Brattleboro
• July 4 parade signups due June 21: The “By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth” citizens committee has set June 21 as the deadline for signing up to march in the town's 37th annual Independence Day parade.
The group, working cooperatively with the Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department, is inviting floats, musicians and marching units that meet simple guidelines that include appealing to spectators of all ages and backgrounds and being able to navigate the parade route safely.
Because this July 4 falls on a Sunday, the march will start at 1 p.m., so not to conflict with religious services, and proceed along Canal and Main streets to the town Common. It will be followed by free public festivities and fireworks at Living Memorial Park.
Participants can request a signup form with the full set of guidelines by e-mailing brattleborogoesfourth@gmail.com or visiting the Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department at the Gibson-Aiken Center at 207 Main St. For more information, check out www.brattleborogoesfourth.com or contact Timothy O'Connor at 802-254-8340.
• Tobacco cessation programs: Brattleboro Memorial Hospital is offering another of its free series throughout the year of multi-session tobacco cessation programs. This six-week class of Vermont Quit Network for 2010 starts on Tuesday, June 22, in the Tyler Conference Room on the first floor of the main hospital. Class times are 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.
The weekly program offers group support as well as individualized strategies to help participants quit smoking for good. The tobacco cessation program provides a logical progression to quit smoking, including awareness of the smoking habit, addiction problems, and actual behavior change. Participants will experience a step-by-step process to quit smoking. Weight control, stress management, and social interactions will be covered during the program. Free nicotine replacement therapies such as the patch, gum, and/or lozenges will be available for Vermont residents.
Placing emphasis on long-term maintenance, these classes and the group coaching programs are designed to help individuals gain control of their own life and to help them stay off tobacco. There is no cost for these programs. Help is available at the Vermont Quit Network, 800-QUITNOW. For more information about the BMH class, or to register, call 802-251-8456. The next class starts on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
• Host families needed: Several Spanish teenagers who arrive in Vermont later this month are still in need of host families. The boys and girls, who range in age from 13 to 18, will arrive on June 29 and spend three and a half weeks in the U.S., departing on July 23. Families who can only host for part of this time are also encouraged to apply.
The students are all from the Basque region of Spain and must have excellent grades, attendance and behavior in school and also pass an English conversational interview to be accepted into the program.
Among the available students are two girls and a boy. Almudena is a friendly 16-year old girl who plays basketball, enjoys music and photography and loves to swim. Jon is a 15-year old boy who loves all sports, especially soccer, basketball, tennis, and swimming. Amaia, also 15, describes herself as shy yet funny and enjoys bicycling, aerobics, and basketball.
Host families are asked to provide a warm and safe home environment for the student, as well as meals and transportation to a meeting spot on the days there are field trips (to New York, Boston and Six Flags, and host siblings are invited to come along). It's fine for a student to share a room with a host sibling. The students have their own spending money and phone cards.
Interested families are encouraged to call Ann Newsmith at 802-257-4710 or e-mail exchangeVT@gmail.com.
• Teen reading program at Brooks Memorial Library: Area teens are invited to “Make Waves @ Your Library” this summer by participating in the Brooks Memorial Library's teen summer library program from June 28 to Aug. 7. The registration deadline is June 26.
The suggested reading time to qualify for incentive prizes is two hours per week. Pickup a reading log at the main circulation desk. The “Make Waves @ Your Library” teen summer library program is sponsored by the Brooks Memorial Library. For more information, contact the library at 802-254-5290, ext. 0.
• Early Education Initiative Grant awarded: The Winston Prouty Center and WSESU Essential Early Education (EEE) will receive grant funding from the Vermont Department of Education's Early Education Initiative (EEI) Grant Program.
EEI was established by the Vermont legislature in 1987 to provide early education opportunities for three- and four-year olds who are at-risk. This grant will enable the hiring of an Inclusion Facilitator who will provide consultation and in-classroom supports to preschoolers at risk of not thriving in school and life so that they may successfully participate in pre-kindergarten and other early childhood programs.
The goal is to provide access and participation in preschool experiences to children whose developmental needs are greater than their typically developing peers but who do not qualify for early childhood special education.
Children served by the EEI grant would be referred by area early childhood agencies, providers or families, and children at all income levels are eligible. It will have a focus on assuring that children's developmental needs are met within the context of a high-quality preschool program, with special emphasis on social emotional development.
Since 1969, the Winston Prouty Center for Child Development has provided inclusive education and family support to promote the success of children and families. Visit www.winstonprouty.org for more information.
Halifax
• Senior meal: The monthly Halifax Senior Meal will be served on Friday, June 18 , at noon, at the West Halifax Community hall. On the menu is meatballs, potatoes, veggies, fruit, rolls and dessert.
Reservations are appreciated, call Joan Courser at 802-368-7733. All seniors are welcome. A donation of $3 for seniors is suggested; $4 for under 60 years of age. Sponsored by the Council on Aging of Southeastern Vermont.
Westminster
• BFUHS students do well in Envirothon: This is the first year that Bellows Falls Union High School has competed in the annual state Envirothon Competition at the Farm and Wilderness Camp in Plymouth in May.
The team consisted of five main members and two alternates: Codi-Ann Hindes, Taylor Smith, Marion Major, Joey Aiken, Aaron Morton, Hannah Hodsden, and Sarah Engerman, respectively. It was a full day of events in which students were tested on their knowledge in five categories of Vermont's environment: wildlife, forests, soils, aquatics, and a current environmental issue in which students were required to do research, present their findings and state any recommendations they had in an oral presentation. Susan Steiner, the team's coach, trained with the students throughout year in preparation for the event.
The Bellows Falls team took first in the Aquatics division with a score of a 93. It not only was the top score of the day, the only time a team has scored higher than this was 3 years ago in 2007 and 9 years ago in 2001. Bellows Falls also took first in the oral presentation with a score of 185.6, the only event that counted for double points. The last time a team has scored higher than this was nine years ago in 2001 with a score of 192. By the end of the daym the Bellows Falls team ended up tying for second place overall and the BF alternate team members scored first place in their alternates group.