Vernon Historians to meet
VERNON — VERNON - On Sunday, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m., the membership of the Vernon Historians will hold its annual meeting, which includes the election of officers. The meeting and the historical program that follows will be held downstairs at the Vernon Town Office Building at 567 Governor Hunt Rd.
At 2 p.m., Gail Golec will present “Captive,” a program about the story of Susannah Johnson and her family, who were taken captive in 1754 at Fort No. 4 in Charlestown, N.H., and marched to Canada. Her story illustrates the perils of frontier life and the nuanced relationships between the indigenous Native Americans and European settlers.
Many local residents know the story of Jemima Sartwell of Vernon and her family, who endured a similar experience.
Golec was born and raised in the Fall Mountain region and has been a professional archaeologist for 20 years. She holds a degree in anthropology from Mercyhurst College, where she received extensive training in forensic anthropology and zooarchaeology.
She specializes in pre-Contact Native American sites and Contact Period history of the Middle Connecticut River Valley and has more than a decade of archaeological field experience. The public is welcome to attend this fascinating program, and refreshments will be served.
Forum features House candidates
VERNON - A forum featuring Democratic candidate Sara Coffey of Guilford and Republican Patrick Gilligan of Vernon, both of whom are running to represent the Windham-1 district as state representatives, will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Vernon Elementary School.
The event is co-sponsored by the town's Democratic and Republican committees.
Town plans second annual 'Trunk or Treat' night
VERNON - After a successful launch last year, the second annual Vernon Trunk or Treat event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (rain date is Oct. 28).
Trunk-or-Treat is basically a bunch of cars (trunks open) parked at the Vernon Elementary School. Children walk trunk to trunk, collecting Halloween goodies. It's a safe way to trick or treat, especially in a rural town without sidewalks or big neighborhoods.
This event, which doesn't replace the official “trick or treat” night on Oct. 31, is free, but there will be a donation bucket for the Recreation Department, which is hosting the event in conjunction with the Fire Department's haunted house night.
To sign up, and for more information, contact recreation director Seth Deyo at deyo12@hotmail.com or 802-257-1989.