Project COW moves to winter hours
BRATTLEBORO - The Project COW (Community Organic Waste) compost container located by the recycling drop-off containers on Fairground Road will not be open on Wednesdays for the duration of the winter.
Moss Kahler, one of Brattleboro's recycling coordinators, said the site will be closed on Wednesdays from now until March, when Daylight Savings Time resumes. The container will continue to be open Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon.
Project COW accepts more than what goes into the typical backyard compost pile, such as raw and cooked fish and meat, cooking oils and fats, and lower grade and soiled paper such as paper plates, cups, napkins, and towels. It also accepts kitty litter.
Those with questions about Project COW, or who would like to volunteer on Saturday mornings, may contact Kahler at 802-257-4445 or by email.
Winter Farmers' Market opens for sixth season on Nov. 5
BRATTLEBORO - The Winter Farmers' Market opens for its sixth season on Nov. 5, with more than 30 vendors appearing Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the River Garden on Main Street.
“I can't believe this is our sixth season at the River Garden,” said Market Manager Sherry Maher. “We now have more area farmers planting more winter storage crops, or exploring season extension for winter greens, at least in part because they have a regular outlet at the Winter Farmers' Market.”
Returning vendors include Dwight Miller Orchards, Fertile Fields Farm, Deep Meadows Farm, Wild Shepherd Farm, Susan Dunning's Potteryworks, Orchard Hill Breadworks, Cai's Dim Sum, Putney Mountain Wines and many more. There are many new vendors as well. Come for the local farm produce, and homemade products, and stay for lunch and live music.
The market will be open every Saturday from November through March 31, with extended hours for holiday shopping in December. For more information, contact Maher by email or call 802-869-2141. The Winter Farmers' Market is a project of Post Oil Solutions.
Annual corn chowder luncheon set
BELLOWS FALLS - The Women's Fellowship of the United Church of Bellows Falls will hold its annual corn chowder luncheon and sale on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the church on School Street, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The luncheon will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and includes chowder, choice of sandwiches, apple crisp and beverages. Cost is $7 for adults, $3.50 for children 10 and under. An a la carte menu will be available.
The sale includes baked goods, and a raffle of a basket of chocolate goodies, a certificate for a turkey from Lisai's Market, and a gift certificate to Halladay's. The church is handicapped accessible. Enter from the back of the building.
Masons honor Livermore at 'Ladies at the Table' banquet
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Lodge #102 Free & Accepted Masons, under the leadership of Worshipful Master Robert Baldauf, will host the 14th annual “Ladies at the Table Banquet,” at the Masonic Center on Main Street in Brattleboro on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.
The roast beef banquet will be offered to members of the Masonic Family and general public for $20 per person and $35 per couple.
This year, the Masons will have as their guest speaker the Executive Director of Building a Better Brattleboro, Andrea Livermore. She has served in that capacity since her appointment in March 2007. Prior to that, she served as Executive Director of Youth Services, Inc. and United Way of Windham County.
Livermore holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Western New England College. Her undergraduate studies took place at Green Mountain College and at the University of New Hampshire. She is also a 2004 graduate of the Vermont Leadership Institute of the Snelling Center for Government, Vermont's public policy and leadership organization.
She serves as a member of the Brattleboro Savings & Loan board of directors. She is a Selectboard member in the town of Marlboro, where she lives. She was recently appointed to the Vermont Community Development Board by Gov. Peter Shumlin. She sits on the Crosby Fund Advisory Committee and the Community Impact Team for United Way of Windham County. Additionally, she is a corporator for Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and a member of the Vermont Community Foundation.
Tickets are available from Baldauf at 802-258-9867, or Worshipful Past Master Steve Farrington at 802-257-0464.
Valley Cares presents art show, open house on Nov. 6
TOWNSHEND - Valley Cares presents its annual Fall Open House to celebrate the fourth anniversary of West River Valley Assisted Living. The event will be held on Sunday, Nov. 6 from 2-4 p.m.at West River Valley Assisted Living on Townshend Road (Route 35). Light refreshments will be served.
In conjunction with the open house this year, Valley Cares will feature an art show with the theme, “The Visible Family.” Works will be on exhibit in a variety of media to be enjoyed by the residents and visitors.
The exhibiting artists will include several residents, and some of their family members, staff of Valley Cares, board members, volunteers and friends. Among those represented in the art show will be several locally renowned artists and fine art photographers, a few of whom enjoy national and even international recognition.
Family, friends, and any members of the public interested in visiting West River Valley Assisted Living, learning more about them, or just enjoying the art show are encouraged to attend. For more information, call Dawn Slade, Valley Cares recreation and volunteer coordinator, at 802-365-7190, ext. 107.
