Downtown Brattleboro Alliance to coordinate Green Up Day in Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO - The Downtown Brattleboro Alliance (DBA) is coordinating this year's Green Up Day efforts in Brattleboro. This year's event will take place on Saturday, May 3, and DBA is inviting all community members to join the effort.
Celebrated annually on the first Saturday in May, Green Up Day is when thousands of volunteers come out in their communities for a spring clean up of litter on roadsides, in parks, and in public spaces. It is the largest statewide volunteer event with over 22,500 taking part, and it is the only statewide Green Up Day in the United States.
"Every bit of effort makes a difference." DBA Executive Director Kate Trzaskos said in a news release.
Bag pick-up locations for volunteers include Brattleboro Food Co-op, Retreat Farm, Byway Books, and the DBA table at Pliny Park that will be set up on Green Up Day. Participants are reminded to bring work gloves, sunscreen, bug/tick spray, water, snacks, and anything else they might want. Also, long pants and long-sleeved shirts can be helpful in wooded areas.
For more information, including a complete listing of towns around Windham County participating in Green Up Day, visit greenupvermont.org.
All Souls hosts 'Welcome Spring' crafts fair
WEST BRATTLEBORO - "Welcome Spring," a craft fair featuring works by the gifted crafters of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, will be held outdoors on Saturday, May 3, 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, and fine-crafted silver jewelry, as well as many baked goods and jams, and plants for inside and out. Materials will also be available for both adults and kids to create a craft project to take home. A light lunch will be available for purchase.
All Souls Church is located in the West Village Meeting House, 29 South St. For more info, visit ascvt.org, or call 802-254-9377.
Learn how to be a better recycler at the Halifax Café
WEST HALIFAX - On Saturday, May 3, Alex Lacy, outreach coordinator for the Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD), will provide an overview of WSWMD's recycling program, highlighting opportunities that might be new to some people. Participants are invited to bring nonhazardous items to learn whether they can be recycled or, if not recyclable, how to best dispose of them.
The Café will open at 10 a.m., offering tea, coffee, and baked goods. The recycling discussion will be from 11 a.m. until noon. From noon until closing at 1 p.m., sandwiches and soup will be served for lunch. All are welcome to this event at the Halifax Community Hall, 20 Brook Rd. The historic hall is wheelchair accessible, including an accessible bathroom. Café events are supported by donations and volunteers.
Creativity on display at Academy School's Spring Kids Craft Fair
WEST BRATTLEBORO - The Spring 2025 Kids Craft Market is happening on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. at Academy School, 860 Western Ave.
This fun-filled event showcases the artistic talents of local school-aged kids, featuring handmade crafts including jewelry, art, slime, fiber arts, woodwork, baked items, gifts, and more. All items are made and sold by children.
The Kids Craft Market is now in its third year with events every spring and winter, and a few smaller pop-ups in between. A $1 donation per family is requested at the door, with proceeds benefiting the Academy School PTO to support programs and events for students. For more information, or to sign a child up as a vendor, email BrattKidsCraft@gmail.com.
RFPL presents an uncommon look at the common loon
BELLOWS FALLS - Join photographer Ian Clark as he describes the natural history of the common loon and follows a loon family through the breeding season in the North Country on Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m. at the Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St.
With their haunting cries and beautiful plumage, common loons are an iconic symbol of the northern wilderness. Clark spent more than 2,520 hours kayaking with loons over the last two years and has taken more than 350,000 photos of loons and their behaviors.
Clark worked for many years operating commercial photo labs and tackling technical photographic problems, including a stint as the manager of the Photographic Section at NASA's Langley Research Center. He is a juried member of the New Hampshire Craftsmen, the New Hampshire Art Association, and 802 Arts House. More information will be available soon at ianclark.com.
Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival is May 4
ROCKINGHAM - If you're a wildlife enthusiast itching for spring, be sure to check out the Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival on Sunday, May 4, at Herricks Cove on the Connecticut River.
