RFPL hosts gardening roundtable
BELLOWS FALLS - With more than 110 years of gardening experience between them, Laurel Green and Wendy Regier will share their knowledge and discuss attendees' gardening challenges at the Gardening Roundtable on Thursday, March 6, at 5:30 p.m. at the Rockingham Free Public Library. People with all levels of gardening experience, including no previous experience, are welcome. Attendees are welcome to share their gardening knowledge and experiences as well.
Though both seasoned gardeners, these two gardeners' areas of expertise vary. Green's is in transforming a standard lawn into a thriving garden. She loves growing her own lettuce seeds. Her favorite thing about gardening is that "there's always more to learn and try."
Regier enjoys designing flower and vegetable gardens, growing anything she likes to eat and "perennials and shrubs, peonies and hydrangeas." Her least favorite thing to do is thin seedlings, as she feels she's "pulling out friends."
All library programs are free. Another gardening program is coming up this spring: Henry Homeyer will be presenting "Growing Great Flowers: Old Favorites and Lesser Known Beauties" on Saturday, April 26, at 2 p.m. For more information, contact programming@rockinghamlibrary.org, call 802-463-4270, or stop by the library at 65 Westminster St.
Monthly show-and-tell for grown-ups comes to RFPL
BELLOWS FALLS - The Rockingham Free Public Library will host a monthly show-and-tell event on the first Friday of the month, starting March 7, from 3 to 5 p.m.
"Bring whatever you like to show off and talk about: arts and crafts you made or someone made for you, something you collect, an item with a story, a beloved family heirloom, a found object," organizers said in a news release. "If you can fit it in the door and it's not a live animal or something smelly, dangerous, or messy, it qualifies."
This event, geared toward those over the age of 16, is free. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Wendy M. Levy at assistant@rockinghamlibrary.org, call 802-463-4270, or visit rockinghamlibrary.org.
Windham County Beekeepers meet in Newfane
NEWFANE - Join the Windham County Beekeepers on Saturday, March 8, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Union Hall, 5 Church St. They will be joined by commercial beekeeper Troy Hall of Hall Apiaries in Plainfield, New Hampshire, to discuss springtime preparation and management of honeybees.
This event is free for club members. If you are not yet a member, there will be a $10 entry fee that will cover your membership for 2025. For more information, visit windhamcountybeekeepers.com.
Learn about wildlife tracking at Putney Library
PUTNEY - Join Bob Etzweiler for "Getting to Know our Wild Neighbors: Learning about the world around us through wildlife tracking," on Monday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m. at Putney Public Library, 55 Main St.
Etzweiler is a longtime teacher at the Vermont Wilderness School, leading both youth and adult programs. He's a skilled and passionate wildlife tracker and teacher. He will share stories and photos of local adventures, and give participants pointers on identifying tracks for themselves. He'll also bring plaster track casts, skulls, bones, and other related items for folks to interact with. Species touched on will include white-tailed deer, coyotes, moose, bobcats, beavers, red and gray foxes, river otters, humans, black bears, domestic dogs, and more.
For more information about this and other events at the Putney Library, visit putneylibrary.org or call 802-387-4407.
Clift to speak on 'Gifted Women Writers of the Gilded Age'
BELLOWS FALLS - Elayne Clift will present a program on "Gifted Women Writers of the Gilded Age" on Monday, March 10, at 6 p.m. at the Rockingham Free Public Library.
Beginning with an overview of the Gilded Age of the late 19th century and early 20th century, the event explores women writers who pioneered a body of literature that provides insight into key issues that reshaped America in critical ways. Their stories, novels, essays, and social criticism continue to inspire women writers and readers as they offer models that lead to an equal, fair, and humane world.
Elayne Clift is an award-winning writer, lecturer, educator, and workshop leader. Her work has appeared in many different venues, including The Commons. She has taught women's studies, literature, and other humanities courses at several colleges and universities and currently facilitates reading, writing, and discussion groups with adult participants at continuing education programs. For more information, contact programming@rockinghamlibrary.org, call 802-463-4270, or stop by the library at 65 Westminster St.
Poet Chard deNiord reads at Putney Library
PUTNEY - Join local poet Chard deNiord for a reading of his two most recent books, One As Other and In My Unknowing at Putney Public Library on Tuesday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m.
Poet deNiord is the author of eight books, and his poems have appeared in numerous poetry anthologies and literary journals. He is professor emeritus of English and Creative Writing at Providence College, where he has taught for 22 years. He serves as the essay editor for Plume Poetry. From 2015 to 2019, he served as Poet Laureate of Vermont. He lives in Westminster West with his wife, Liz.
Senior meal in Dummerston
DUMMERSTON - Evening Star Grange and Senior Solutions present their first Senior Lunch of March at the Grange Hall in Dummerston Center on Wednesday, March 12, with take-outs available between 11:30 a.m. and 1 pm and the in-house meal served at noon. This will be the annual St. Patrick's Day meal, which is usually very well-attended, so reservations are highly recommended. To reserve a meal, call the Grange at 802-254-1138 and leave name, phone number, the number of meals requested, and whether they are for eating in or taking out.
On the menu is corned beef and cabbage with boiled potatoes, carrots, and Irish soda bread, with Pistachio Breeze for dessert. A vegetarian alternative to corned beef will be served as well. A donation towards the cost of this meal of $4 for those 60 and older eating in-house, and $5.00 for those 59 and under and all take-outs is suggested.
Hospice seeks volunteers for Serious Illness Program
BRATTLEBORO - The Serious Illness Program (SIP) was created by Brattleboro Area Hospice to offer support, solace, and assistance to people going through a life-altering serious illness that may or may not carry a terminal prognosis.
Hospice is looking for SIP volunteers to work with clients who are learning to live with and thrive during the changes a serious illness brings. SIP volunteers can help in various ways, such as spending time one-on-one with SIP participants or facilitating one of the peer support groups where people can get together and openly share their experiences with others who truly understand.
"One-on-one volunteer support can take many forms," organizers said in a news release. "It may be as simple as a weekly phone call or a chat over tea. Support may also involve helping around the house, attending a social gathering, or walking by the river. It can be described as 'whatever a neighbor could do' and is a great way to meet and support our community members."
Applications for the training are now being accepted. To apply, visit brattleborohospice.org/how-you-can-help/volunteer-training-application. No experience is needed, and space is limited. A $40 contribution to cover the cost of materials is requested; scholarships are available. For more information, contact SIP Coordinator Eileen Glover at eileen.glover@brattleborohospice.org or 802-257-0775.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.