Brooks Memorial Library seeks trustees
BRATTLEBORO - The Board of Library Trustees of Brooks Memorial Library seeks enthusiastic and dedicated library users to fill two open positions on the Board.
Candidates for this position should have an interest in maintaining a strong and visionary library. Trustees must be residents of Brattleboro.
The Board, which numbers nine trustees, meets at the Library on the second Tuesday of the month from 4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Members are asked to chair or serve on two or more committees that convene as needed.
For more information on the library, visit brookslibraryvt.org, and click on “About Brooks,” where library history, the most recent strategic plan, summary, Trustee agendas, minutes and committees are available.
Applicants should send a letter or email and resume describing their interest in serving on the Library Board no later than Jan. 30 to: Trustee Position, Board of Trustees, Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St. Brattleboro, VT 05301, or trustees@brookslibraryvt.org.
BUHS Merry Mulch program continues this month
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Union High School music department is once again offering the Merry Mulch Christmas tree collection service to Brattleboro residents.
This program, in its 27th year, is endorsed by the Vermont Department of Agriculture as well as the New Hampshire/Vermont Christmas Tree Association. For a $10 donation, members of the band and chorus will transport undecorated trees from homes to a community garden in West Brattleboro where they will be chipped into mulch to be used by the gardeners.
Since the town doesn't offer curbside pick-up of trees, the service saves residents the hassle of transporting their own trees. Three Saturday pick-up dates are being offered: Jan. 6, 13, and 20.
All pick-ups must be prearranged by calling one of the following numbers at least two days prior to your desired date: 413-992-7384, 802-275-8934, or 802-579-1071. Proceeds will benefit a music department trip to New York City in April.
Chess classes begin at Rec
BRATTLEBORO - The Recreation & Parks Department will offer a new session of beginner, intermediate, and advanced chess classes to begin on Thursday, Jan. 4 (advanced), or Friday, Jan. 5 (beginners and intermediates), at the Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St.
The cost of the 8-week program is $35 for residents and $50 for non-residents. The intermediate class will be held on Fridays from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m; the beginner class will be held Fridays from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m.; and the advanced class will be held on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Instruction will introduce basic principles of chess to participants, along with simple strategies and tactics, and provide a venue for them to play practice games. Eric Strickland will be the class instructor. Call the Recreation & Parks Office at 802-254-5808, if you have any questions, or “Like” the Rec. Dept. on Facebook for the current program updates.
Tech help with 3GC moves to Mondays
TOWNSHEND - 3 Generations Collaboration invites the public to drop in at the Townshend Library on Mondays from 3 to 4 p.m. for one-on-one help with choosing, using, and maintaining digital devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and Kindle readers. Learn about new devices, online safety, and apps such as email, Facebook, office software, and more.
Tech help is provided by the staff and volunteers of 3 Generations Collaboration. Teens are invited to become helpers and earn community service hours.
Attendees may want to call ahead to ensure volunteers can be prepared to help with their device or question. 3GC can be reached at 802-428-4333 or team3gc@gmail.com. Note that the library follows the school district when it comes to snow day closings.
BF Woman's Club to meet
BELLOWS FALLS - Members of the Bellows Falls Woman's Club will hold their next meeting on Jan. 9 at the United Church on School Street, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Students from the elementary school, under the leadership of music teacher Alisa Daigneault, will provide a program of musical selections.
In December, club members worked on several community service projects, beginning with providing cookies for and helping serve refreshments at the annual Rotary Club sponsored family movie and time with Santa.
As in the past few years, the club undertook decorating the waiting room at the Health Center of Bellows Falls for the holidays. Seven club members assisted at Central School's “Shopping Day” for the children by wrapping the gifts they chose for their family members.
Club members attended the annual Kurn Hattin holiday luncheon and concert. Donations were made to the Bellows Falls Police Department's Angel Project, which provides clothing and toys to area children, and to the upkeep of the department's K-9 dog, Caesar.
RAMP artists town meeting rescheduled for Jan. 11
BELLOWS FALLS - The Rockingham Arts and Museum Project and artists Chris Sherwin, Jeanette Staley, and Clare Adams are hosting an Artists' Town Meeting at 33 Bridge St. in Bellows Falls, home to WOOL-FM and Chris Sherwin's Glass Studio, at 33 Bridge St. in Bellows Falls on Thursday, Jan. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The meeting originally scheduled for Dec. 7 was canceled.
The focus of these meetings is to bring together artists, artisans, and local growers to share ideas, challenges, and opportunities. According to Robert McBride, director of RAMP, the purpose of artist town meetings is to strengthen artist constituency.
“The more we know each other and can identify ourselves as a viable constituency, the more strength and credibility we gain,” he said. “There is an ever-growing community of working artists and local growers in our midst, all of whom are contributing greatly to the cultural and economic vitality of our community.”
Some of the topics will include a debriefing of current gallery tours, past Vermont Open Studio weekends, planning for a month-long arts celebration in May culminating with Memorial Day open studio weekend, and update on the Vermont Arts Council Creative Network Initiative.
The meeting is informal and includes a pot luck. RSVPs are encouraged and appreciated: email ramp@sover.net with “Artists' Town Meeting” in the subject line or by calling 802-463-3252.
Pellet stove replacement program debuts
BRATTLEBORO - Green Mountain Home Repair, a program of the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, has begun a pellet stove replacement program for Windham County residents. Eligible homeowners will get a price reduction of $2,000 to $4,000 on the cost of purchasing and installing an approved pellet stove to replace an old wood stove, or kerosene or propane heater.
Funding for this two-year program comes from the state's Clean Energy Development Fund. Each new pellet stove replacement will decrease pollution, increase energy efficiency, and reduce homeowner's fuel usage.
Loans are available to pay the remainder of the installation cost and all homeowners will get a complimentary home check-up to review maintenance, health, and safety concerns.
Green Mountain Home Repair is partnering with Friends of the Sun, the Stove Depot, Shanahan Building Supplies, and Sandri Energy on this program. For more information and to check eligibility, call the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust at (802) 254-4604.