Brattleboro sets dates for leaf pickup
BRATTLEBORO - Friday, Oct. 26, and Friday, Nov. 9, are curbside leaf pickup days. Leaves and clippings must be in brown paper leaf bags and waiting at the curb by 7 a.m.
Acceptable waste includes only leaves, grass, clippings, garden waste, and twigs (no household trash). No branches larger than 1 inch around and 2 feet long are allowed. Brown paper leaf bags are available for purchase at local businesses.
Knitting circle resumes at Wardsboro library
WARDSBORO - The weekly Knitting Circle is beginning again for the fall and winter seasons at the Wardsboro Public Library, on Wednesdays, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
If anyone wants to join, beginners are welcome. Knitting needles and free yarn are available for beginners to practice knitting, lessons are free, and there are many pattern books to lend to knitters, even if they don't come to the knitting circle.
Adults and teens are welcome, any skill level. The group also welcomes crocheters, rug hookers, embroiderers, and cross-stitchers, too. The Knitting Circle is free to join. For more information, contact the library at wardsboropubliclibrary@gmail.com or call 802-896-6988.
Senior meal in Halifax
HALIFAX - The monthly senior meal will be served at noon on Friday, Oct. 19, at the Halifax community hall.
On the menu is a wonderful old German dish, sauerbraten. It's beef that is slow cooked in water, vinegar, and mild spices with carrots, celery, onion and crushed ginger. It will be served with mashed potatoes, broccoli, rolls, and a dessert. All seniors are welcome.
Community meeting looks at Algiers Village Vision Plan
GUILFORD - As part of the Algiers Village Living Community Challenge, there will be a meeting on Friday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m., at Guilford Community Church, to discuss the Village Vision Plan. Coffee and cupcakes will be served.
The meeting on the Vision Plan is a follow-up to a community meeting last year in Algiers Village where the idea for a plan was introduced by four community groups: Friends of Algiers Village, Community Collaborative for Guilford, Guilford Preservation Inc., and Guilford Community Church.
Aided by the Windham Regional Commission, and guided by the input of village residents at last year's meeting, it was determined there was enough interest to go forward on a vision plan for Algiers. The groups say they hope residents will come out to learn about and discuss the plan.
Backcountry ski work days scheduled at Dutch Hill
READSBORO - Come earn your winter turns by helping clear the backcountry ski trails at Readsboro's former Dutch Hill Ski Area.
The Dutch Hill Alliance of Skiers and Hikers (DHASH), Southern Vermont's chapter of the Catamount Trail Association, is sponsoring two more work days this fall: Saturday, Oct. 20 and Sunday, Nov, 4.
Work begins at 9 a.m., and hard hats and safety glasses are required (DHASH has some available if you do not have your own). Work will expand skiing and snowshoeing opportunities in the backcountry area of Green Mountain National Forest. For more information: info@dhash4vt.org or www.dhash4vt.org.
Design-A-Plate workshop at Brooks Library
BRATTLEBORO - Don't miss the 37th annual Design-a-Plate workshop on Saturday, Oct. 20, at Brooks Memorial Library. Stop in any time between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to make an 8-inch melamine plate, a 10-inch melamine plate or 12-ounce melamine bowl.
Each item costs $6. Cash and checks made out to Brooks Memorial Library are accepted. Plates and bowls will be ready for pickup in December, just in time for holiday gift giving. Design-a-Plate is great for children of all ages and a fun measure of your child's changes through the years.
The workshop will be held in the Community Meeting Room on the top floor of the library. For more information, call the Children's Room at 802-254-5290, ext. 1210, or visit brookslibraryvt.org/kids.
Rummage sale benefits Community Center
DUMMERSTON - There will be a benefit rummage and tag sale on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Dummerston Community Center, 150 West St.
Items for sale include clothing, fabrics, sewing machine, sewing accessories, kitchen ware, glassware, footwear, costumes and wigs, toys and games, a wedding gown, bedding and more.
