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CALENDAR LISTINGS FOR Wednesday, February
15
BRATTLEBORO Standup Comedian Ashley Gavin: Based in NYC, Ashley has been featured on Netflix is a Joke, Hulu, Comedy Central. She is admired for her confidence, authenticity, and unrelenting energy on stage. Ashley was Carnival Cruiseline's first openly gay comedian. She exploded on the internet this year by showcasing her ability to authentically engage and improvise with guests on her podcast and audience members while on stage. 7 p.m. $30 (in advance and at door). The Stone Church in Brattleboro, 210 Main St. Information: Tickets: www.stonechurchvt.com.
GUILFORD Talk About Books: "Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel" by Carl Safina (In-Person/Zoom): What are animals feeling and experiencing? Why do they feel so compelling and close? Who are they? Carl Safina offers an intimate view of animal behavior to challenge the fixed boundary between humans and nonhuman animals. In Beyond Words, readers travel to Amboseli National Park in the threatened landscape of Kenya and witness struggling elephant families work out how to survive poaching and drought, then to Yellowstone National Park to observe wolves sort out the aftermath of one pack's personal tragedy, and finally plunge into the astonishingly peaceful society of killer whales living in the crystalline waters of the Pacific Northwest. 6:30 p.m., 3rd Wed. of every month. This book brings forth powerful and illuminating insight into unique personalities of animals through extraordinary stories of animal joy, grief, jealousy, anger, love. Free. Guilford Free Library, 4024 Guilford Center Rd. Information: Get a copy of this book by calling or emailing the library: 802-257-1350, staff@guilfordfreelibraryvt.org.
BRATTLEBORO Djeli (aka William Forchion) Reads Poetry and Discusses Black History at Brooks Memorial Library: Djeli reads from his most recent book of poetry, "The Day after Juneteenth," and leads a discussion about Black history and where we are today. "Far too often we discuss opposites in order to find commonality. This presentation is a sharing of new perspectives on recentering community," says Djeli - thought leader, life coach, public speaker, lifelong storyteller, former Cirque du Soleil acrobat who has traveled the world collecting stories. 7 p.m. Main Reading Room (wheelchair accessible). Books available for sale and signing. Oral/written traditions, including poetry, can create an atmosphere of curiosity and dialogue, even around difficult topics and help transform overwhelm to overjoy. Free. Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St. Information: 802-254-5290; Click for more info on Web in new window.
BELLOWS FALLS "Top Hat" - 1930s Dance Musical featuring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers: It's love at first dance, until Ginger thinks Fred is her best friend's husband. This film satirizes stuffy upper-class manners while providing sumptuous Hollywood representations of London and Venice. Songs by Irving Berlin including "Top Hat," "White Tie and Tails," "Isn't It a Lovely Day?" and Cheek to Cheek.". 7 p.m. Sponsored by Friends of the Rockingham Library. A Friends of the Rockingham Library table will be set up before the movie to provide info on the Friends activities/invitations to join. The Friends support library activities including "1000 books before Kindergarten," educational and cultural events, state park/museum passes, VT Humanities Council programs. The Hunter Art Studio is providing free triple up treats for each new member of the Friends at $10 or higher level. Tickets: $6. Bellows Falls Opera House, Town Hall, 7 Square. Information: 802-463-4766; Click for more info on Web in new window.
BRATTLEBORO Architecture + Design Film Series: David Hockney at the Royal Academy of Arts (In Person/Online): Today, this monthly series focuses on one of the world's most accomplished painters - David Hockney - and is hosted by local architect Jim Williams. Filmmaker is Phil Grabsky. The series is presented by the American Institute for Architects Vermont Chapter, Burlington City Arts, and 118 Elliot among other sponsors, with simultaneous screenings in Brattleboro and at Burlington City Arts. 6:30-7:55 p.m. (doors open 6 p.m.). Free. One Eighteen Elliot, 118 Elliot St. View online today: https://adfilmseries.org. Questions/special needs: 917-239-8743, 118Elliot@gmail.com.
Taking Steps Brattleboro: Advance Care Planning Weekly Information Sessions (via Zoom): Advance Care Planning ensures that your loved ones and health professionals know what you want in a medical emergency when you are unable to speak for yourself. It's a process of creating a written health care plan (Advance Directive) that tells others what you would want if you couldn't tell them yourself. Advance Care Planning includes discussing choices about end-of-life (EOL) care with your medical provider, family and others. It involves choosing and educating your Health Care Agent and making informed decisions to complete an Advance Directive. Join us and learn more. 10-11 a.m. on Wednesdays. Find out if adding a COVID-19 or Dementia provision would be beneficial to include or add to a previously completed Advance Directive. This is a program of Brattleboro Area Hospice. Free. Zoom. Information: Ruth Nangeroni, Advance Care Planning Program Coord: 802-257-0775 x 101, ruth.nangeroni@brattleborohospice.org.
PUTNEY Richard Powers Speaks for the Trees - Screening and Discussion with Paul Levasseur of Trees for Good: In 2019, Richard Powers published "The Overstory," a fiction masterpiece dealing with the destruction of the environment and the ways humans are conditioned to ignore that destruction. Powers was awarded the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for this work and was interviewed at the Library of Congress National Book Festival that year. Join Paul Levasseur for a screening and discussion of the interview. Paul LeVasseur is co-founder of Trees for Good whose mission is to raise awareness about the importance of trees and to join with others to do something about it. 7 - 8:30 p.m. Free. Putney Public Library, 55 Main St. Information: Questions or to get on the Trees for Good email list: Paul LeVasseur: plevasseurputney@gmail.com, 802-380-2226.
Recovery Day 2023! - Annual Advocacy Celebration to honor the Power of Substance Use Disorder Recovery (Online): Hosted by Recovery Vermont, this is a celebration of recovery and the many pathways of the recovery journey where we can listen to one another's experiences and honor powerful individual transformations. Recovery Day is also an opportunity to learn about the strengths and challenges of the many organizations that offer recovery support in our communities, and to envision what "recovery-friendly communities" could look like across Vermont. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Free. Online. Info: https://recoveryvermont.org/recovery-day-2023 Register: https://tinyurl.com/47acpeur.
WESTMINSTER Meet the Select Board Candidates: Westminster residents are invited to attend a public conversation with the candidates running for the town's two open select board seats. The two candidates are Stephen Major (3-year seat) and Dan Crocker (2-year seat). The sitting Select Board has been invited to join the conversation as well. David Major will moderate the event. This will be an opportunity to share concerns and hopes for our town and to discuss how the community can become more engaged in all aspects of civic life. 7 p.m. (Snow/bad weather - event will take place: Monday, 2/20, 7 p.m.). Westminster Institute, 3534 Route 5. Information: Susan Roman: 802 869-2071.
