Broad Brook Grange presents Father's Day Brunch
GUILFORD - Broad Brook Grange will present its 16th annual Father's Day Brunch on Sunday, June 17, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Grange hall in Guilford Center. The proceeds from the event will allow for continued renovations of the historic building.
The all-you-can-eat brunch features eggs and omelets, any style, made to order. Also on the menu are pancakes, French toast, sausage, bacon and home fries, with Guilford maple syrup. Other treats include home-baked coffee cakes and other baked goods, fresh fruit salad, and bread for toasting. A selection of juices will be available, along with coffee, teas and milk.
No reservations are necessary for the meal, which is priced at $10 for adults; $8 for seniors, and $5 for ages 2-12. Kids under two are free. Broad Brook Grange is at 3940 Guilford Center Road, 4 miles west of the Guilford Country Store. For more information, call 802-257-1961.
St. Michael's Episcopal Church to hold services at River Garden, Guilford
BRATTLEBORO - This summer, St. Michael's Episcopal Church will offer worship services at the River Garden, 153 Main St., and Christ Church in Guilford.
St. Michael's will be out of their church building for about four months because of major construction. “We see this as a real opportunity for our church to be more present in the communities of Brattleboro and Guilford. We hope people who are seeking a community of faith will check out us out,” said the Rev. Mary Lindquist.
Sunday services will be held at 8 a.m. at Christ Church and 10:15 a.m. at the River Garden beginning June 17. St. Michael's expects to be at these locations through September. For more information, visit www.stmichaels-vt.org.
Book sale continues through June
BRATTLEBORO - The Friends of the Brooks Memorial Library sold more than $2,500 during the 11th annual Strolling of the Heifers book sale.
There are still many good books, DVDs, and other titles available for sale through the end of June on the Library's main floor. For more information, contact the Library at 802-254-5290, ext. 0.
New community art project to commemorate AIDS struggle
BRATTLEBORO - The town of Brattleboro has approved a proposal to create a mural on the concrete wall in the parking lot between High and Grove streets to commemorate 30 years of the AIDS epidemic in this country.
Any community member can purchase and paint a space on the wall for a donation of $1-$20 to the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont. Painting will take place June 24, with paint provided on site.
The mural will be reminiscent of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, with community members each painting 3 x 6 foot squares on the wall. Painting should follow the guidelines of the quilt, listed at www.aidsquilt.org. Artists of all experience levels are welcome, and assistance will be provided for anyone needing help getting their design underway.
This project was proposed by Ken Schneck, Brattleboro Selectboard member and Dean of Students at Marlboro College, to mark the 30th year of the recognized AIDS epidemic in the United States.
“We want to give community members an opportunity to reflect on that experience in an alternative medium, while still echoing the AIDS Memorial Quilt,” he said.
The Concrete Quilt is part of a month-long celebration of gay Pride, brought to the community by Crossroads, the Men's Program, This Show is So Gay, Homo Promo and Brattleboro Pride. For more information about the show or the other Pride events, go to www.mensprogram.org or call 802-254-4444.
Chestnut restoration efforts is subject of talk
MARLBORO - The American Chestnut tree once made up a huge part of our Eastern forests, but starting in 1903, over a period of 50 years, a blight wiped out these majestic trees over their entire range from Maine to Georgia.
Over the past 28 years, the American Chestnut Foundation (www.acf.org) has been working to breed blight-resistant trees that will help to restore this tree to its former home range. Former American Chestnut Foundation employee and museum director Ed Metcalfe will give a free talk about this work and the current state of chestnut restoration at the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum on Saturday, June 16 at 4 p.m. Call 802-464 5494 for more information.
Free summer rec program begins June 18
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department will sponsor a free summer program of afternoon fun for children 5-12 years of age.
It will be held on Monday through Thursday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Living Memorial Park beginning June 18 and continuing through June 29.
Announcements of the day's activities will be made at the pool. Games will be played on the lower softball field. This program will be run by the Summer Recreation Staff. For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Office at 802-254-5808.
Local AARP chapter to meet June 19
BRATTLEBORO - Claudia McCarthy of Senior Solutions will speak about services for local senior citizens at the Brattleboro AARP Chapter 763 meeting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19 in the Senior Center. Formerly known as the Council on Aging, Senior Solutions has an office on site and offers counseling and help to elderly residents.
