Healing walk at Manitou
WILLIAMSVILLE - The Manitou Project will hold a healing walk on Friday, Aug. 23, from 4 to 6 p.m.
This meditative walk, to be held rain or shine on Manitou's Sanctuary Trail, will be led by Ryan Murphy and will include poems or other readings as well as chances to share about the experience. To learn more, call 802-258-8598.
Historical Society holds Vermont trivia night
NEWFANE - All are welcome to an evening of great food, fun, and fun facts at the Historical Society of Windham County's event on Friday, Aug. 23, at the NewBrook Fire Station on Route 30.
Following the Society's brief annual meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m., there will be a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. Bring a dish to share; drinks will be provided.
At 7 p.m., the Vermont and Local Trivia Contest begins. Test your knowledge of Vermont trivia and local history with such questions as: Do you know the unusual animal fossil discovered in Charlotte in 1849? What about how Vermont got its name? In what location was the dam on the West River originally planned? Put your knowledge to the test and learn some fascinating history at the same time. Prizes will be awarded to the winners of the trivia contest.
Admission is free. To learn more, call 802-348-7891, or email info@historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty.org.
Windham Regional Woodlands Association plans forest tour, annual meeting
JAMAICA - On Saturday, Aug. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain or shine), the Windham Regional Woodlands Association will hold its annual meeting and a forest tour. The event is open to the public, and all are welcome.
The annual gathering will be held at Shatterack Forest, 450 acres in the high remote valley of Cobb Brook, which has been owned by the same family for four generations. Cobb Brook feeds into Jamaica State Park's stunning Hamilton Falls - at 125 feet, one of Vermont's highest water falls.
Speakers will cover the story of the family, their woodlands, and the connection to the wider Jamaica State Park and Nature Conservancy Glebe Mountain Preserve area. The WRWA's annual meeting will follow.
After a lunch of grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and potluck side dishes, there will be two separate hikes through the property: an informative walk to a recent harvest area and a more challenging walk through the property to a hilltop with a wonderful view.
Email marli@sover.net or call 802-254-8325 and let them know how many burgers/hot dogs/veggie burgers you would like. The registration fee for lunch is $8, payable at the site. To learn more and for directions, visit windhamwoodlands.org.
'Finding the inner muse' workshop at MSA
SAXTONS RIVER - Heather Geoffrey will guide participants to find their inner muse in a workshop at Main Street Arts on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The workshop will also be offered Thursday, Oct. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. It is open to anyone who creates in any way, whether as an artist, musician, writer, performer, thinker, or nature lover.
Geoffrey is managing director of Main Street Arts and a practicing interdisciplinary artist. In conjunction with her artistic practice, she has offered consultation and support services to artistic and creative individuals.
Geoffrey says the class “will explore ways of nourishing and honoring our connection to the muses who provide us with inspiration and creative source.” The fee for either session is $30 and pre-registration is required by contacting MSA at 802-869-2960 or info@mainstreetarts.org.
Summer Salad Supper and Cookout in Westminster
WESTMINSTER - The First Congregational Church on Route 5 will hold a Summer Salad Supper and Cookout fundraiser on Saturday, Aug 24. Dinner will be buffet style, with many different summer salads to choose from as well as hot dogs and hamburgers off the grill.
This is the same concept as the church's crockpot supper, but with salads for the hot days of summer and a cookout. Finish off your meal with a great dessert. Dinner will be available from 5 to 7 p.m., as well as takeout. Tickets are $11 for adults and $5 for children. Children under 5 eat free.
Vernon Historians host annual Flower Sale and Raffle
VERNON - The Vernon Historians will hold their annual Flower Sale on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Vernon Historical Museum. The sale features a selection of plants from Griffin Gardens, including chrysanthemums and other perennials. There also will be a raffle of a “Perennial Garden in a Plant Pot,” comprising heureka (coral bells), thyme, cone flower, and lavender. Raffle tickets will be sold inside the Museum, which will be open to visitors, as usual.
The flower sale is a fundraiser to support the work of the Historians, and monies raised help to pay for producing booklets and programs and for supplies related to the presentation and preservation of local history. In addition to the artifacts and other historical contents of the Vernon Historical Museum, the Historians also own and maintain the historic (1860) Pond Road Chapel.
