Around the Towns

Town seeks to fill vacancies

BRATTLEBORO - The town is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards: Agricultural Advisory Board, ADA Advisory Committee, Arts Committee, Citizen Police Communications Committee, Design Review Committee (alternate), Development Review Board (full-time and alternate), Fence Viewer (by statute, must be legal voter of the town), Honor Roll, Inspector of Lumber, Shingles & Wood, Planning Commission, Recreation & Parks Board, Senior Solutions Advisory Council and the SEVCA Board (recommendation only).

Applications and more information about various committees and boards can be found on the Brattleboro website, www.brattleboro.org, or by calling the Town Manager's office (802-251-8151). Applications to serve on a Brattleboro committee or board may be submitted online or by sending an email to the Town Manager's office - [email protected] - or by delivering the application to the Town Manager's office.

The Selectboard will make appointments at its meeting on Oct. 3. Applications must be received in the Town Manager's office by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, for appointments at that meeting. Applications received later for seats still available will be considered at future Selectboard meetings.

Stories from the Five Boroughs sought

BRATTLEBORO - Kelley L. Murray has been working to gather stories of people who left New York City to come to live in the Brattleboro area.

Murray says she has about two dozen writers who are participating in her project. They meet monthly to swap stories. The next monthly session is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 29, from noon to 1 p.m., at the River Garden on Main Street.

All are invited to bring along their written work to share, but it isn't required.

Fellowship and apples at Transition Dummerston potluck

DUMMERSTON - Transition Dummerston will hold its monthly potluck and program on Friday, Sept. 29, from 6 to 9 p.m., in Dummerston Center. This month, they will be gathering to help prepare for Dummerston's Apple Pie Festival.

The evening will begin with a potluck supper at the Evening Star Grange at 1008 East-West Rd. At 7 p.m., the group will move across the street to the Dummerston Congregational Church to pitch in to the pie-making effort. Enjoy the fellowship with friends and neighbors around the table, eating a good meal together, slicing apples, and contributing to this important community event.

Questions? Contact [email protected]. Transition Dummerston is part of the international Transition Town network of local initiatives that support resilient communities and well-being in the face of energy, climate, and economic challenges.

Green Street School hosts tag sale

BRATTLEBORO - On Saturday, Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. to noon, the annual Green Street School Tag Sale takes place on the school's lawn at 164 Green St.

There will be furniture, clothing, winter gear, children's toys, sporting equipment, Halloween costumes, books, household goods, and decorative items, plus a bake sale. All proceeds benefit programs for the students of Green Street School.

Moore Free Library hosts book sale

NEWFANE - Friends of the Moore Free Library will hold their 25th annual Book Sale on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The sale will be held inside Union Hall on West Street and will offer more than 2,500 titles from which to choose - some in “like new” condition.

This is the major fundraiser for Friends of the Moore Free Library and will benefit their efforts to further improve library spaces and programming. Contact the Library at 802-365-7948 or [email protected] for more information.

United Church serves fall supper

BELLOWS FALLS - The United Church of Bellows Falls, 8 School St., will host a supper on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

The menu includes ham, baked beans, coleslaw, assorted breads, apple crisp with ice cream, and beverages. The cost is $12 for adults, $6 for ages 6-12, and kids 5 and under eat free. Takeout is available. For advance reservations, call Barbara Brackett at 603-756-4500. The hall is accessible to all; just enter from the back of the building.

'All God's critters' will be blessed at St. Mary's

WILMINGTON - In what has become a tradition, St. Mary's in the Mountains, in Wilmington, invites all to join in celebrating all of God's creation during a fun and meaningful “Blessing of the Animals” service on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m.

While it may seem foreign to a worship service, the congregation of St. Mary's invites their neighbors to join us and bring along their four-footed, two-footed, furred, finned, feathered, or other animal family members to the service. In the spirit of St. Francis, all of our animals will be celebrated in words and song.

Participants are invited to bring their pets, a photo of a pet (whether alive or departed), or a stuffed animal that represents a loved animal, to be blessed during the service. Special music will be part of the service, including some unexpected tunes in which everyone can join.

Fall Osher Lectures on Japan, local authors

DUMMERSTON - The Brattleboro Chapter of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) begins its 14th series of morning and afternoon lectures on Monday, Oct. 2.

In the morning lecture, Seth Harter, a teacher of Asian Studies and history at Marlboro College, will lecture on Japanese ways of seeing, writing, painting, building, cooking, and pursuing other activities, with emphasis on five disciplines. In the afternoon talks, six Brattleboro-area authors will discuss their careers as writers in our community.

In the first Monday morning lecture, Harter will consider Japanese history and culture. In the afternoon, Archer Mayor will discuss his Vermont-based police procedural novels.

The Osher Lectures are held on six successive Mondays at the Vermont Learning Collaborative, 471 US Route 5, Dummerston. Morning lectures run from 10 a.m. to noon; afternoon lectures, from 1 to 3 p.m. Parking and handicapped access are available, and light refreshments are served at the lectures.

The lectures are produced by the Brattleboro chapter of OLLI, a nationwide membership organization sponsoring programs for people 50 and over who wish to continue their education without tests, papers, or grades. Payment of full membership dues ($50) entitles members to attend all 12 lectures in the present series.

Partial memberships ($30) entitle subscribers to attend six sessions in either morning or afternoon, but not both. Couples are welcome to join as full members at a discounted rate of $80 ($50 for partial membership). Lectures are also open to nonmembers for a fee of $6 per lecture. For further information, call Julie Lavorgna: (802) 365-7278, or email [email protected].

Restaurant holds 'Walk for Amber' fundraiser

BRATTLEBORO - The Amber Bernier Scholarship fund is pleased to announce a fundraising event on Tuesday, Oct. 3, hosted by the Elliot Street Fish and Chips restaurant at50 Elliot St.

Dine in or take out an order of fish and chips or other entrees between 5 and 8 p.m., and 50 percent of all sales will go directly to the scholarship fund supporting local young adults pursuing post-secondary education and training.

The Amber Bernier Scholarship was established in 2004 in memory of BUHS senior Amber Bernier. To date, 35 scholarships have been awarded, totaling over $30,000. For more information about the scholarship and the scholarship committee, go to amberbernierscholarship.org or call Debbie Bernier-Sontag at 802-579-8043.

Newfane Garden Club to meet at library

NEWFANE - The October meeting of the Newfane Garden Club will take place on Thursday, Oct. 5, at the Moore Free Library, instead of at the church.

Sally Winchester will present a program on orchids at 2 p.m. The change occurred because there will be Heritage Festival preparations going on at the church that afternoon. Guests are always welcome.

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