Gallery Walk features international face painting
BRATTLEBORO — Au pairs from Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic will be offering free face painting for kids at Brattleboro Gallery Walk Friday, May 1, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Cultural Care will be on the lawn in front of Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St., as part of Gallery Walk’s new event, “Big Blanket Super Picnic.”
Ann Newsmith, local coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair, will also be available to talk with parents about the benefits of hosting an au pair and the process of applying. Cultural Care is the largest au pair organization in the U.S. and works through local representation in southern Vermont to help families assess whether the program is a good fit and to assist in matching families with just the right au pair.
Families provide room, board, and a welcoming environment to a young person from another country in exchange for flexible, live-in childcare. Not only convenient, hosting an au pair is often more cost-effective for families with multiple children, compared to daycare or a nanny. For more information, contact Newsmith at 802-257-4710 or ann.newsmith@lcc.culturalcare.com, or visit culturalcare.com/LCC/anewsmith.
‘Welcome Spring’ crafts fair at All Souls Church
WEST BRATTLEBORO — “Welcome Spring,” a craft fair featuring works by the crafters of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, will be held outdoors Saturday, May 2, 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 up-cycled materials to repurpose, some fun and whimsical, others decorative or downright useful. Among the items for sale are totes of various sizes, flowered wreaths, fairy houses, decorative table mats, as well as many baked goods, jams, plants for inside and out, and a raffle.
A light lunch and snacks will be available for purchase. All Souls UU Church is located in the West Village Meeting House, 29 South St., up the hill from the West Brattleboro Fire Station. For more information, visit ascvt.org, or call 802-254-9377.
Volunteers needed in May for native garden plantings
GRAFTON — The Nature Museum at Grafton has Native Pollinator Garden Planting Days scheduled for two Saturdays, May 2 and 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Organizers say this is an excellent opportunity to learn about habitat restoration, native-plant gardening, and climate-forward stewardship while co-creating a space for people and pollinators to enjoy for years to come.
We’ll begin transplanting plants from our holding beds and integrating locally sourced native plants into our re-designed garden space behind the museum. Interested volunteers are encouraged to register at bit.ly/863-transplant.
Song Fest in Westminster May 2
WESTMINSTER — Everyone is welcome to come sing a song (or just sing along) on Saturday, May 2, from 4 to 6 p.m, at the Butterfield Library on Route 5. Local musician and WOOL-FM radio host and director, Don Dawson, will emcee.
The Kurn Hattin Children’s Choir will open with “Take Me Home, Westminster,” and local musicians, including Ron Bos-Lun, Tom Griffith, and the Orchard Hill Band will offer songs about Westminster and Vermont life in general.
Everyone is invited to bring a song, whether original about Westminster or a song that echoes what we know about the hometown. Refreshments will be served. Email Lise Sparrow at lisemsparrow@gmail.com if you’d like to sign up to sing or for more information. This event is sponsored by the Westminster Inclusion Committee and the Butterfield and Westminster West libraries.
Free community breakfast buffet in West B
WEST BRATTLEBORO — A free community breakfast buffet will be served Sunday, May 3, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at First Congregational Church, 880 Western Ave. The buffet menu includes scrambled eggs, sausage, and apple pancakes, served with Vermont maple syrup. Both wheat and gluten-free muffins, sweet breads, fresh fruit, and hot and cold beverages will also be served.
All food will be cooked and served fresh. All are welcome to enjoy some homecooking. Donations accepted. For more information, call 802-254-9767.
Tree planting in Rockingham, Chester
The Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District has two tree-planting operations planned in the coming days. Volunteers are needed Thursday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to plant trees along Rum Brook in Rockingham; and Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Chester.
Volunteers can join either planting session for as long as they are able. No prior experience is needed. Leaders from the Conservation District will provide know-how, swag, and snacks. If you have a favorite shovel, feel free to bring it along. To RSVP or get event updates, visit windhamcountynrcd.org and click on “Upcoming Events.”
Free trees for Brattleboro residents
BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro residents are eligible to receive free trees to plant in their yards through the Community Canopy Project, a program of the Arbor Day Foundation. Residents can reserve up to two free trees at vtcommunityforestry.org/trees. The online sign-up process guides participants to the best locations to plant trees. Residents can also sign up by calling the Arbor Day Foundation at 855-234-3801.
Four species are available: flowering dogwood, red maple, red oak, and river birch. Trees must be reserved in advance and must be picked up on Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Brattleboro Public Works garage, 211 Fairground Rd.
The tree giveaway is being coordinated by the Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee and the Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program, a partnership between the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and University of Vermont Extension.
Dummerston library seeks book donations
WEST DUMMERSTON — Dummerston Community Center & Library, 150 West St., welcomes book donations for their upcoming “Geranium Festival, Silent Auction & Book Sale” Saturday, May 16.
Donations may be dropped off during open hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 1 to 7 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.