Fitness classes begin at Gibson-Aiken Center
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department offers a new series of fitness classes, four days a week, at the Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St. Instructor Cyndy Gray will offer the following classes:
• Yoga on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:10 to 1:10 p.m. in the Gymnastics Room, beginning Nov. 7. This is a class based on traditional yoga posture and breath-work designed in a flowing sequence with emphasis on a balanced approach.
• Pilates will be held on Tuesdays from 12:10 to 1:10 p.m. in the Gymnastics Room, beginning Nov. 8. This class is based on the traditional Pilates exercises to strengthen and stabilize the core. The core consists of the abdominals, hip, back, and shoulder joints.
• Yoga/Pilates on Fridays from 12:10 to 1:10 p.m. in the Gymnastics Room, beginning Nov. 11. This class is a combination of Yoga and Pilates.
Fees for the Yoga and Pilates classes are based on an eight-week session and will be as follows. For residents, the cost is $50 for one class a week, $60 for two classes a week, $75 for three classes a week, and $90 for four classes a week. Non-residents should add $20 to these prices. Sessions will be pro-rated if they are under eight weeks.
Anyone over 18 years old is welcome, and the instructor can accommodate special needs. You may sign up at any point and attend any or all classes. The classes can be modified to fit all levels of ability. For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Department at 802-254-5808.
Meeting looks at water quality of Saxtons, Williams rivers
BELLOWS FALLS -Laurie Callahan, coordinator for the Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) monitoring program, will lead a discussion with members of the Rockingham community who participated in water monitoring on the two rivers.
The presentation and discussion takes place Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St.
Marie Caduto, state watershed coordinator, and David Deen, river steward for Connecticut River Watershed Council, will also participate. Included will be the history of the monitoring program, factors that affect the water quality in the two rivers, and a presentation of the 2011 water test results with comparison to past data.
Also included in discussion topics will be short-term and long-term implications of the massive flooding from Hurricane Irene, as well as what town and community members can do to help maintain and improve the rivers' water quality and overall health/
This free event is co-sponsored by the Rockingham Conservation Commission, The Nature Museum, Rockingham Free Public Library, and Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society.
West River Community Group hosts potluck supper, concert
WEST TOWNSHEND - On Thursday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 p.m., the West River Community Group, which sponsors the events at the former West Townshend Country Store, will hold its annual meeting. Following the meeting, there will be a potluck supper and a concert by Hungry Town.
Come and find out about the community organization, bring a dish to share, and then listen to some great music with your friends and neighbors. If you can't make it to the whole thing, the dinner will be around 6:30 p.m. and music will start around 7 p.m.
For more information, contact Sally Newton.
Medicare D information session presented in Dummerston
WEST DUMMERSTON - Dummerston Cares is sponsoring a free Medicare D information program for all area seniors on Monday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m. in the Dummerston Community Center on West Street.
The program will be given by two staff members of Senior Solutions (formerly known as the Council on Aging ). They have had special training in all aspects of the program and will be able to answer questions.
The Medicare enrollment dates this year have changed and enrollment ends on Dec. 7. It is recommend that all seniors who are enrolled in the Medicare D program check the current status of their plans to be sure they still cover their needs. Plans that could save on premiums are also available.
Organizers describe the event as a good opportunity to find out how to research what different plans cover and their cost. The program will be followed with a free light lunch; reservations are appreciated for those staying.
For more information, call 802-257-5800 and leave a message.
Public invited to 'Smart Grid' presentation in Vernon
VERNON - State Rep. Mike Hebert, R-Vernon, will host a free presentation and community discussion on the smart grid with Brian Otley from Green Mountain Power, who will talk about “upgrades that are bringing greater reliability and operational efficiencies to the electric grid,” organizers say. He will also describe the timeline for installing smart meters on local homes and businesses, which will lead to new opportunities for customers to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on electricity.
“Smart grid” refers to the installation of digital control devices and communication technology throughout the electric grid, which will continuously relay information to utilities about equipment performance, potential or existing outages, electric demand, and usage. This will allow utilities to use power more efficiently and address problems quickly. The result will be an electric system that is more reliable, makes better use of existing equipment, and will more easily be able to integrate small-scale renewable energy projects.
Over the next two years, about 80 percent of Vermont households will have smart meters installed. Smart meters and other tools will eventually allow customers to actively manage their use of energy, saving money and reducing demand during the peak periods when utilities rely on expensive, polluting fossil fuel generation sources.
Vermont's smart grid development project is a result of Department of Energy funding awarded in 2009 to a statewide collaborative of Vermont electric utilities. Over the three-year award period, the funding will cover half the cost of system upgrades that will lay the foundation for eventual full deployment of smart grid technology in Vermont.
The presentation takes place Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Vernon Elementary School, 351 Governor Hunt Rd.
For more information about the Smart Grid, visit Green Mountain Power's website. For more information about this presentation, contact Hebert at 802-254-3619 (home), 802-451-9088 (cell), or by email.