The festival is presented by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society (AMAS), and Great River Hydro.
This is a family-friendly festival with emphasis on the wildlife and natural resources of Vermont. The festival will feature live animals, nature-focused walks, kids' activities, presentations by environmental and nature organizations, and demonstrations that include the return of Vermont Game Warden Canine Units.
There will be food offered by a variety of local vendors as well as wildlife art, and craft, book, and gift vendors there throughout the day. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. and activities are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, with a morning bird walk at 7 a.m.
The suggested donation is $3 for an individual and $5 for a family (cash or check made payable to AMAS), but no one is turned away for lack of funds. Pets are not allowed. Herricks Cove is located just off Route 5, less than three miles north of Bellows Falls.
Rain garden workshop in West Dummerston
WEST DUMMERSTON - The Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District will host a rain garden workshop at the Dummerston Covered Bridge at the intersection of East-West Road and Route 30 on Wednesday, May 7, at 5:30 p.m.
Stormwater improvements at this site will be discussed, as well as how the gardens were planned, and what plants were selected. The workshop leaders will also answer questions about starting a rain garden. The discussion will be followed by a work session to plant, remove weeds, and water (if needed). Gloves, buckets, and small shovels to assist with this work will be provided, along with some snacks. To reserve a spot, go to bit.ly/813-raingarden.
Neighborhood Connections to sponsor screening of 'Just Getting By'
WESTON - Just Getting By, a new documentary film by Bess O'Brien, is a look at the lives of Vermonters who are struggling with food and housing insecurity. The screening, sponsored by Neighborhood Connections of Londonderry, will take place at Walker Farm on Thursday, May 8, at 6:30 pm.
Vermont has the second highest rate of homeless people in the United States, right after California. One third of Vermonters struggle to put food on the table. These are big issues for a small state. Just Getting By focuses on these issues in the lives of everyday people.
The 90-minute film tells the stories of working families, folks who are homeless and are accessing food shelves and soup kitchens, people who are living in the temporary hotel/motel program, New Americans grappling with the cost of living in America, and folks on the front lines of providing services to their fellow Vermonters in need.
Just Getting By explores the day-to-day challenges and incredible resiliency that low-income Vermonters bear witness to every day. For more information, visit ncvermont.org.
Senior meal in Dummerston
DUMMERSTON - Evening Star Grange and Senior Solutions will present their first meal in May on Wednesday, May 14, with take-outs available between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the in-house meal served at noon. Reservations are encouraged so they know how much food to cook, but walk-ins are gladly accepted. Reservations can be made by calling the Grange at 802-254-1138. Leave name, phone number, the number of meals desired, and whether they are are eating in or taking away.
The May 14 menu is corned beef hash, vegetarian stuffed shells, Harvard beets, and cole slaw, with yellow cake with lemon sauce as the dessert. A gluten-free option will also be provided. A donation toward the cost of this meal is always much appreciated. For those seniors 60 and above eating inside, the suggested donation is $4. For those 59 and younger and all take-outs, a donation of $5 is suggested.
BMH Auxiliary offers healthcare scholarships
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is offering college scholarships again this year to graduating area students who plan to pursue a career in healthcare. A combination of financial need, academic achievement, and community service will be the criteria for selecting the recipients.
Application forms are available at local schools' counseling departments and must be submitted by May 16 to JoAnne Rogers, Auxiliary Liaison, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Homeschooled students who are interested in applying should contact Rogers directly by calling 802-257-8238 or emailing jrogers@bmhvt.org. The awards will be presented during graduation festivities at each high school.
Overnight winter parking ban ends
BRATTLEBORO - The town's winter parking ban has been lifted. Overnight parking is allowed on all streets except in the downtown area.
The following streets are not permitted for overnight parking: Main, High, Elliot (from School to Main streets), Flat, Canal (from the Plaza to 63 Canal), Church, Elm, Harris Place, and Grove. More information about parking in Brattleboro is available at Brattleboro.gov/parking.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.