Around the Towns

Stamp Out Hunger food drive is May 14

BRATTLEBORO - The Stamp Out Hunger food drive, the largest single-day food drive in the United States, is back this year. The drive is organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers and supported by other postal unions and the U.S. Postal Service.

On Saturday, May 14, letter carriers in Brattleboro, Putney, Vernon, and Dummerston will be joining carriers across the nation in once again collecting food to fill local pantries. Neighbors are asked to leave a bag of nonperishable food items by their mailbox. Letter carriers will pick up the food as they deliver the mail, making it easy to participate.

Canned goods including fish and meat, nut butters, dry rice, beans, pasta, cereals and oatmeal, and bottled juice are all great donation items. Please avoid glass containers. Checks for monetary donations, made out to either Vermont Foodbank or the local food shelf of your choice, will also be accepted.

Manitou Healing Walk on May 13

WILLIAMSVILLE - The Manitou Project will hold its Healing Walk, rain or shine, on Friday, May 13, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The walk will be led by Mike Mayer and will include poems or other readings, and chances to share about the experience.

The Manitou Project is located on 300 Sunset Lake Rd. Directions: go 1.4 miles up Sunset Lake Road from Williamsville Village, sign on right. Or approximately 5 miles over the top of Sunset Lake Road from Route 9 in West Brattleboro. Meet at the parking lot at 4 p.m. For information, contact Mayer at 802-258-8598.

Lister sought in Brattleboro

BRATTLEBORO - The Town of Brattleboro is seeking a lister to be appointed by the Selectboard to serve the remainder of a one-year term until March 7, 2023, at which time the candidate can run to be elected for a two-year term.

The candidate must be a registered voter of Brattleboro, understand appraisal methods and property assessment administration in Vermont, be detail oriented, be interested and dedicated to the job responsibilities, have knowledge of the town, and be able to work collaboratively with others. Real estate knowledge preferred but not required.

The Board of Listers meets at least once annually to hear taxpayer grievances, to vote on exemptions, and to appear before the Board of Civil Authority to defend values against appeals of the grievance process. The Board of Listers works closely with the Town of Brattleboro Assessor's Office.

To see more about the Assessors' Office and the role of the Lister in Brattleboro, go to brattleboro.org/assessors-listers.

Town water quality report now available

BRATTLEBORO - The town of Brattleboro Water Department's annual Consumer Confidence Report/Water Quality Report for 2021 is now available. This report can be viewed on-line at brattleboro.org/ccreport.

Printed copies are available at the department of public works, the Tri-Park Co-Op office, the Guilford Country Store, the offices of the Town Clerk and Treasurer at the Municipal Center, and at the Interstate 91 Welcome Center in Guilford. Questions about this report can be addressed to the department of public works at 802-254-4255.

Book sale fundraiser benefits Lydia Taft Pratt Library

WEST DUMMERSTON - The Lydia Taft Pratt Library will host a book sale fundraiser on Saturday, May 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., outside the library at the Dummerston Community Center, 150 West St. Funds raised from this event will go toward the library's budget for print and electronic materials and programs for children, youth, and adults.

The book sale will take place outdoors under a tent, and visitors are asked to maintain a safe distance.

The library is seeking volunteers for the days leading up to the sale and on the days of the sale itself. The library is happy to work with high school students seeking to fulfill their community service obligations. For more information, contact Dena Marger at 802-258-9878 or [email protected].

Dummerston School hosts community work day

DUMMERSTON - The Dummerston School Playground Committee is hosting a community work day on Saturday, May 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and they say they would love to have some fun with your family while making the playground “even more amazing.”

They will have music, food, and people to help watch younger children. There are jobs for all skill levels, so come for an hour or the whole morning. Questions? Email [email protected].

Learn how to identify ferns

DUMMERSTON - The Dummerston Conservation Commission will host “Fantastic Ferns,” a workshop with environmental educator Lynn Levine, founder of the conservation commission and current member. The workshop is on Saturday, May 14 (rain date Sunday, May 15) from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Levine, who has recently written a book called Identifying Ferns the Easy Way: A Pocket Guide to Common Ferns of the Northeast, will give a short talk about ferns, the plants that have survived four extinctions, and then lead participants on a fern walk in East Dummerston.

This workshop is limited to a maximum of 12 people. Participants will receive a free copy of the fern guide as part of their $20 registration fee. Since people will be indoors for the initial portion of this workshop, vaccination is required and masks are needed indoors. Register by emailing [email protected] or by calling 802-254-4717.

All Souls hosts presentation on bald eagles in Vermont

WEST BRATTLEBORO - Wildlife photographer Dara Carleton will give a presentation on bald eagles, including information about the local bald eagle population, and share her stunning photos taken in Windham County and Hinsdale, N.H.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, at 4 p.m., at All Souls Church, located in the West Village Meeting House at 29 South St. Questions are welcome and encouraged.

The talk is part of the ongoing exhibit of wildlife photographs, “The Peace of Wild Things,” that is currently on view through mid-June at the All Souls Church. With a focus on bald eagles and other raptors, Carleton has a deep connection to the creatures she photographs near her home in southern Vermont. These photographs are an artistic reflection of her time immersed in nature and will hopefully serve as an inspiration to explore our local surroundings.

A slide show can be viewed at ascvt.org, and more information is available at daracarletonwildlifephotography.com.

Hospice begins new caregiver support group

BRATTLEBORO - On Thursday, May 19, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Brattleboro Area Hospice will begin a new eight-week Caregiver Support Group. The event will take place at the Winston Prouty Center on Austine Drive and is also available via Zoom. This group is free and open to caregivers who pre-register before the group begins.

Whether you are caring for a sick loved one nearby or far away, the purpose of the group is to enable caregivers to share their experiences in a safe and supportive setting with others who understand.

The group will meet every other Thursday, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Masks will be required for in-person participation.

For more information or to register, contact Patty Dunn, Hospice Care Coordinator, at 802-257-0775, ext. 102, or [email protected].

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