Holiday closings
BRATTLEBORO - In observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day, all town offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 8, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Monday. All other violations will be enforced.
Brooks Memorial Library will be closed Monday. Trash, recycling, and composting will be picked up on the normal schedule. The pick-up schedule is not affected by the holiday.
For information about the town bus, contact Southeast Vermont Transit at 802-460-7433 or visit crtransit.org.
Saying goodbye to Columbus Day
BRATTLEBORO - Several states and cities around the country have opted out of celebrating Columbus Day and instead remember Indigenous resistance to colonization, Brattleboro included.
Changing the name of the October holiday is an important step, but is it enough?
On Friday, Oct. 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Brattleboro Solidarity will host an evening of community conversation in Pliny Park.
Organizers say discussion topics include the legacy of colonization and how people can stand in solidarity to Indigenous struggles. Short videos will be projected in the park, which will serve as a place to “discuss Indigenous People's Day, collective resistance, and the abolishment of Columbus Day,” event organizers write.
On Saturday, Oct. 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Spark Teacher Education will host a teach-in, “The Pedagogy of Indigenous Resistance and Solidarity.”
The day of thought and actions will be inspired by “Indigenous resistance against the legacies of colonization, with ideas on sharing resources, collaborating, educating, and organizing,” the organizers write.
For more information, contact Becca Polk at rlpolk@gmail.com.
Blessing of the Animals ceremony set for Oct. 7
BRATTLEBORO- All people and creatures great and small are invited to St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals in thanksgiving of pets and animals on Sunday, Oct. 7, at 4 p.m., on the Common.
The event is organized by St. Michael's Episcopal Church.
In case of rain, the event will be moved across the street to the church, at 16 Bradley Ave.
The service will start with a brief time of music, readings and prayer, followed by an individual blessing for each pet.
Bring your pet or a picture of your pet, or a stuffed animal, plus your animal-loving friends and neighbors.
For more information, call the church at 802-254-6048.
BF Woman's Club starts new season
BELLOWS FALLS - Members of the Bellows Falls Woman's Club will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at the United Church of Bellows Falls, School St., beginning at 1:30 p.m.
The program will feature Lisa Muzzey, who will speak about the 4-H program.
On Sept. 26, members of the club gathered at the Health Center to formally dedicate the granite bench that the club installed there earlier this summer. The bench - the club's community service project for the past year - provides a place for rest and for those waiting for a ride.
The club will hold a food and bake sale on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Walpole Middle School in Walpole, N.H., in conjunction with the Walpole Town Library's annual book sale.
The food sale will include preserves, soups, gluten-free choices, and ready-made mixes in jars, in addition to traditional baked goods. Proceeds will support the club's high-school scholarship.
Women interested in joining the club and helping with its projects may contact Wendy O'Dette at jodette1@comcast.net.
Best hand wins at Oct. 10 Poker Walk
TOWNSHEND - The Grace Cottage Rehabilitation Department is celebrating National Physical Therapy Month by hosting its 20th annual Poker Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 10.
This free two-mile walk/run is held each year - rain or shine - to encourage people to get out and exercise. No pre-registration is required. Organizers describe the event as fun.
Playing cards are distributed along the way, and a prize for the best poker hand is awarded at the end. This year, the community member with the winning hand gets a two-night stay for up to four people at the Fieldstone Lodge Bed and Breakfast in Newfane.
All participants are eligible for a variety of prizes donated by local businesses and individuals, including handcrafted earrings by Wendy Stone, maple syrup, gift certificates to the Gaines Farm Corn Maze and the Messenger Valley Pharmacy, and more. Winners for these prizes will be chosen randomly.
Participants may start any time between 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Register at the Grace Cottage Wolff Outpatient Building, 163 Grafton Rd. (Route 35), Townshend.
The course goes north for one mile on Route 35, then back to the Wolff Building. All are welcome to walk or run the course as often as they wish, collecting a new poker hand each time.
For more information, call the Outpatient Rehabilitation Department at 802-365-3637.
Hospice offers new grief support group
BRATTLEBORO - A new, free, seven-week fall support group for adults will meet Mondays, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal St., beginning Oct. 15 and ending Dec. 3.
This group will be limited to eight adults who have experienced a death loss of any type, no matter when or where the loss occurred.
Participants will use a combination of conversation, writing exercises, art materials, sharing mementos, etc. to explore grief and healing. Londa Holsinger MSW will serve as the facilitator.
Interested individuals must meet with staff prior to the first session, so call Bereavement Program Coordinator Connie Baxter at 802-257-0775, ext. 104, by Tuesday, Oct. 9 for a pre-group appointment.
Urgent-care center offers free flu shots
BRATTLEBORO - The autumn season means the flu season is quickly approaching. ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care, at 1154 Putney Rd., will again offer free flu shots through October to all patients, regardless of insurance coverage.
Vaccinations are available for ages 4 years and older, while supplies last. No appointments are needed; just walk in from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Patients are asked to bring a photo ID and insurance card (if available). For those with health insurance, the urgent care center will bill the carrier and cover any remaining out-of-pocket cost. For those without insurance, ClearChoiceMD will cover the cost.