Some items are priced, some are by donation. Money from the sale will benefit the Center's operating and maintenance costs. For information, call 802-254-9212 or 802-254-2415.
Community Hope and Action hosts chili cook-off, concert
TOWNSHEND - The annual Chili Cook-off and Concert, presented by West River Thrives, is Saturday, Oct. 20th at the Townshend Town Hall on Route 30.
Contact Nick at 802-365-4700 or wrvthrives@gmail.com if you would like to participate in the cook-off at 5 p.m. (As always, feel free to bring a side or dessert and, of course, your appetite.)
After dinner, music and dancing takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. with guest performer Bard Owl.
Guilford Historical Society to meet
GUILFORD - The Guilford Historical Society annual meeting will feature a tour of the treasured Mineral Springs Farm in Guilford Center on Sunday, Oct. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Built in 1804, the Springs Farm has been, at various times, a private home, hotel, dairy farm, site of a short-lived silk worm industry and, from 1868-75, a health spa and bottler of Guilford's medicinal spring water.
The society's annual business meeting will be held before the tour at 1 p.m. at the Meetinghouse in Guilford Center. The tour is free and open to all. Refreshments will be served.
Wilmington hosts community pumpkin carving party
WILMINGTON - On Sunday, Oct. 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Historic Memorial Hall, Wilmington Works and the Twin Valley Middle High School Wildcat Club will host a community pumpkin carving party to make jack o'lanterns to decorate Riverbank Park.
The Wildcat Club and Wilmington Works will provide free pumpkins and assistance, so bring your creative ideas. Some carving and scooping tools will be available, but feel free to bring your own.
There are 25 pumpkins available for people of all ages to carve! You can also bring your own pumpkin to carve with friends and donate to the display.
Then, come see your pumpkin lit up in the display in Riverbank Park. Pumpkins will be lit the week following carving and will be on display at the annual Downtown Wilmington Trick or Treating, which takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 31. For questions, contact Wilmington Works at 802-234-1433 or wilmingtonworks@gmail.com.
Windham-4 candidates host forum
PUTNEY - Legislative candidates representing the Windham-4 District of Dummerston and Putney will offer voters a listening session on Sunday, Oct. 21, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the upstairs space in the Putney General Store.
House candidates Mike Mrowicki and Nader Hashim and Senate candidates Jeanette White and Becca Balint will be present to hear from constituents about the upcoming Nov. 6 general election and the 2019 legislative session. Email Mike at mmrowicki@gmail.com for more information.
Talk looks at archaeological history of Vermont
DUMMERSTON - On Tuesday, Oct. 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Evening Star Grange in Dummerston Center, State Archaeologist Jess Robinson, Ph.D., of the Vermont State Division for Historic Preservation, will present a follow-up to his 2017 presentation on Vermont's pre-Contact past.
This year, Robinson will be focusing on the Woodland and early Contact periods, ca. 3,000 - 300 years ago. He will be happy to answer questions following the presentation.
This free talk is sponsored by the Dummerston Conservation Commission and the Dummerston Historical Society. Refreshments will be served. For more information, email info@dummerstonconservation.com.
Volunteers needed for AARP Tax-Aide program
BRATTLEBORO - AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking to expand its team of volunteers for the coming tax season. Tax-Aide offers free, in-person preparation and assistance to anyone, especially those 50 and older, who can't afford a tax-preparation service.
Since its inception, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has served more than 68 million taxpayers. The program is seeking volunteer tax preparers, client facilitators, those who can provide technical and management assistance, and interpreters.
Every level of experience is welcome. Volunteer tax preparers complete tax preparation training and IRS certification.
Last year in Vermont, 180 AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 9,700 people at approximately 47 sites file their federal and state tax returns, and helped filers receive $1.3 billion in income tax refunds and more than $213 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.
Taxpayers don't need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use Tax-Aide. To learn about volunteer opportunities, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 888-OUR-AARP (888-687-2277).