S’mores with Santa at Living Memorial Park
BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department presents “S’mores with Santa” Saturday, Dec. 6, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on the Lower Softball Field at Living Memorial Park.
This is a free event open to children of all ages, with free popcorn, hot chocolate, and s’mores to all kids while supplies last. This event will provide a great opportunity for families to take their own photo with Santa and his friend, the elf. For all programs, events, facility information, and more, visit the Rec. Dept. webpage at brattleboro.org.
Holiday bazaar at Guilford Church
GUILFORD — Guilford Community Church will hold its “Holiday Bazaar” Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with handcrafts, sweets and baked goods, and decorated wreaths. The raffle table will feature an American Girl doll and accessories, a gift basket of Vermont products, a handmade quilt, and other items from Vermont artisans.
The kitchen will serve breakfast baked goods, quiches, and hearty soups, as well as coffee, tea, and cider. All proceeds from the Bazaar benefit the church, which supports numerous local programs and organizations serving the wider community.
Directions to 38 Church Drive: from Interstate 91 Exit 1 in Brattleboro, go south on Route 5 to just past the Guilford Country Store, take a left onto Bee Barn Road, and then another left onto Church Drive. For more information, contact the church office at 802-257-0994 or guilfordchurch@gmail.com.
Soup & Stories in Londonderry
LONDONDERRY — The Vermont Workers’ Center will host a “Soup & Stories” event at Neighborhood Connections, 5700 VT Route 100, Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon to 2 p.m. This event gathers community members over soup and salad to share experiences with health care and concerns about access to care, including cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid.
There will be information about the latest proposals for the ACA, Medicaid and SNAP and ways to move forward toward a more just and accountable healthcare system. For more information or to RSVP, e-mail windham@workerscenter.org or call 802-257-4436.
Christmas bazaar in Westminster
WESTMINSTER — The Women’s Fellowship of First Congregational Church of Westminster presents its annual “Christmas Bazaar” Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 am-2 pm, at the church at 3470 Route 5.
The Christmas Shop will be open and will include crafts, candles, gifts, handmade items, attic treasures, and homemade baked goods. Tickets will be sold for their raffle with locally donated gift options. At 11 a.m. Santa will visit. Children of all ages are invited to do a craft project and have their photo taken with Santa. Also, the Christmas Café will be open for lunch with soup, chili, sandwiches, and beverages.
A Jane Austen Holiday at the RFPL
BELLOWS FALLS — Celebrate a “Jane Austen Holiday” at the Rockingham Free Public Library (RFPL) on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 pm., with a Regency-inspired celebration of fun and elegance.
In honor of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, the Friends of the RFPL invite all to a delightful celebration filled with Regency-era (1811–1820) activities.
The Ukulelians will provide spirited tunes. There will be also a demonstration of period dance steps, a featured favorite in the plots of Jane Austen’s six celebrated novels, including Pride and Prejudice, and demonstrations of crafts and tea party foods of the era.
Gingerbread cookie decorating in the Youth Department will start at 11:30 a.m. Winning tickets for holiday raffle items will be drawn at the end of festivities. All are invited. Dressing in Regency-era best is encouraged. For more information, call 802-463-4270, visit rockinghamlibrary.org, or stop by the library at 65 Westminster St.
Service of Lessons and Carols at St. Michael’s
BRATTLEBORO — A “Service of Lessons and Carols” will be offered Sunday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m., at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 16 Bradley Ave.
In addition to singing Advent carols with the congregation and listening to biblical readings for the season, the St. Michael’s choir will be singing a diverse set of old and new Advent anthems by Rutter, Sirett, Jakobs, Gorecki (in Polish!), and premiering a brand new Advent anthem composed by Music Director Keane Southard with words by St. Michael’s Assistant Priest, the Rev. Adwoa Wilson.
Southard will direct the choir, which will perform between nine distinct scriptural readings delivered by members of the St. Michael’s community. Although the event is free, St. Michael’s will be taking an offering to support the Beloved Community Church’s winter shelter.
St. Michael’s church is ADA compliant. For more information, call 802-254-6048.
Townshend hosts Holiday Festival on Dec. 7
TOWNSHEND — Townshend invites all townspeople and neighboring communities to join their “Holiday Festival” to celebrate the season Sunday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the village center.
A Craft Fair will be open downstairs in the Town Hall, while upstairs, there’ll be a Festival of Trees, presented by Townshend Public Library. In the same space, from noon to 2 p.m., music will be offered by Justice Chickens: fiddler Laurie Indenbaum and Ben Hemmendinger, who plays accordion and guitar.
At 1 p.m. (weather permitting), festival goers can watch a parade of horses from Townshend and neighboring towns. Festively attired horses and riders will begin parading at Leland & Gray Union Middle/High School and travel up to Valley Village before returning to the school.
Santa Claus visits the Town Hall at 2 p.m., and there will be cookie decorating and a holiday craft project, plus cookies and cider for everyone to enjoy. The public is welcome to this free event.
Author event in Marlboro
MARLBORO — On Sunday, Dec. 7, at p.m. at the Marlboro Community Center on South Road, anthropologist Carol Hendrickson will talk about her new book, Why Draw? Drawing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. The book is dedicated to Marlboro College, and the talk will highlight the role that college trips, fellow travelers, and students on campus played in her insights on drawing, sensing the world, and writing different chapters.
Hendrickson will have some of her field journals with her, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own illustrated journal or notebook to share. Refreshments will be served. This event is presented by the Marlboro Town Library.
Senior lunch in Dummerston
DUMMERSTON — Evening Star Grange and Senior Solutions will hold their only “Senior Lunch” in December on Wednesday, Dec. 10, with takeouts available between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and am in-house meal served at noon.
The December menu includes baked ham, scalloped potatoes, corn casserole, and marinated carrots, with gingerbread for dessert. The vegetarian option is quiche. Reservations are encouraged and may be made by calling the grange at 802-254-1138. Leave name, phone number, number of meals desired, and whether meals are for eating in or taking home.
A donation of $4.00 for those 60 and over who are eating in-house and $5 for those 59 and under all take-outs, is suggested. Senior lunches will return to its regular schedule of second and fourth Wednesdays in January.
SEVCA seeks tax volunteers
WESTMINSTER — Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) seeks volunteers to join their free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program this coming tax season. Volunteers help neighbors in Windham and Windsor counties file their taxes, homestead declarations, and property or renter credit claims. No experience is needed, free training is provided, and flexible schedules are available.
A volunteer does not need to be a “tax person” to help. VITA needs greeters, intake volunteers, general support, and certified tax preparers. Foreign language and ASL skills are especially appreciated. For more information, visit sevca.org/volunteer, or contact Emily Strasser at estrasser@sevca.org, call/text 802-428-3032.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.