Kids can design plates, bowls
BRATTLEBORO — Brooks Memorial Library’s annual Design-A-Plate activity will once again let kids create an 8-inch melamine plate, a 10-inch melamine plate, or a melamine bowl.
Participants can stop by the Children’s Room to pick up a packet with everything for kids to create drawings at home. Return the packet to the library with exact payment ($8 per item, cash or check) by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Plates and bowls will be ready for pickup in early December.
For more information, call the Children’s Room at 802-254-5290, Ext. 1210, or visit brookslibraryvt.org/kids/DAP.
Guided meditation with photos of flowers Oct. 2
WESTMINSTER WEST — Dummerston author Cheryl Wilfong will offer a lightly guided meditation Friday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Westminster West, 44 Church St.
Wilfong will show photos of her flowers as she reads selections from Garden Wisdom 365 Days, which teaches readers to practice mindfulness in the garden.
The day-by-day entries are compiled from Wilfong’s award-winning blog, meditativegardener.com/blog. Wilfong teaches mindfulness when she isn’t outdoors in her gardens. For more information, visit livingearthaction.net.
Annual Trail Walk to raise funds for Valley Village
TOWNSHEND — Valley Village, 461 Grafton Road, will hold its annual Trail Walk Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 4.
Proceeds support Valley Village’s nonprofit mission of providing affordable community housing, care, and compassion for those wishing to age in place.
Advance registration is $20 per participant in person at Valley Village or at valleyvillagevt.org/annual-trail-walk-registration; the cost is $25 on the day of the event.
Every participant will receive a T-shirt and refreshments.
Fall botanical drawing workshop at the library
BELLOWS FALLS — The Rockingham Free Public Library will host a free fall botanical drawing workshop Saturday, Oct. 3, from noon to 1 p.m. Artist Katrina Mayer will lead the workshop, which will take place indoors at the library, 65 Westminster St.
New and seasoned artists are welcome to draw and socialize, inspired by botanical objects that signal fall has arrived.
All materials are provided, but participants are invited to bring their own flowers, pumpkins, gourds, or plants.
For more information, call 802-463-4270, visit rockinghamlibrary.org, or stop by the library.
Harvest Supper Potluck in Marlboro
MARLBORO — The Marlboro Community Center will host a Harvest Supper Potluck Saturday, Oct. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 524 South Road.
Community members are invited to “share friendship and a delicious meal with your neighbors,” organizers said in a news release. The evening will include a raffle for “a basket of harvest goodies,” the release said.
Dinner is by donation, and participants should also bring a main course, side dish, salad, or dessert.
Blessing of the Animals in Wilmington
WILMINGTON — St. Mary’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church at 13 E. Main St. will hold its annual Blessing of the Animals Sunday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m., immediately after the regular Sunday service, which begins at 10.
Participants can come with a pet or can bring a picture of a pet or former pet for the blessing.
This is an annual event on the Feast of St. Francis, according to a news release, and “all plate collections and donations for the service will be given to Windham County Humane Society,” it added.
Refreshments will be available for both people and animals. For more information, contact St. Mary’s at smmvtepiscopal@gmail.com or leave a message at 802-464-9341.
Photo foray on Hogback Mountain
MARLBORO — Local naturalist and photographer Cherrie Corey will lead a free autumn photo foray along the trails of Hogback Mountain Sunday, Oct. 4, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. The group will meet at the Hogback Mountain Conservation Area on Route 9.
Corey will focus on Hogback’s “unique historical artifacts, vistas, and wilder details,” organizers said in a news release. She will teach participants lighting, composition, and perspective techniques “that highlight the unique visual features of the landscape,” the release added.
Registration is required; write to hmca@hogbackvt.org.
Putney’s Main Street Festival returns Oct. 4
PUTNEY — The third annual Putney Main Street Festival will be held Sunday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 4 p.m.
The festival will include bluegrass music by The Stockwell Brothers on the Tavern Lawn, 133 Main St.; bulb planting with students from The Grammar School; a bike “race-around” for kids at Yellow Barn, 61–49 Main St.; and puppeteers from Sandglass Theater performing Fritzi’s Flea Circus at Yellow Barn.
The Putney Farmers’ Market will also be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit discoverputney.com/events for times and other details.
Athens to host forum with Windham-Windsor House candidates
ATHENS — A conversation with local candidates for the Vermont House of Representatives is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4, 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Athens Brick Meetinghouse, 25 Brookline Road.
Incumbent Republican Thomas “Tom” Charlton and Democratic challenger William Hoser are the two candidates vying for the Windsor-Windham House seat, which represents the towns of Athens, Grafton, Windham, and Chester.
The afternoon, which is sponsored by the Athens Historic Preservation Society and the Athens Brick Meetinghouse Committee, will include a forum, with a moderator asking prepared questions of both candidates as well as written questions submitted by attendees.
There will be time to mingle with the candidates over cider and donuts both before and after the forum.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.