in the Memorial Garden'
BRATTLEBORO - A brief community memorial service will take place on Thursday, July 6, from 5:30 to 6 p.m., at the Hospice Memorial Garden located at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro.
The short program will consist of readings of inspirational poems and brief reflections on grief and loss, an opportunity to decorate a memorial stone to place in the garden or take home, and some quiet time to enjoy the beauty of the garden. Everyone is invited to this free event.
The “First Thursdays in the Memorial Garden” program will be repeated on Aug. 3 and Sept. 7. The facilitator is Connie Baxter, Brattleboro Area Hospice Bereavement Program Coordinator.
The garden is located on Guilford Street, on the hillside adjacent to the road, directly across from 150 Guilford St. If you're uncertain if the event is taking place because of weather, call the office at 802-257-0775 and speak to Connie at ext. 104 or Joyce at ext. 105.
Brattleboro Senior Meals needs baking volunteers
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Senior Meals will be doing a fundraiser at the Vermont Welcome Center on Interstate 91 in Guilford on Saturday, July 15, and they need your help with baked good donations.
Muffins, scones, cookies, brownies - whatever is your specialty - are all welcome. Call the center at 802-257-1236 to let them know what you will be baking and how to get in touch with you. All donations will need to be dropped off to the Brattleboro Senior Center, 207 Main St., by noon on Friday, July 14.
Meet Vermont's Champion White Ash on July 15
WESTMINSTER - By popular request, there will be a hike to the largest White Ash in Vermont on Saturday, July 15, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The rain date is Sunday, July 16.
The tree is located on Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association property off Headwaters Trail in Westminster. Since the tree is not easy to find - unless one has been there before - longtime Pinnacle Association volunteers Arthur and Carol Westing will lead hikers to it.
During this free program, forester Arthur Westing will discuss the characteristics of a Vermont forest and the factors that affect the health of this truly remarkable specimen, which should be on display in all its leafy glory.
Re-verified at the beginning of 2014 by Windham County Forester Bill Guenther of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, the tree grew in the 10 years since its last measurement and charted a circumference of 205.2 inches and a height of 113 feet, thereby beating out two other Westminster giants for the honor of being the largest White Ash in Vermont.
Participants should wear hiking shoes, bring water, and meet at the Westminster West Church to carpool to the trailhead. No dogs, please. Please contact westing@sover.net for further details and required registration. Visit www.windmillhillpinnacle.org for information about other upcoming Pinnacle programs.
Windham presents its annual chicken barbecue
WINDHAM - The Windham Community Organization's annual Chicken BBQ and Raffle begins promptly at 5 p.m., Saturday, July 15, at the historic Windham Meeting House, 26 Harrington Rd., on the corner of Windham Hill Road.
They'll be serving up Walter Woodruff's own “Special Recipe” barbecued chicken, cooked over a wood fire. Baked beans, potato salad, green salad, homemade sweet breads, and for dessert, homemade strawberry shortcake topped with fresh whipped cream, are all included for the price of $10 for adults, $5 for children, or $25 for a family.
Get there early and try your luck on our raffle of crafts by talented Windham artisans, and enjoy music by Windham musicians. Look for the big tent outside the Windham Congregational Church/Meeting House. All proceeds benefit Windham area residents through WCO.
Mountain View SDA Church offers free Vacation Bible School for kids
VERNON - Mountain View Seventh Day Adventist Church will be holding Vacation Bible School from Monday, July 24, through Thursday, July 27. VBS will be held each night from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at 1002 Fort Bridgman Rd.
This year's VBS theme is David and Goliath. Kids will learn how to face the “giants” in their lives, and “how the armor of God can protect them and help defeat those giants,” according to a news release. There will be storytime, arts and crafts, outdoor activities, singing, and more.
VBS is free and all kids are welcome! For more details, call 802-380-3862 or email mvsdacomm@gmail.com.