RFPL presents on hemlock woolly adelgid, tree conservation program
BELLOWS FALLS - On Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 11 a.m., Jim Esden, a forester from the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, will speak at the Rockingham Free Public Library about the hemlock woolly adelgid surveys planned for this winter.
Hemlock, Vermont's seventh most common tree, faces an increased assault from the hemlock woolly adelgid, a tiny insect which first arrived in the United States in the 1920s and feeds by sucking sap from hemlock and spruce trees. Losses could be significant, Esden warns. Infested trees may die within four to six years, and survivors will have sparse foliage and lose value as shelter for wildlife. To help protect Vermont's trees and wildlife, the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation is training citizen volunteers to assist with detection surveys.
Esden plans to discuss additional invasive species in Vermont, including the emerald ash borer and the Asian longhorned beetle.
Free and open to the public. For more information, write Alma Beals at [email protected].
New Toastmasters speeches, evaluations set for Jan. 9 at Grad Center
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 club next meets Thursday, Jan. 9.
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 public speaking, evaluation, and leadership goals. For more information, visit http://brattleboro.toastmastersclubs.org.
Thompson House hosts sing-along concert
BRATTLEBORO - Join the singing elders of Thompson House in a concert/sing-along at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, in the first-floor dining room.
Becky Graber leads the singing, with song sheets provided. All are welcome. From “Blue Skies” to “Side by Side,” from “Hail Hail, the Gang's All Here” to “Happy Trails to You,” this is a chance to sing together on a winter's afternoon - and celebrate afterwards with punch and cookies.
For more information, call Activities Director Sandy Ware at 802-254-4977.
ALCU head to speak to Windham World Affairs Council
BRATTLEBORO - The Windham World Affairs Council presents a talk, Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m., by Allen Gilbert, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, on “Surveillance in Vermont."
Gilbert, the ACLU-VT's executive director since 2004, holds a bachelor's degree in history from Harvard and a master's degree in education from the College of William and Mary. He has worked as a reporter and city editor at the Rutland Herald, and as assistant editor of the Sunday Herald-Times Argus.
The event, at Centre Congregational Church on Main Street, is free and open to the public.
Chamber offers leadership development training
BRATTLEBORO - On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce presents a “Morning of Leadership Development” led by Kerry Secrest of Watershed Coaching.
The workshop focuses on two areas: “Bridging the Generation Gap” and “Dealing with Difficult Conversations.”
“Bridging the Generation Gap” aims to shed light on why generational perspectives differ, and what can be done to strengthen these relationships at work. This is especially important for Vermonters, as Vermont has the second oldest population in the United States.
“Dealing with Difficult Conversations” is designed to transform how one handles conflict situations as they arise, for better outcomes both at work and at home.
Kerry Secrest, a Brattleboro-based leadership coach for individuals and organizations, focuses on executive coaching, women's leadership, team coaching, and leadership training. For more information, visit www.watershedcoachingllc.com.
The workshop, 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Brattleboro Retreat Education Conference Center, is open to the public. The cost is $25 for Chamber members; $30 for non-members. A continental breakfast is served. To register, or for more information, contact the Brattleboro Chamber at 802-254-4565 or [email protected].
Vernon Historians to meet on Jan. 14
VERNON - The next Vernon Historians quarterly meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 14, downstairs in the Vernon Town Office Building. A business meeting will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a program with Eric A. Bye, who will speak on the evolution of ignition systems for guns from the late 1500s through the middle of the 19th century.
Bye will bring representative antique wheelock, flintlock, and caplock guns. For more than 16 years, Bye was the editor of Muzzle Blasts, the membership magazine of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA). He is an NMLRA field representative for the state of Vermont, and shoots in competition with flintlock and caplock rifles, pistols, and shotguns. He recently wrote a practical guidebook for flintlock shooters and aficionados.
The event is free and open to all. In the event of a weather cancellation, the meeting will be rescheduled to Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Trustee Chair Peg Frost at 802-254-2263.
Newfane Garden Club to meet
NEWFANE - The Newfane Garden Club will hold a tray favor workshop on Thursday, Jan. 16, at noon, at Newfane Congregational Church.
Attendees should bring a sandwich for the lunch, and a pair of scissors, markers, or other small hand tools and materials to make tray favors, which will be donated to patients at Grace Cottage Hospital. A beverage and dessert are provided.
Hostesses are Betty Horton and Ellie Lemire. Guests are always welcome.
Teacher in-service Days are Nature Days at BEEC
WEST BRATTLEBORO - Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center (BEEC) believes that no child should be left inside on WSESU Teacher in-service days.
“Nature Days” will be offered on the following WSESU in-service days and selected holidays: Jan. 20 and 21; March 4 and 24.
This winter, BEEC's adventures may include exploring winter survival strategies of plants and animals, building a snow fort strong enough for winter survival, uncovering stories, tracking wildlife, and sledding down Heifer Hill.
Nature Days, for children in grades 1 to 5, run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost for a day is $35 for BEEC members and $45 for non-members. For more information and to register, call 802-257-5785 or visit www.beec.org.
Nature Museum celebrates anniversary with free admission
GRAFTON - In honor of its 25th anniversary this year, The Nature Museum at Grafton now offers free admission.
The museum no longer sells annual memberships, but will instead is making this free admission benefit available to all. A free-will donation of any amount is optional.
As in the past, no one will be turned away from any Nature Museum program or event for lack of ability to pay. To request scholarship information for any program, contact the Museum at [email protected] or 802-843-2111.
Located at 186 Townshend Rd. in Grafton, The Nature Museum is open on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., from Columbus Day through Memorial Day, with additional summer hours. The museum can also be open by appointment.
New 2014 code for $12 in-state Amtrak fare
PUTNEY - The $12 one-way fare for in-state Vermont travel on Amtrak will continue in 2014 with a new fare code: V657. Some blackout periods (such as around national holidays and school vacation breaks) apply.
According to Christopher Parker of the Vermont Rail Action Network (www.railvermont.org), the Amtrak website has recently changed, making it more difficult to book this fare online.
Parker suggests calling a 1-800-USA-RAIL and asking for the discount. Reservations must be purchased at least one day prior to travel. The fare is not available on certain peak travel days, and has limited availability, so book as soon as you know you're traveling.