Help needed for annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner
BRATTLEBORO - The 44th annual Brattleboro Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be served on Thursday, Nov. 24, from noon to 5 p.m., at St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St.
This is a new location for the dinner, which has been at the River Garden on Main Street for the past several years.
This meal is free, but donations and volunteer help are needed to make it happen each year.
To donate, call Ray Branagan at 802-579-4649.
To help with desserts on Tuesday, Nov. 22, call Jim Westbrook at 802-318-2763 or go to www.volunteersignup.org/7WYF7.
Wednesday, Nov. 23, is vegetable preparation day. To sign up, go to www.volunteersignup.org/FPWYL.
To help in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day, go to www.volunteersignup.org/49wjx.
If you can help deliver meals to those who can't make it to the dinner, or if you need a meal delivered to you, contact Peter Miles at 802-254-4687 or [email protected].
If you have any questions about the meal or how to help make it possible, contact Westbrook at [email protected].
Win a turkey dinner for the Great American Smokeout
BELLOWS FALLS - Springfield Medical Care Systems and Greater Falls Connections are participating in the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 17.
Springfield Medical Care Systems is donating a turkey dinner basket to be raffled off to someone who is ready to quit smoking. To be part of the drawing, sign up for a group quit class by Dec. 16, just in time for the Christmas holiday.
Group quit classes and individual tobacco cessation counseling are available at Rockingham Medical Group and at the Springfield Health Center. Quit classes are free, and participants may also receive free or reduced-cost nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges. Employers and community organizations can have free classes brought to their location if they have 10 or more people who would like to create a cessation group.
In the Bellows Falls area, contact Scott Belt at 802-463-9000, ext. 2724, or [email protected] to sign up. In the Springfield area, contact Sarah Doyle at 802-886-8946 or [email protected].
Coffee with a Cop comes to Restless Rooster
BRATTLEBORO - On Friday, Nov. 18, from 8 to 10 a.m., officers from the Brattleboro Police Department and community members will once again come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee.
The event will be at the Restless Rooster, 134 Elliot St., and all community members are invited to attend. Contact Detective Ryan Washburn or Officer Adam Petlock with questions at 802-257-7950.
Halifax senior meal is Nov. 18
HALIFAX - The monthly Halifax senior meal is Friday, Nov. 18, at noon, at the Halifax Community Hall, 20 Brook Rd. in West Halifax.
On the menu is beef stew, Johnnycake, rolls, and dessert. All seniors are welcome, but a call to Joan at 802-368-7733 to reserve a meal is appreciated.
Saxtons River luncheon features Brattleboro Area Hospice
SAXTONS RIVER - Brattleboro Area Hospice is reaching out to better serve the communities of Saxtons River, Bellows Falls, Grafton, Townshend, and Westminster, as well as the greater Brattleboro Area.
On Friday, Nov. 18, at the Saxtons River Cares senior lunch, Kathy Leo, care coordinator for the northern region, will share information about the many free programs Hospice offers the community. A small ensemble from the hospice choir Hallowell will come to sing a selection of songs.
Saxtons River Cares, a program of Saxtons River Community Building, hosts senior lunches once a month at noon in the dining room of Christ's Church at 24 Main Street in Saxtons River. For information or to make a lunch reservation, contact Donna at [email protected] or 802-869-3582.
Transition Dummerston gives thanks for harvest
DUMMERSTON - Transition Dummerston will hold its monthly potluck and program early this month to avoid the Thanksgiving holiday: Friday Nov. 18. from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Dummerston Congregational Church in Dummerston Center.
The theme for this month's program is “Thankful for the Harvest: How Values of the Transition Movement Sustain Us.”
This open discussion will consider: What are we grateful for in the past year? What do we yearn for in the coming year? What “seeds” will we plant for next year's “harvest?” How do we practice values of the Transition movement: ecology, cooperation, stewardship, creativity, community, frugality, and resilience? How can Joanna Macy's “Work that Reconnects” help us to share visions of living in gratitude and hope?