While this is a regular membership meeting, anyone interested in learning more about Senior Solutions and its programs is cordially invited. Also anyone who has become a national AARP member is invited to join the local organization, by paying $4 for annual dues.
Chapter 763 does not meet during July and August. The next meeting will be a picnic at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 18. For more information, call 802-387-4060.
Brattleboro Community Conversations resume on June 21
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Community Conversations, sponsored by Transition Brattleboro, will be returning to the community room at Samuel Elliot Towers, 107 Elliot St., on the third Thursday of the month, starting June 21.
After introductions, participants will address this month's topic - sharing a story from your life (or your family's life, or people close to you now) about the 1970s that illustrates what was happening then with regards to the global financial market, energy, or climate change. and then examine what has emerged since.
On-going themes from past meetings, such as community gardens, the Harmony Park plan, disability issues, and the idea of local work, may also come up.
There will be time for socializing starting at 6 p.m., and the meeting runs from 6:30 -8:30 p.m. This monthly gathering is free and newcomers are encouraged to join in. Bring your ideas and your friends. For information, visit www.transitionbrattleboro.org.
Brattleboro Fourth of July parade signups are due June 22
BRATTLEBORO - The “By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth” citizens committee has set June 22 as the deadline for participants to sign up for the town's 39th annual Independence Day parade.
The volunteer group, working with the Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department, is inviting floats, musicians and marching units that adhere to a set of safety rules and appeal to spectators of all ages and backgrounds.
The July 4 march along Canal and Main streets to the town Common will feature not only its usual bands and community units but also several recreations of scenes from the 1912 Brattleboro Pageant, which dramatized the community's history and hopes a century ago before a crowd of thousands at Connecticut River's now flooded Island Park.
The 10 a.m. parade will be followed by an afternoon and evening of free public festivities at Living Memorial Park, with concerts by the Brattlyn Brothers and Peter Miles Band leading up to a 9:30 p.m. fireworks finale. Participants can request a signup form with a full set of guidelines by emailing [email protected].
Saxtons River Fourth of July parade seeks entrants
SAXTONS RIVER - The Saxtons River Fourth of July committee is seeking entrants in its signature parade.
Musical, children's, homegrown, sports, family and other groups are invited to take part. The parade line up is at 9 a.m. at Vermont Academy, with step off at 10 a.m. Awards are made for best musical, best children's, most comic and best overall floats. Points are given for following this year's theme “Growing Together.”
Those who want to participate should contact the line-up organizer at [email protected].
BMH nutrition assistant wins Strolling of the Heifers bread baking competition
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Nutrition Assistant/Supervisor Anna Piergentili was the Grand Prize winner of the 2012 Great New England Bread Baking competition, which took place during the Friday evening activities of this year's Strolling of the Heifers weekend.
Piergentili's winning entry was Pannettone Quick Bread, an Italian bread which she describes as having “an orange flavor, with some vanilla and dried fruit.” She received a trophy, a $200 gift certificate from King Arthur Flour and a King Arthur Gift basket for being the best of the 15 finalists.
A resident of East Dummerston, Piergentili has been with BMH Nutrition Services for five years. Although she doesn't have much chance to bake in her position, she makes pies every Thanksgiving to help raise funds for the Dummerston School. A copy of the winning recipe is available on the BMH web site, www.bmhvt.org.
Volunteers needed for curbside compost program
BRATTLEBORO - The Town of Brattleboro and Triple-T Trucking are soliciting users of the curbside trash and recycling system to participate in a three month curbside compost pilot program that will start in late July or early August, and continue for three months.
According to Moss Kahler, the former town Recycling Coordinator who recent has been re-hired by the town and Triple-T for a six month period to coordinate and oversee the upcoming curbside pick up of compost, “We need a pilot program to work out the kinks, identify problems and find solutions. After that, the service will be offered town-wide.”
The compost collected curbside will go the Windham Solid Waste Management District's new composting facility on Old Ferry Road. There it will be mixed and monitored. After nature's biologic activity has worked its magic, the resulting nutrient-rich compost will be made available to the public.
During the pilot program, compost will be picked up every week on Friday. When the service is extended to the entire town, both recycling and compost will be picked up weekly on the residents' usual day of the week. This is a change from the current schedule which picks up recycling every other week.
Brattleboro residents who would like to participate in the pilot program or who have questions should email [email protected], or contact the town of Brattleboro, Triple-T Trucking, the Windham Solid Waste Management District or go to the 'Brattleboro Recycles' Facebook page. All participants must have an active email address.