Brattleboro Time Trade holds its annual meeting on April 28
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Time Trade (BTT) will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, April 28, from 1 to 4 p.m., at The Root Social Justice Center, 28 Williams St. The meeting is free and open to all who are interested in timebanking, a form of alternative currency allowing people to exchange goods and services using time instead of money.
The keynote speaker and facilitator will be Eric Bachman, a longtime timetrader with Onion River Exchange (orexchange.org) who has many years of experience in organizational development. He will present and demonstrate a form of dynamic governance called Sociocracy within the context of the annual meeting. Sociocracy promotes inclusion of all voices, supporting all members (sociocracyforall.org).
The meeting will also go over the past year's events and consider plans for BTT to utilize practices from Sociocracy, which organizers say tie in with BTT's mission to engage and support all members of its community.
Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact brattleborotimetrade@gmail.com or visit BrattleboroTimeTrade.org.
Rockingham Free Public Library announces cookbook club
BELLOWS FALLS - Part book club and part potluck, the Rockingham Free Public Library invites cooking enthusiasts to a new monthly program at the library, Cookbook Club.
The first gathering is scheduled for Monday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the library and will be a brief organizing meeting to plan together the first official meeting of the Cookbook Club in May. Those interested are invited to bring favorite cookbooks for consideration at the initial gathering and a dish to share. The following meetings will be held on the final Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
The club is free to join, and cooks of all skill levels are welcome. This program is made possible by a grant from the Association for Rural and Small Libraries and is presented as part of the "Seed to Spoon: Cultivating Community" project. For more information, email reference@rockinghamlibrary.org, call 802-463-4270, or visit the library online at rockinghamlibrary.org or in person at 65 Westminster St.
Moore Free Library presents gardening workshop
NEWFANE - Managing soil health in the garden is the topic of a workshop by Vern Grubinger, offered at Moore Free Library on Tuesday, April 30, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Grubinger has been the vegetable and berry specialist with University of Vermont Extension for three decades, working with farmers across the state and the region. He is also an avid gardener. He will give a slideshow about the elements of soil, what is meant by soil health, and practical actions that gardeners can take to promote it with proper fertilization, organic matter management, and care for soil structure. For more information, visit moorefreelibrary.org.
Estate planning talk offered in Guilford
GUILFORD - Guilford Cares will host Jonathan D. Secrest, an attorney with the Brattleboro law firm of Secrest & Darrow, who will present an overview on estate planning, including the most important issues to consider and the biggest mistakes to avoid, on Thursday, May 2, at 1 p.m., at the Broad Brook Community Center, 3940 Guilford Center Rd.
Topics will include wills and trusts, lessening the burden on your heirs, providing for minor children or those with special needs, families with children from prior marriages, protecting assets in the event of a nursing home stay, and avoiding or reducing estate taxes. He said he looks forward to questions, and hopes to make these important matters clear, understandable, and even interesting.
During his career, Secrest has worked as an attorney for the federal government, argued before the Vermont Supreme Court, and testified before the Vermont Legislature on improvements to the state's probate laws which he helped draft. He has drafted complex wills and trusts, including special needs trusts; advised clients on business succession issues; and counseled clients regarding elder law and Medicaid planning.
For further information, contact Guilford Cares at 802-579-1350 or guilfordcaresvt@gmail.com.
Brattleboro announces spring leaf collection schedule
BRATTLEBORO - This year, leaves and yard waste will be picked up according to your normal trash, compost and recycling pick up day.
The following dates have been scheduled for Brattleboro's curbside Spring Leaf Collection. For those with Monday and Tuesday pick up days, it will be on Friday, May 3 and 17. Wednesday and Thursday households will have pick up dates of Friday, May 10 and 24. These will be the only dates scheduled for curbside leaf pick up.
All leaves and clippings must be in brown paper leaf bags and at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on scheduled leaf collection days. Acceptable waste includes leaves, grass, clippings, garden waste, and twigs (no branches larger than 1 inch in diameter and 2 feet long). No other household trash is to be included. Town leaf collection is designated for single family residences or apartment buildings with 2, 3, or 4 units. No plastic bags or other containers will be accepted. Brown paper leaf bags are available for purchase at local businesses.
All Souls Church plans 'Welcome Spring!' crafts fair
WEST BRATTLEBORO - "Welcome Spring!", a craft fair featuring works by the gifted crafters of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 29 South St., will be held outdoors on Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.
Reflecting the UU principles of respect for the environment and green lifestyles, the organizers for this fundraiser have selected many recycled and upcycled materials to repurpose, some fun and whimsical, others decorative, or downright useful.
Among the items for sale are various sized totes, flowered wreaths, fairy houses, fabric flower brooches, decorative table mats, as well as many baked goods, jams, and plants for inside and out. Materials will also be available so that both adults and kids can create a fabric garden flag or a floral crown.
The spring fair is a great way to support local crafters and, most importantly, to nurture your spirit celebrating all things spring. A light lunch will be available for purchase. For more info, visit ascvt.org, or call 802-254-9377.
Book donations sought for Putney Library fundraiser
PUTNEY - While it might still be a little early to weed the garden, it's a perfect time to weed one's bookshelf. Do your spring cleaning and support the library's programs and services by donating your books.
The Putney Public Library seeks book donations to support their Book Sale Fundraiser on Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday, May 19, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. While books of all kinds are welcome, they are unable to accept encyclopedia sets, magazines, textbooks, Reader's Digest condensed books, VHS tapes, DVDs or CDs, or anything that is musty or moldy. Only two boxes of books per household will be accepted.
Donations are accepted only during library hours: Monday–Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations cannot be left outside the library after hours. For more information, contact the library at 802-387-4407 or director Emily Zervas at emily@putneylibrary.org.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.