This program is free and open to the public. For information, contact Bill Johnson at 802-257-1020, or Catie at 802-257-2007.
Holiday yard sale, craft fair in Bellows Falls
BELLOWS FALLS - A combination yard sale and holiday craft fair will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Moose Lodge, 59 Westminster St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Set-up for all vendors is Friday night, Nov. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost to reserve an 8-foot table is $20, paid in advance. The craft fair will be held in the lower level, and the yard sale will be held upstairs.
All items are encouraged. Food and beverages will be available to the public on Nov. 19. For more information, contact Diana Spaulding at 802-376-5292 or Ed Thomas at 802-463-4054.
Chili cook-off, dance, and silent auction in Townshend
TOWNSHEND - On Saturday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 9 p.m., Community Hope & Action will host a free chili cook-off and performance by The Barnstormers (featuring Ned Phoenix and Marvin Bentley).
A chili tasting/dinner will be from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Townshend Town Hall; music and dancing will follow upstairs from 7 to 9 p.m. Contact Community Hope & Action at [email protected] or 802-365-4700 if you'd like to bring a crock of chili.
This event will also feature a silent auction to benefit Community Hope & Action as well as L'After, the after-school program in the Windham Central Supervisory Union. This event is substance free and is open to people of all ages, from all towns.
Village Dance Series finishes fall season
DUMMERSTON - An evening of community contra and square dances will take place at the Evening Star Grange in Dummerston Center on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Calling the dance and playing accordion will be Andy Davis of Brattleboro. He will be joined by Laurie Indenbaum on fiddle and Mary Cay Brass on piano. There will be a potluck supper before the dance at 5:30 p.m.
The Village Dance Series, now in its 24th season, provides an opportunity for families and friends to enjoy one of New England's revered traditional pastimes. Prior dance experience isn't necessary, as all the dances are taught.
The program includes traditional New England contra dances, square dances, circle mixers, and couple dances. Admission is $5 for children, $8 for Adults, and $20 for a family. For more information or directions contact Andy Davis at 802-257-1819 or [email protected].
Brattleboro celebrates life of James Banslaben
BRATTLEBORO - A community open house to celebrate the life of James Banslaben has been organized by his “Brattleboro family.” The celebration is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m., at 118 Elliot Street, across from the Central Fire Station.
The gathering will be casual and guests are asked to bring a finger dessert to share (one that doesn't require plates or silverware). As an alternative, Kate O'Connor of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting donations. Coffee will be available.
Bring your “James stories” to share. BCTV will display pictures of James and show videos of him on the monitor at the location.
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service planned
BRATTLEBORO - All are welcome at the First Baptist Church at 190 Main St. for an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
The program will include spiritual leaders and clergy members representing several different faiths who will share scripture, stories, readings, and practices during the service. Music will be performed by a community chorus directed by Peter Amidon.
There will be a free-will collection of contributions and nonperishable food items for Groundworks Collaborative's Food Bank and Overflow Shelter. The Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association has sponsored this event for several years. For more information about the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association, contact Rev. Sandy Daly at 603-256-8682.
BAJC offers Introduction to Judaism classes
BRATTLEBORO - Starting later this month, Cantor Kate Judd offer an 18-week class at the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community in West Brattleboro, exploring some of Judaism's many facets.
Using the Union for Reform Judaism's curriculum, but jumping off in the directions that are prompted by discussion, the class will consider how Judaism approaches life cycle events, God, worship and spirituality, holidays, personal responsibility, justice and mercy, partnership and family life, and more. Jewish culture, Jewish history, and the place of Israel in Judaism will be considered.
Class will meet at BAJC on a weekday afternoon or evening, to be arranged on the basis of the needs of the students. There is no charge for the class, but students will be expected to purchase the URJ Sourcebook and possibly some other books. Contact Cantor Judd for more information: [email protected] or 802-380-1677.