Edible Brattleboro's 'Share the Harvest' stand now open
BRATTLEBORO - Edible Brattleboro's "Share the Harvest" stand is now open Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Turning Point garden at the corner of Frost and Elm streets.
Gardeners may drop off surplus from their gardens from 10:30 a.m. until closing (before noon is preferred). Free fresh produce will be available for all each Sunday through Oct. 27. Questions? Email ediblebrattleboro@gmail.com or call 802-254-9121.
Nature and meditation retreat at Manitou
WILLIAMSVILLE - A half-day nature and meditation Retreat will be led by Amanda Kenyon, certified Forest Therapy Guide, on Saturday, July 13, from 9 a.m. to noon in partnership with Vermont Insight Meditation Center and The Manitou Project.
The event will take place on the Manitou land in Williamsville. This morning retreat will be an experiential practice inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), principles from Buddhism, and practices from the peace activist, environmental advocate, and Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.
The retreat will be a combination of sitting, walking, and meandering over short distances on gently rolling terrain. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. The cost is $0-$40 (sliding scale). Visit vermontinsight.org for more details and to register.
Columnist coming to Halifax Café on July 13, 20
HALIFAX - Jon Heydenreich, who writes the "Mindful Minute" column for the Brattleboro Reformer, will lead two discussions at the Halifax Café on Saturdays, July 13 and 20, starting at 11 a.m.
July 13 the discussion topic will be "Those Orange Lillies Are Not Just Pretty," and on the 20th, "The Wrong Side of Comfort." Jon will introduce each topic and moderate the discussion. Everyone is welcome to join in.
Heydenreich's Mindful Minute column brings a mindful perspective into matters of daily life. Recent topics have included overcoming obstacles, taking on new challenges, seeing things differently, breaking the routine, gaining a new understanding, finding others who are trying to do things better than before, balancing hope with realism, and how we move and live.
The Halifax Café is inside Community Hall at 20 Brook Rd. in West Halifax. Café hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays. Coffee, tea, and home-baked treats are served by community volunteers. Free-will contributions to support the Café are welcome.
Strawberry supper in Westminster
WESTMINSTER - The First Congregational Church of Westminster, 3470 Route 5, will hold its annual Strawberry Supper on Saturday, July 13, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The supper will include baked ham, potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw, with homemade strawberry shortcake for dessert. Tickets are $13 and reservations are suggested by calling 802-518-0321. Take out meals will be available.
Guilford Cares hosts senior walk
GUILFORD - Join Guilford Cares on Tuesday, July 16, at 10:30 a.m., for a short guided walk in Guilford Center. Karen Murphy and Anne Montgomery will show participants sites of early Guilford history. For an additional treat, Greg Stein has graciously given permission to roam through his gardens adjacent to the Guilford Center Cemetery.
This is an easy walk with level, even terrain - about a 1-mile round trip. Going south on Guilford Center Road, pass the library and turn left onto Cemetery Hill Road. After about a half-mile, look for Guilford Center Cemetery on the left, just before Greg Stein's property at 481 Cemetery Hill Rd. For more information, email guilfordcaresvt@gmail.com.
'Tromp through the Swamp' at Brooks Library
BRATTLEBORO - "Take a Tromp through the Swamp!" on Tuesday, July 16, at 1:30 p.m., in the Children's Room at Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St. Join performer Tom Sieling for his top 10 lineup of the world's most fun, participatory kids' songs in celebration of Brooks's "Adventure Begins at Your Library" summer reading program.
Seiling has delighted tens of thousands of audience members in more than 30 years of performing with his guitar, banjo, and drum machine. This program is free and open to all ages. For more information, call the Children's Room at 802-254-5290, ext. 1210.
Hospital sustainability meetings planned
MONTPELIER - With worrisome national trends of rural hospital closures, persistent negative hospital margins in Vermont hospitals, and rising health insurance premiums, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) says it has taken the first step "by studying opportunities to help Vermont work toward a more affordable, accessible, higher quality and equitable health care system."
The GMCB's aim is "to plan for change so that Vermont has the best chance at avoiding abrupt hospital closures or service disruptions that negatively impact communities and our system."
Part of this process is a series of community meetings scheduled around the state to receive input and feedback from Vermonters. The GMCB's community meetings will be an opportunity to talk about the current state of Vermont's hospital system, why community engagement and hospital transformation is critical, some options the state and communities have for supporting systemwide transformation planning, and ways for Vermonters to stay involved in their local health care system.
Meetings in southeastern Vermont include Tuesday, July 16, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for Springfield Hospital at the Springfield Town Library; Wednesday, July 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m for Brattleboro Memorial Hospital at the Brooks Memorial Library; and Thursday, July 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m for Grace Cottage Hospital at Leland & Gray High School.
At these meetings, the GMCB will share the information that has been gleaned from interviews, public meetings, and data analysis over the past eight months used to inform the development of options and actions the state, hospitals, and local communities can take to transform and optimize Vermont's hospital system. Discussion will include how to reduce inefficiencies, lower costs, improve population health outcomes, reduce health inequities, and increase access to essential services.
Community feedback will be sought at these meetings to help finalize the recommendations to be released in the fall, and to engage communities in transforming the system. For more information and registration, which is encouraged, but not required, go to the Green Mountain Care Board's website, gmcboard.vermont.gov.
Bicycling suitability maps created by WRC
BRATTLEBORO - The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) has created bicycle suitability maps. This map series provides information about roads in the Windham Region, including traffic volumes, shoulder suitability, steep grades, bike shops, cycling opportunities, and cycling hazards.
The WRC says that the maps "should help cyclists understand the types of conditions they may encounter on these roads and choose appropriate cycling routes through the region. While primarily for 'road' cyclists who do most of their riding on paved roads, all roads are shown on the map, and those unpaved roads that may be of interest to road cyclists are highlighted."
The maps can be accessed at windhamregional.org/bikemap.
Town of Putney has a new website
PUTNEY - The town of Putney has a brand new website and web address. Visit putneyvt.gov for the latest up-to-date information from the town. The former website will be retired and no longer updated.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.