The Museum is open each year from June through September, on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. and by appointment. It is located at 4201 Fort Bridgman Road (Route 142), one mile north of the state line. Admission is free, and all are welcome.
St. Michael's hosts meeting on forming L'Arche community
BRATTLEBORO - An exploratory gathering on forming a L'Arche community will be held at St. Michael's Episcopal Church on Putney Road on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 3 to 5 p.m.
According to a news release, L'Arche communities “provide homes and workplaces where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together as peers, create inclusive communities of faith and friendship, and transform society through relationships that cross social boundaries.”
L'Arche communities welcome people of all faiths and those who are not religiously affiliated. Today, there are 147 member communities of L'Arche in 35 countries.
St. Michael's is hosting a gathering with members of the L'Arche Boston community and with Vermonters of all interests and abilities. The goal will be to better understand L'Arche, to imagine what is possible in this state, and to discuss next steps.
All are welcome at the gathering in the Meeting Room at St. Michael's Episcopal. The building is fully accessible. To learn more, call 802-254-6048.
Learn more about coyotes at Putney Library
PUTNEY - Protect Our Wildlife will present a free presentation, “The Real Eastern Coyote,” at the Putney Public Library, 55 Main St., on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m.
Chris Schadler, who has studied wolves and coyotes for 30 years, will lead an educational discussion on this wild canid. Schadler holds a master's in conservation biology and also brings the perspective of a former sheep farmer.
Learn the true story of Eastern coyotes - how and when they arrived in New England, how they live among us but are rarely seen, and how they contribute to keep our forests and fields healthy. They are smart, ecologically beneficial, and humans can learn a lot from their dedication to the family unit.
Despite being the most misunderstood carnivore in North America, the coyote survives and thrives. This presentation is suitable for all ages. For more information, visit www.ProtectOurWildlifeVT.org.
Any questions? Email: info@protectourwildlifevt.org.
Tasha Tudor 'StoryWalk' at Molly Stark State Park
WILMINGTON - Join the Tasha Tudor Society at Molly Stark State Park on Monday, Aug. 26, at 10:30 a.m. for a Tasha Tudor StoryWalk. The society, in partnership with Pettee Memorial Library, will present “1 is One” to commemorate what would have been the Vermont icon's 104th birthday.
Young readers will discover the pages of this classic childrens' Caldecott Honor Book and explore Tasha's counting treasures. Nature-based, Tasha-inspired activities for kids of all ages and a birthday snack are planned. This is a family-friendly event, and admission is free. Meet at the picnic pavilion; if rain is forecast, check Pettee Library's Facebook page or call 802-464-8557 for location change.
Shoot the Moon Theater Company plans auditions for Halloween spectacular
BRATTLEBORO - Shoot the Moon Theater Company will hold open auditions for its annual Halloween Spectacular on Monday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m., at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery at 139 Main St.
Participants don't need to prepare any material; they will be asked to read from provided pages at the audition. Rehearsals will begin in early September. The show will perform Oct. 24, 25, and 31, and Nov. 1 and 2.
Past Shoot the Moon Halloween shows include original adaptations of Frankenstein, The War of The Worlds, a staging of Edgar Allen Poe stories and poems titled 7 By Poe, Dracula, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde.
The production is flexible in its casting. All ages are encouraged to audition. To learn more, email info@shootthemoontheater.com.
Rec. Dept. offers chess classes
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department will offer beginner and intermediate fall chess classes at the Gibson-Aiken Center. Beginner classes will run from 4 to 5 p.m. for those in Kindergarten through third grade beginning Sept. 5 and continuing until Oct. 24.
Intermediate classes will begin Sept. 6 and run until Oct. 25 and are for those in grades 3-6. Intermediate chess is for players who know basic checkmates and a few tactics and strategies.
Instruction will introduce basic principles of chess to participants, along with simple strategies and tactics, and will provide a venue for them to play practice games. If there are special needs required for this program, call five days in advance at 802-254-5808 or stop by the Recreation & Parks Department Office at 207 Main St.