Voting info for Aug. 14 primaries
BRATTLEBORO - The polling place for all three districts in Brattleboro in the Tuesday, Aug. 14, primaries is the Selectboard Meeting Room, second floor of the Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, Room 212, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
The center rows of the parking lot at the Municipal Center will be reserved for voters on Election Day. There are handicapped parking spaces close to the back entrance. There is an elevator immediately inside the door to take voters to the second floor for voting.
Election information, including sample ballots, is posted on www.brattleboro.org. Election results will be posted on the town website as soon as possible after the polls close that evening.
Vermont now has same-day voter registration, but to save time on Election Day, it is advisable to register to vote in advance by contacting the Town Clerk's Office or online at olvr.sec.state.vt.us.
Office hours for the Brattleboro Town Clerk's office are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. In addition to regular hours, the office will be open Saturday, Aug. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon, for early voting and will be closed Aug. 14, election day.
Contact the Brattleboro Town Clerk if you have any election questions at 802-251-8129 or hfrancis@brattleboro.org.
BrattleMasters club meets Aug. 9
BRATTLEBORO - “Back to School” is the theme chosen by the Toastmaster of the evening, Rob Packard of Shrewsbury, when BrattleMasters, the local Toastmasters club, meets on Thursday, Aug. 9, at 6 p.m.
Three speeches are scheduled and each speaker is assigned an evaluator who will present a two-to-three minute evaluation by the end of the meeting. The public is welcome not only to attend but also to participate in the extemporaneous speaking exercises if they wish.
In addition to the speeches and evaluations, there will be reports from a grammarian, a timer and an “ah” counter. Check it out on the second floor of the Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St.
Current members are from Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. For information about the local club, visit brattleboro.toastmastersclubs.org.
Chester-Andover Family Center Thrift Shop holds Back to School sale
CHESTER - The Chester-Andover Family Center Thrift Shop will be the scene of a special “Back to School” half-price sale starting Thursday, Aug. 9, and extending for six Thrift Shop business days through Saturday, Aug. 18.
Customers who purchase clothing on a sale day will receive a voucher for one free item of clothing. Vouchers will be redeemable the day of purchase or any day through the end of August.
Customers who purchase clothing every day of the sale can accumulate six vouchers.
Thrift Shop hours are Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shop is located at 908 Route 103S in Chester. Contact them at 802-875-3236, follow them on Facebook, or visit www.chester-andoverfamilycenter.org.
Exit closures planned during I-91 paving project
BRATTLEBORO - All State Materials Group, the contractor handling the Interstate 91 paving project between Exit 3 in Brattleboro and the Vermont/Massachusetts state line, said in a news release that night work beginning on Sunday, Aug. 12, will force the temporary closure of the three Brattleboro exits.
Due to the limited on/off area at Exits 1 thru 3, the northbound and southbound on/off ramps will need to be closed during the working hours of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. During the closure time, motorists will follow an alternate route. A typical closure may be 2 to 3 hours in duration. The ramps will be opened to traffic from 6 to 7 p.m.
The current closure schedule for the week is as follows:
• Exit 1 northbound and southbound ramps to be completed Sunday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Exit 2 northbound and southbound ramps to be completed Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 13 and 14, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Exit 3 northbound and southbound ramps to be completed Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 14 and 15, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Note that dates and times are weather dependent, so they may vary. However, nighttime work will only be from Sunday through Thursday nights.
Advanced backyard composting course is offered
SAXTONS RIVER - On Sunday, Aug. 12, from 2 to 5 p.m., a course in advanced backyard composting will be offered.
Crafting a recipe for the backyard compost system is a critical element for success in making a healthy soil amendment and for protecting wildlife.
Cat Buxton, master composter and well known Vermont community educator, will give an overview of the soil food web to help you understand how and why to create compost that benefits your soil while managing kitchen and yard waste.
At this backyard workshop, Buxton and friends will take apart an existing compost pile, analyze it and then rebuild it according to best principles as taught by Dr. Elaine Ingham, with whom Buxton studies.
Learn about the spectrum of practical compostable ingredients and how to construct a pile that applies principles of structure and density to ensure that your living compost can hold air and water, creating the conditions that diverse microbial populations need to thrive.
The workshop is suitable for all levels of understanding, and applicable for all sizes of family and neighborhood compost systems. A suggested donation of $5 to $10 is requested, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Sponsored by the Living Earth Action Group of Westminster West.
The class takes place at 5 School St., Saxtons River. Main Street Arts is at the intersection of School and Main streets. The house is the second house on the right, but parking is at the elementary school. Bring a chair and, if it's hot, an umbrella for shade. For more information and to register, call Caitlin Adair, 802-387-5779 or pcadair@sover.net.
HMCA talk looks at how moose in Vermont are besieged by ticks
WILMINGTON - On Wednesday, Aug. 15, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Memorial Hall, 14 West Main St., Scott Darling of Vermont Fish & Wildlife is the featured speaker at this year's Hogback Mountain Conservation Association summer meeting.
During the 19th century, moose had pretty much vanished from the then-bare hillsides of Vermont.When the forests regrew in the 20th century, moose gradually made their way back to the region. The bad news, according to Darling, is that ticks and other parasites are taking a toll on the moose population, and he will provide the full story in his talk. Doors open at 7 p.m. for social time before the program starts at 7:30 p.m. Questions? Contact HMCA at hmca@hogbackvt.org.
Mending bee at Putney library
PUTNEY - The Mending Bee returns to Putney Library, 55 Main St. Bring your ailing fabric items to the Putney Public Library on Sunday, Aug. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m., to get assistance (or just company) in reviving them.
Sewing machines, darning tools, knitting needles, and other repair and patching materials will be available. Skilled seamstresses will be present to offer advice and assistance. Tea will be served. Other menders are welcome to join. This program is free and open to the public.
Hospice to hold Bereavement Volunteer Training
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Area Hospice will hold a seven-week training for Bereavement Volunteers on Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sep. 6 to Oct. 18. Bereavement Volunteers provide emotional support and companionship to individuals grieving the death of a loved one.
Applications for the training are being accepted until Aug. 22, or until the training group has filled. Following the seven-week training, volunteers are expected to commit to one hour per week supporting a bereaved individual.
The training will be held at the Hospice office at 191 Canal St. in Brattleboro. For more information about the application process and training details contact Connie Baxter, Bereavement Program Coordinator, at 802-257-0775, ext. 104, or connie.baxter@brattleborohospice.org.