Can you spot a scam? Get fraud-prevention tips from an AARP expert
DUMMERSTON — Dummerston Cares presents “Scams, Fraud and Con Artists: Coming to a Computer Near You” Thursday, Sept. 24, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the community room at Dummerston Congregational Church, 1535 Middle Rd.
After a brief annual meeting of Dummerston Cares, Elliott Greenblott from AARP Vermont’s fraud-prevention program will discuss current online threats, how to recognize malicious emails and pop-ups, and how to detect Wi-Fi security issues when using tablets and smartphones. A Q&A will follow, and light refreshments will be served. RSVP at the Dummerston Cares Message Line, 802-257-5800, or info@dummerstoncares.org.
Anti-fraud Senior Medicare Patrol comes to Londonderry
LONDONDERRY — Neighborhood Connections will host a talk by a representative from the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program Friday, Sept. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5700 Mountain Marketplace.
The discussion will focus on the latest healthcare scams and how older adults can help prevent Medicare-related fraud, including identity theft.
SMP is a private nonprofit funded by the federal government’s Administration for Community Living. The organization trains older adults to detect and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse. Call Neighborhood Connections at 802-824-4343 to reserve a spot.
‘Listen’ to stone walls at the library and in the woods
WARDSBORO — Geochemist John Delano will present “If Walls Could Talk,” exploring the history, legacy, and geology of old stone walls, Saturday, Sept. 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Wardsboro Public Library, 170 Main St.
Immediately after the talk, members of the Wardsboro History Group will lead a caravan to South Wardsboro, where participants can explore several stone walls and cellar doors during a short hike.
Delano, who grew up in New Hampshire and was formerly a professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York, has both personal and scholarly connections to the old stone boundary walls found in wooded areas throughout New England and upstate New York.
In addition to mapping the walls near his family’s property “to discover the stories of the builders,” organizers said, Delano used LiDAR (light detection and ranging) on more than a thousand miles of wall to help track centuries-long shifts in the location of the north pole.
Admission is free, with donations encouraged. RSVP at wardsboropubliclibrary.org/calendar-of-events.
Games, songs, and crafts under the harvest moon Sept. 28
BRATTLEBORO — The Asian Cultural Center of Vermont will hold its annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Monday, Sept. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kiwanis Shelter at Living Memorial Park, 61 Guilford St.
The festival begins with a potluck dinner and will feature paper lanterns, crafts, games, songs, and Chinese exercises as well as a traditional story about the goddess of the moon and the elixir of immortality.
The Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years and “is one of the most important celebrations in Chinese culture,” organizers said in a news release.
The event is free and will be held rain or shine. For more information, call 802-579-9088 or visit accvt.org.
Arts-centered grief support group to meet weekly in Vernon
VERNON — Center for Solace will offer a Healing Arts Grief Support Group Wednesdays, Sept. 30 through Nov. 18., from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Governor Hunt House Community Center, 322 Governor Hunt Rd.
The group is designed for anyone experiencing loss, and no artistic experience is necessary, according to a news release. Organizers aim to create “a welcoming sanctuary” where painting, drawing, and writing can “help participants express thoughts and emotions that often can be difficult to put into words,” the release said.
Registration closes Monday, Sept. 28. To register or learn more, contact Lars Hunter, coordinator of the center’s Bereavement Program, at 802-257-2471 or lars.hunter@cfsolace.org.
Get On Board helps volunteers be more effective community servants
BRATTLEBORO — Get On Board, a workshop series designed to cultivate and support local volunteers, is scheduled at venues throughout southern Vermont in October and November. The workshops will be held on four Saturdays: Oct. 3 in Townshend, Oct. 17 in Manchester, Nov. 7 in Wilmington, and Nov. 14 in Putney.
The Get On Board series, organized by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC), covers “community-led projects, Vermont local government, nonprofit leadership, and turning ideas into action,” according to a news release.
Participants can attend individual workshops for $25, but there is a discount for attending multiple sessions. BDCC also offers scholarships and can help participants find sponsors. To learn more and sign up, go to bit.ly/bdcc-get-on-board.
BrattleMasters helps people prepare for public speaking
BRATTLEBORO — BrattleMasters, a local branch of the club Toastmasters International, meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 6 p.m. in the Windham Regional Career Center, next to Brattleboro Union High School.
The club helps people build public speaking skills, like presenting to groups, speaking off the cuff, or “sharing personal stories to motivate others,” according to a news release. BrattleMasters members give speeches, respond to impromptu questions, and give and receive constructive feedback, the release said.
To attend BrattleMasters in person, enter at 70 Atwood St. For a Zoom link, email Carolyn at onlyhandy@gmail.com.
Red Cross seeks volunteers for blood drives and beyond
The American Red Cross is seeking volunteers in southern Vermont to support a variety of programs in the community, from helping at regular blood drives to responding to local disasters, such as home fires and floods.
Applicants must be 18 or older and pass a background check to become Red Cross Disaster Responders, but youth volunteers 14 and up may be eligible for other volunteer roles.
“Volunteers carry out 90% of the humanitarian work of the Red Cross,” according to redcross.org. To learn more and apply, visit redcross.org/VolunteerNNE or email volunteer recruiter Frank Grima at Frank.Grima2@redcross.org.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.