Historical Society of Windham County plans annual meeting
NEWFANE - The annual meeting of the Historical Society of Windham County will be held at the NewBrook Fire and Rescue station on Route 30 on Friday, Aug. 27.
A brief business meeting at 5:30 p.m. will be followed by the traditional storytelling program at 6 p.m. This year's storytellers will be Dr. Robert Backus of Wardsboro and Dr. Robert Tortolani of Brattleboro. They will share their experiences of medical care in Windham County and its evolution over their decades of experiences.
There will be no potluck this year; however, light refreshments will be served.
Admission is free. For more information, visit historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty.org.
'Tag-less' tag sale planned at All Souls Church
WEST BRATTLEBORO - All Souls Church, 29 South St., will hold its annual tag sale on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Proceeds will support special projects at the Unitarian Universalist church.
Featured items include clothing for women, men, and children; household items; books; toys; and home decor.
Despite the event's name, items have no price tags, and patrons are asked to be generous with their donations.
Invasive-plant identification class offered
DUMMERSTON- Learn to identify plants with local botanist Mike Duffy and help the Friends of the West River Trail (FWRT) remove invasive species while you're learning.
The FWRT is sponsoring trail work days on Sunday, Aug. 29 and Sunday, Sept. 26, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Participants will meet on the West River Trail where the Fox Farm Road access trail intersects to work on the Riverstone Preserve, where Long View Forest, a cooperatively owned forest management firm with a southern office and shop based in Westminster, spent three summer seasons eliminating about 90 percent of the invasive species.
However, prior to their removal, the plants left seed banks in the soil, so those seedlings must also be found. The focus will be on pulling out easy-to-remove Asiatic bittersweet seedlings, which participants will learn to identify. Duffy will aid in identifying other plants seen along the way.
Participants should bring work gloves, water, and a snack. To help prevent ticks, they should wear insect and tick repellant as well as light-colored pants to tuck into socks.
For questions, or to let the program organizers know that you're coming, email lowersection@westrivertrail.org.
Annual Mums and More Sale at Vernon Historical Museum
VERNON - The Vernon Historians will hold the organization's annual Mums and More Sale on Sunday, Aug. 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. The sale will feature a selection of chrysanthemums and perennial plants from Griffin Gardens of South Windham.
The sale at the Vernon Historical Museum - 4201 Fort Bridgman Rd., near the intersection of Route 142 and Pond Road south - also will include jams and jellies by Gretchen Harvey, the Jam Lady; pottery by Bronna Zlochiver, the Village Potter; baskets by Harris Baskets; crafts by Jean Carr; photos by Paul Miller; baked goodies by Hannah Gantt; and cut flowers by Heather Frost.
Proceeds help support the museum and the work of the Vernon Historians.
Everyone attending is asked to wear a mask while indoors and to maintain appropriate social distancing.
For further information, contact Carol Hammond at 802-257-0207 or email cjhammond8@gmail.com.
Memorial service honors lives lost to opioids
WEST DOVER - In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, a memorial will honor the lives of those lost to substance misuse on Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m., at West Dover Congregational Church, 104 Route 100.
All whose lives has been affected are invited to come to share photos, mementos, and stories at the Voices of Hope Memorial Service.
They will remember those affected by substance misuse with the ringing of a meditation bell, readings, speakers, and a candle ritual. There will also be light refreshments outside after the service, and grief support will be available from Brattleboro Area Hospice.
Voices of Hope uses a grassroots self-organized model to encourage community members to fight stigma around substance-use disorder and to bring resources, information, harm reduction, and recovery supports to the Deerfield Valley.
Contact the organization for confidential help at voicesofhopevt@gmail.com or 802-490-5645.
Moore Free Library expands its hours
NEWFANE - The Moore Free Library, 23 West St., will expand its hours, effective Tuesday, Aug. 31.
At that point, the library will open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from noon to 5 p.m.; Fridays, 1 to 7 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On the first Friday of each month, a family film will be shown at 7 p.m. Additional family activities will take place on Friday afternoons. Check the library's website (moorefreelibrary.org) and Facebook page (facebook.com/MooreFreeLibrary) for additional information about events. The ground floor, bathroom, and children's room of the library are accessible.
Village Early Learning Center to hold family market
SAXTONS RIVER- Families will have a chance to clean out their children's closets, toy rooms, and piles of sports equipment by selling them at a family market of gently-used items Saturday, Sept. 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Saxtons River.
Village Early Learning Center (VELC) is sponsoring the market at its location, 24 Main St.
Families looking to score a bargain on these items will find clothing, sports gear, costumes, toys, games, books, outdoor gear, baby items, and more among the booths. VELC will also have its own table of donated items; a 50/50 raffle and a refreshment stand will be available for sellers and buyers.
VELC is a non-profit licensed child-care center that provides quality care for children aged toddler and preschool. Further information about VELC and the Family Market can be found on the VELC Facebook page or by emailing velcsaxtonsriver@gmail.com, with “family market” in the subject line.
Putney Co-op plans annual meeting
PUTNEY - The Putney Food Co-op will hold its annual Members' Celebration and Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.
This virtual meeting is open to all member-owners. The location and format (in-person or Zoom) is still in the works, according to organizers.
Email board@putneyfood.coop for information.