Newfane Garden Club to meet
NEWFANE - The Newfane Garden Club will hold a holiday party and wreath decorating event on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Newfane Congregational Church, beginning at noon.
Attendees should bring a favorite dish for the luncheon, and a small, wrapped gift suitable for patients at Grace Cottage Hospital or for Newfane Meals-on-Wheels recipients. Following the luncheon, wreaths will be decorated for placement on public buildings in Newfane, Brookline, and Townshend. Hostesses are Winnie Dolan and Beverly Bates. Guests are always welcome.
Rockingham library temporarily closing for new shelves
BELLOWS FALLS - The Rockingham Free Public Library will be closed Thursday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 6, to allow for the installation of new shelves in the main section.
Items will not be due during this period. Library materials can be returned in the drop box in front of the library near the sidewalk.
The library is seeking volunteers to help with unpacking and re-shelving the adult collection during the week of Dec. 9-14. If you are interested in volunteering, call 802-463-4270 or write [email protected].
'Making it in the Arts' series continues with Meg Donahue
BRATTLEBORO - How does one make public art in Windham County? Who is the public? What places are truly public? How can artists find support, encouragement, and permission for public art in our Windham County communities? What difference does public art make in our social fabric, and our sense of place?
These are some of the questions to be explored at the seventh public artist dessert potluck and forum hosted by the Arts Council of Windham County, Brattleboro Town Arts Committee, CoreArts, and Building a Better Brattleboro. It will take place Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Works, 118 Main St.
Artist and business entrepreneur Meg Donahue will share her story producing the Angels Project in Brattleboro, which took place during September. The project required fundraising and town and business owner approval to take place.
This talk will explore her background and what was helpful in getting things to work, and the climate and process for making public art happen in Brattleboro and Windham County. A general discussion will follow. Bring your questions and your thoughts on how to make things work better.
Artists and all interested in the topic are invited to attend and to bring desserts to share. Beverages will be provided and donations will be accepted to help pay for expenses.
Holistic health open house at the Vermont Building
BRATTLEBORO - Good health is the greatest gift we can offer ourselves, friends, and loved ones. The Vermont Building is now home to a variety of holistic practitioners, including massage therapists, a certified herbalist, Reiki masters, body and energy workers, and a colon hydrotherapist.
Come experience a sampling of their services on Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. during a holistic health open house at the Vermont Building at 1222 Putney Rd, just a quarter-mile north of the Exit 3 roundabout.
This free open house features several hands-on and informational options, including a short talk on herbs and aromatherapy as relief for holiday stress with Cindy Hebbard, certified herbalist and wellness educator.
Ali Chambliss of Integrative Health Services will speak about benefits of good digestive health and the general process of colon hydrotherapy. Suzan Sutton will offer a deeper understanding about Zero Balancing. Several practitioners from Nellie's Touch, Subtle EBB, and others will provide mini-sessions of therapeutic massage and energy work for your comfort and relaxation.
Wholesome snacks, gift certificates, and discount coupons will be available for attendees.
Toastmasters meeting: speeches and evaluations Dec. 12
BRATTLEBORO - BrattleMasters, the Brattleboro-based chapter of Toastmasters International, meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St., Brattleboro. The next meeting is Thursday, Dec. 12.
Guests are welcome, and refreshments are provided. There is no pressure to speak, and members are working at their own pace and with assigned mentors to help them meet their speaking and leadership goals. For more information, visit http://brattleboro.toastmastersclubs.org.
Ideas sought for redeveloping Marlboro's website
MARLBORO - Marlboro community members are invited for a discussion to help inform the town's website redevelopment. The discussion will focus on learning from citizens about how the website can be more useful.
This discussion will take place at the Marlboro Town Office on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
The town of Marlboro is participating in The Vermont Digital Economy Project: a grant seeking to build resilient communities through the integration of digital tools. As part of the project, Marlboro is partnering with The Snelling Center for Government to redevelop the municipal website.
Messiah Sing presented in BF
BELLOWS FALLS - The United Church of Bellows Falls on School Street will host a Messiah Sing on Sunday, Dec. 15, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Accompanist on the church organ will be William McKim. Come and participate or come and listen to the Christmas portion of this timeless work by George Friderik Handel. Some scores will be available. A free will offering will be received and a time of fellowship and refreshments will follow.
Applicants sought for ZBA/planning seat in Rockingham
ROCKINGHAM - The Town of Rockingham is seeking to fill a vacancy on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission. The appointment would be for the remainder of a term expiring in July 2014.
Anyone interested in applying must complete the Zoning Board/Planning Commission application form and submit it to the Town of Rockingham, Planning-Zoning Office, P.O. Box 370, Bellows Falls, VT 05101, no later than Dec. 23.
The application form is available from the Planning-Zoning Office (802-463-1229, ext. 101), and at www.rockbf.org. Interested individuals should be willing to participate in subcommittees and work groups and to vote impartially on all applications. Duties include review of conditional use applications, site plan reviews, subdivision reviews, and Town Plan preparation.
The ZBA-PC meets approximately every three weeks on Wednesday evenings at the Town Hall.
Rec. Dept. offers birthday party rentals
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department offers two options for birthday party rentals starting Dec. 21.
The Open Gym and Game Room at the Gibson-Aiken Center can be rented on Saturdays through April for $100. This includes a cake and exclusive use of the gym and game room (with basketballs, kickballs, a Wiffle ball set and bases), and the use of the large conference room for cake, snacks and presents. They recommend the party size at 10 to 12. Rental time is 4 to 5:30 p.m. (includes set up and clean up time).
Skating parties are available at the Nelson Withington Rink through March at $85. Includes a cake, admission for 10 skaters/10 skate rentals, and a private room for the party. Rental times available only during public skating hours.
Reservations and payment must be made at the Rec and Parks office, 207 Main St., at least 10 days prior to the scheduled event. A $75 refundable deposit is required for each reservation. For more information, call 802-254-5808.