Around the Towns

Farm Bureau offers scholarships for county students

BRATTLEBORO - The Windham County Farm Bureau has scholarships available for county residents who are planning to attend college in advance of careers in agriculture.

Scholarships of up to $1,000 per semester are available by applying to the Farm Bureau by Friday, April 1.

Applications are available by contacting Carlene Hellus at [email protected] or 802-254-3601.

Birdhouse building workshop offered

EAST DUMMERSTON - The Conservation Commission invites you to build a bluebird birdhouse on Saturday, March 19, at 3 p.m. All materials will be provided, but participants will need to bring a Phillips head screwdriver or drill.

The workshop is limited to 12 people, and registration is required to make sure that there are adequate supplies.

To register and for further information, contact Lynn Levine at [email protected] or 802-254-4717.

Senior meal served in Dummerston

DUMMERSTON - Evening Star Grange and Senior Solutions of Southeastern Vermont invite you to attend the Fourth Wednesday Senior Lunch on Wednesday, March 23, at the Grange Hall at 1008 East-West Rd.

The menu includes chicken parmesan (or vegetarian chicken) over pasta; four-bean salad, and garlic bread, with maple bread pudding for dessert.

The dining room has reopened for eat-in meals, but takeout meals will continue to be available between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Those eating in can arrive at noon and must wear a mask while going through the serving line.

Suggested donation is $4 ($3 for those 60 and older).

Reservations are requested by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22 to ensure that volunteers can plan for adequate food. Call the Grange at 802-254-1138 and reserve your meal by leaving your name, phone number, and whether you are eating in or want a take-out.

Discussion looks at Rockingham Meeting House conservation efforts

ROCKINGHAM - For 235 years, the Meeting House has graced a hilltop overlooking Rockingham Village, cared for by generations who have stepped up to keep its walls straight and true. What does the future hold? How best to steward this National Historic Landmark for future generations?

Come join a community conversation, “The Future of the Rockingham Meeting House,” in the Lower Theater of the Bellows Falls Opera House on Thursday, March 24, at 7 p.m.

To start the conversation, the commission will present a short history of the meeting house, its current state, and future conservation needs.

“The intent of this gathering is to look at the conservation challenges faced in maintaining a building of this type and age,” John Leppman, chair of the Rockingham Town Historic Preservation Commission and president of the Rockingham Meeting House Association, said in a news release.

“This is not a fund-raising event, but rather a time for our community to come together and reflect upon what we need to do to preserve what is the oldest public building in Vermont and one of the very few early style New England meeting houses still standing in its original form,” Leppmann said.

The event is sponsored by the Rockingham Meeting Association in partnership with the Rockingham Historic Preservation Commission. For access to the conversation via Zoom, register by email at [email protected].

Prom shopping returns to Chester-Andover Family Center

CHESTER - It's prom season, and the Chester-Andover Family Center, 908 VT 103, is celebrating with an open house prom shopping event on Wednesday, March 30, from 3 to 7 p.m., at the Family Center.

This is an opportunity for area teens to find their perfect prom outfit from a large selection of promwear, including more than 100 dresses, suits, and tuxedos as well as shoes, shirts, ties, wraps, and jewelry. All are either new or in like-new condition.

At a suggested donation of $20, promgoers can put together a dress or tux outfit with all the accessories. If you cannot make it to the open house, the Prom Room will be open for shopping during regular Thrift Shop Hours during April and May.

Thrift shop hours are Thursdays, 1 to 4 p.m., Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Follow the Chester-Andover Family Center on Facebook, or call the Center at 802-875-3236.

Teams urged to register for May 21 youth fundraiser

BRATTLEBORO - Teams are sought now for Youth Services' newest fundraiser, “CORNSTOCK: Cornhole for a Cause!,” which will take place on Saturday, May 21, from noon to 6 p.m. at Retreat Farm's Farmhouse Square.

According to organizers, there will be something for everyone at this event: cornhole matches for groups of four or more people every hour on the hour, along with food trucks, the Thirsty Goat Pub, the Creemie Stand, and live music.

The goal is to raise $20,000 to support Youth Services' 20 vital programs in Windham County.

The $25 early registration fee per player is waived for those willing to find sponsors through peer-to-peer fundraising, and incentive prizes are offered at all levels of fundraising.

The registration fee doubles to $50 per person on the day of the event, if lanes are still available. Spectators are welcome at the gate (suggested donation, $5) .

For more information or to register a team of four or more, visit youthservicesinc.org/cornstock, email [email protected] or call 802-257-0361, ext. 131.

Prevent Child Abuse Vermont offers free prevention training

BRATTLEBORO - All adults can protect children from sexual abuse with some knowledge and skills. Thanks to a generous grant from the Fanny Holt Ames and Edna Louise Holt Fund, child sexual abuse prevention education is now available live, online, and free to all adults living and working in the Holt Catchment Area.

Eligible towns include Andover, Athens, Brookline, Chester, Grafton, Jamaica, Londonderry, Rockingham, Springfield, Townshend, Westminster, Weston, and Windham. Sessions are being provided by Prevent Child Abuse Vermont's expert trainers.

The sessions are two hours, and participants will increase their knowledge and acquire skills to support their efforts to protect children and youth from child sexual abuse and exploitation.

To register, contact Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Trainer Joy Kitchell at [email protected].

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