Honoring Vermont LGBTQ+ elders and ancestors at RFPL
BELLOWS FALLS - "Looking Back/Moving Forward: Vermont Stories of LGBTQ+ Caregiving & Community" will take place Friday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rockingham Free Public Library on Westminster Street.
This event is part of "Resilient Patterns," a statewide festival presented by Vermont Humanities centered on the theme of finding hope and solace in a changing world of social and environmental crisis. Featuring a performative talk with slides by scholar, writer, and performer Andrew Ingall, there will be discussions with community leaders about LGBTQ+ aging and caregiving, a Q&A, and a reception.
The primary focus of Ingall's presentation is on his distant cousins Warren Kronemeyer and Leon Ingall, who lived in Townshend from 1980 to 2007. In his multi-platform project "Warlé," Andrew uses genealogical research, archival documents, photography, artifacts, oral history, movement, and creative nonfiction to remember ancestors he never met.
"My hope is that these events illuminate patterns of queer resilience across time and function as guideposts for the future of LGBTQ+ caregiving," said Ingall in a news release. For more information, call the library at 802-463-4270.
World Singing Day community singalong at Brooks
BRATTLEBORO - To celebrate World Singing Day 2025, all are invited to join in for a community singalong Friday, Oct. 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St.
There will be a song list of over 100 well-known songs from many traditions (folk, golden oldies, gospel, Beatles, old pop and rock, show tunes, etc.) and participants will take turns choosing what to sing. Lyrics will also be projected on a screen for all to see. There will be guitar accompaniment and a song leader to help guide the music.
The event is free and accessible to people with disabilities. For more information, contact Rich Grumbine at richgrumbine1@gmail.com or Tara O'Brien at tara@brookslibraryvt.org.
Clothing swap at Putney Central School
PUTNEY - On Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Putney Central School hosts a clothing swap. Building on the success of their spring clothing swap, they'll be including a mending station as well as a snack bar and café. Along with adult and kid clothes, they'll be taking donations of toys, games, and sporting equipment.
Donations can be dropped off Wednesday–Friday, Oct. 22–24, at the school's front entrance during school drop-off and pick-up times. There will also be donation bins at the Putney Food Coop and Maple Coffee. The event is free, and donating items is not required to shop.
Evening Star Grange serves turkey dinner
DUMMERSTON - Evening Star Grange in Dummerston Center hosts their last public dinner of the year Saturday, Oct. 25, which will be a turkey dinner with all the fixings.
The full menu consists of turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy, corn casserole, and butternut squash, with pumpkin upside-down pie for dessert. Serving will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and can be eaten in-house or takeout. The cost is $15 for adults and $7 for children 6 to 11.
Call 802-254-1138 for reservations and leave a message with the number of meals needed and whether they're for eating in-house or takeout. Proceeds from the dinner will be used for the Grange's heating fund for the hall.
Vernon Historians discuss ancient roads and glebe land
VERNON - On Sunday, Oct. 26, the Vernon Historians will present an entertaining afternoon program that explores ancient roads and glebe land as part of Vernon's history. It will take place at the Governor Hunt House and Community Center, 322 Governor Hunt Rd.
The public is invited, the program is free, and refreshments will be served. It will follow a brief annual meeting of the Historians membership at 1:30 p.m. For further information, vernonvermonthistorians@gmail.com.
Westminster hosts newcomers backyard mixer
WESTMINSTER - New residents are welcome to meet neighbors and friends and enjoy "a perfect fall evening" around a fire pit Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 5 to 8 p.m. Food will provided, bring your own beverages. To RSVP, go to bit.ly/837-west.
This mixer is sponsored by GROW SoVermont, a program to welcome new and returning Vermonters to the area. Visit sovermont.com/grow to learn more.
Iraqi-American Sufi painter gives Artist Talk at Putney Library
PUTNEY - On Tuesday, Oct, 28, at 6:30 p.m., Saad Hindal, Iraqi-American Sufi artist, will share the story of his journey as a refugee and immigrant which is depicted in his paintings at Putney Public Library.
The exhibition "Man With No Country," now on display at Putney Library through Nov. 29, shows a small portion of the paintings that reflect Hindal's internal experience of fleeing his country of origin with his young family and finding hope and a new home in Concord, New Hampshire, where he has lived for 18 years.
He will also share his book of sketches and paintings entitled Friday Lost Between Two Worlds: A Surrealistic Biography of the Artist as a Refugee. Hindal paints with acrylics on wood, canvas, burlap, brick, concrete, and stone. For more information, visit saadhindalart.com.
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