2018 dog licenses now available
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro dog and wolf-hybrid licenses are available for the 2018 licensing period. Vermont dogs and wolf-hybrids 6 months and older must be licensed on or before April 1.
Renewal licenses may be obtained in person at the Town Clerk's office, through the mail, or online at www.brattleboro.org. Dogs licensed in Brattleboro for the first time may be licensed in person or through the mail by printing the license form from that website.
Vaccination against rabies is required by Vermont statutes before licensing. If an animal has been spayed or neutered, the certificate issued by the veterinarian must be presented when licensing the animal for the first time. A current rabies certificate issued and signed by a veterinarian must be filed with the Town Clerk.
The licensing fees, due by April 1, are $19 for neutered animals and $29 for unneutered animals. Specially trained assistance dogs may be eligible for a reduced licensing fee.
Dogs and wolf-hybrids licensed after April 1 will be charged a penalty. In addition, any person failing to license a dog or wolf-hybrid may be fined up to $100 and the dog or wolf-hybrid may be impounded. If an animal licensed last year has died or been given away, contact the Town Clerk's office at 802-251-8157, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Acclaimed NYC dance company to perform at Vermont Academy
SAXTONS RIVER - On Thursday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m., Cherylyn Lavignino Dance will present a recital in the Nita Choukas Theater at the Horowitz Performing Arts Hall at Vermont Academy. The performance is open to the public by donation and will last about an hour.
A critically acclaimed New York City company, Cherylyn Lavignino Dance strives to “create movement that engages an audience by aligning the rigor of ballet with the humanistic performance values of contemporary dance,” according to their mission statement. Their artistic director, Cherylyn Lavignino, is the chair of the dance department at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
Eight dancers from the company will be at Vermont Academy for a residency from Jan. 10 through 12. They will meet with students and offer an intensive workshop to the members of Vermont Academy's dance team. Led by Vermont Academy faculty members Alison O'Brien and Amy Lanterman, the VA dance team practices and performs hip-hop, jazz, modern, and tap.
Horowitz Performing Arts Hall is located at 23 Leavitt Lane in Saxtons River, on the campus of Vermont Academy. For more information, visit www.vermontacademy.org.
BUHS presents chamber ensembles concert
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Union High School Music Department will present an free evening of instrumental chamber ensembles on Thursday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. The event will take place in the auditorium of the new Brattleboro Music Center facility on Guilford St.
This concert breaks the 65 musicians of the BUHS band into 16 chamber ensembles. This gives the students a more transparent setting and often creates the added responsibility of being the only player of their part.
The program features eight woodwind ensembles, five brass, two percussion, and a string quartet. This marks the first time that a string ensemble has been featured on this annual concert. It includes band members who double on the violin, viola, and cello.
Area musicians who have served as coaches for these ensembles include Rob Freeberg, Michelle Liechti, Kathy Andrew, Alison Hale, Patty Meyer, Gideon May, Judith Serkin, and Kyra Johnston.
Parking is available at BMC and in the Living Memorial Park lot across the street. For more information, call 802-451-3511.
Dig into the Sunday papers with Putney Cares
PUTNEY - Getting cabin fever with all the cold weather? Putney Cares has you covered. Join them Sunday, Jan. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon, upstairs at the Putney General Store on Kimball Hill to read the Sunday edition of The New York Times and socialize.
Beverages and snacks can be purchased downstairs and brought up to enjoy while reading the Times with others.
Putney Cares will provide copies of the Times for readers to share. Visitors can stop by to relax, read, and discuss the day's news and views. For more information, visit putneycares.org.
Main Street Arts, Historical Society continue Fireside Chats
SAXTONS RIVER - Main Street Arts and the Saxtons River Historical Society continue the Fireside Chats series Sunday, Jan. 14, at 5:30 p.m., in the dining room of the Saxtons River Inn with a talk on “The Art of Timber Framing,” with Jason Snell, owner of Old Timers Timber Frames in Saxtons River.
The series concludes Jan. 21 with a topic close to home when Mike DeBonis, executive director of the Green Mountain Club, talks about James Taylor's dream of founding a trail through Vermont for his Vermont Academy students.
Attendees are always invited to share their own experiences, photos, artifacts, and stories related to the topic of the evening.
The series is offered at no charge, with donations accepted. Those attending are invited to bring their own memories and memorabilia to share in this informal setting.
The Inn's dining room will be open for dinner after the presentation for further socializing. Reservation are appreciated, and may be made by calling the Inn at 802-869-2110. In case of inclement weather, cancellation information will be available by contacting Main Street Arts at 802-869-2960.
Learn how to add your expertise to Wikipedia
BRATTLEBORO - Ever start research with Wikipedia? Learn how to contribute footnotes and references, which increase the reliability and accuracy of Wikipedia articles.
Wikipedia's strength is in the references that support it. Wikipedia is an ever-changing source of information. Librarians, researchers, and information seekers can help improve Wikipedia and make it a better resource for everyone.
The annual #1lib1ref campaign (1lib1ref.org) asks every librarian and information seeker to add a reference to Wikipedia to help ensure that Wikipedia's information is backed by reliable research.
Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St., will host a #1lib1ref session for librarians and information seekers alike to learn how to add a reference to Wikipedia and discuss the role of Wikipedia in research on Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to join and participants should bring a laptop if one is available (a limited number of laptops will be provided). Registration in advance is requested but not required. For more information, or to register for the event, call 802-254-5290 ex. 101 or visit www.brookslibraryvt.org.
Diabetes prevention program to be offered at BMH
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will offer a Diabetes Prevention Program. The program helps adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes reduce their risk by taking steps to improve their overall health and well-being.
The Diabetes Prevention Program is based on the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program led by the National Institutes of Health, in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control, which showed that lifestyle changes and modest weight reduction can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent among those with pre-diabetes.
This evidence-based program is delivered over a 12-month period in a supportive, small-group classroom setting. Sixteen weekly, one-hour sessions are followed by six monthly sessions. Facilitated by trained lifestyle coach Elisha Underwood, the class begins Jan. 18 and will be held Thursdays at BMH in the Tyler Conference Room from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
To qualify for the Diabetes Prevention Program, participants must be at least 18 years old, overweight (BMI greater than or equal to 25), and at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. This program is free and pre-registration is required. Those with questions or wishing to register should contact Underwood at 802-257-8867 or eunderwood@bmhvt.org.