League of Women Voters hosts candidates forum
BRATTLEBORO - The League of Women Voters, Southeastern Unit, will again sponsor a candidates forum, in partnership with BCTV, at which at least four candidates for the Vermont Senate will present their views.
The Conversation with Candidates is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 30, from 6 -7 p.m., in the Hannah Cosman Room in the Municipal Center on Main Street, with League member Janet Cramer as moderator. It will be broadcast live, and the public is invited. Those who have agreed to participate include Sen. Jeanette White, Peter Galbraith, Lynn Corum and Hilary Cooke.
To conform with the time constraints of a live telecast, questions from the audience will be accepted at the conclusion of the broadcast. The moderator will continue to ensure the candidates will have equal and full opportunities to respond. General areas sure to be covered during the broadcast include Vermont Yankee, health care in Vermont, the state budget/Challenges for Change and transportation in Vermont.
The League is non-partisan, but encourages the public to participate actively in the party or campaign of their choice. It encourages all local residents to register to vote now, and to vote in the upcoming elections Nov. 2. For more information, contact Judith Myrick, 802-257-4616.
Union Institute hosts Brattleboro Area Education Fair
BRATTLEBORO – Union Institute & University, a private, non-profit university, will host the first Brattleboro Area Higher Education Fair on Thursday, Sept. 30, from 5-7 p.m. at VABEC on Old Guilford Road.
The event is co-sponsored by the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce as part of their September Swing into Fall series and will feature representatives from a number of Brattleboro-area colleges and universities including: Community College of Vermont, Marlboro College, SIT Graduate Institute, Greenfield Community College, Union Institute & University, Keene State College and Landmark College.
Michele Delhaye from VSAC will also be present to answer questions about financing education.
The education fair is for students and parents, as well as faculty and staff from local colleges who want to learn more about the number of higher education institutions located in the Brattleboro area. Representatives will be on hand to answer questions about a number of important topics including: graduate education; low-residency and online degree programs; study abroad; and choosing between a two-year specialized or community college.
The event will feature door prizes and light refreshments. For more information contact [email protected], or 802-257-9411.
Flu shot clinics at Grace Cottage
TOWNSHEND - Flu shot clinics for members of the public age 18 and older will be held at Grace Cottage Family Health, Route 35, on Thursday Sept. 30, from 5-7 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon. The flu shot cannot be given to anyone with an allergy to eggs.
No advance appointment is needed. The cost of the shot, if not covered by health insurance, is $42.25. For more information, call 802-365-4331.
For more information on flu shots, visit the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (www.cdc.gov), the Vermont Department of Health website (www.healthvermont.gov) or call the Vermont helpline at 2-1-1.
Grace Cottage Hospital offers Friday Yoga
TOWNSHEND - Grace Cottage Hospital has openings in its Friday yoga class. The next six-week session starts Oct. 1, from 3:30-5:00 p.m., in the hospital's Community Wellness Center, 133 Grafton Road (Route 35).
The class is taught by Crystal Mansfield, who is Grace Cottage Hospital's Rehabilitation Services and Wellness Director and a certified yoga instructor. The cost for the yoga class is $25 for six weeks, or $5/week drop-in fee. To register, call 802-365-3649.
'Souper Gigantic Book Sale' in Newfane this weekend
NEWFANE - A “Souper Gigantic Book Sale” will be held at the Newfane Union Hall on Oct. 2 and 3 to benefit the Moore Free Library.
The Friends of the Moore Free Library, the sponsors of the event, are also making homemade soup to go as part of the sale. Doors open at 10 a.m. both days and close at 4 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Call Librarian Meris Morrison at 802-365-7948 for further information.
Harvest Fair on the Athens Common to be held Oct. 2
ATHENS - The Athens Brick Meeting House Common will be the site of a Harvest Fair on Saturday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 3.
This historic structure, built in 1817, was the site for community worship and Town Meetings as well as many militia training sessions, Old Home Day celebrations and fairs. During this event, the building will be open for tours to enable visitors to learn much more about the fascinating story of this structure along with our current efforts to restore it.
You'll find pumpkins, pies and games for kids of all ages. In addition to the festivities, there will be a rummage sale to benefit the renovation fund for the building.
Donations to the Renovation Fund for the Athens Brick Meeting House are welcome. They may be sent to Darlene Wyman, 56 Brookline Road, Athens, VT 05143.
Workshop in Marlboro teaches nonviolent communication
MARLBORO - A “Heart of Communication” workshop will be held in Marlboro on Oct. 2.
Drawing on the process and practice of nonviolent communication, this workshop introduces fundamental skills to build relationships based on compassion, respect and understanding, starting with ourselves and working outwards.
Participants will learn how to transform anger and fear, resolve conflicts, stop the power struggles and discover the power of empathy. The cost of the workshop is a sliding scale contribution of $50 -$75, with no one turned away for lack of funds. Contact Wendy Webber at 802-257-5833 or [email protected] for details or registration.
Low-acid canning workshop offered in Putney
PUTNEY - On Sunday, Oct. 3, from 2-3:30 p.m., Transition Putney will offer a reskilling workshop on low-acid canning using a pressure cooker.
Bonnie North will lead the workshop which will take place at United Church of Putney on Kimball Hill.
High acid foods, such as tomatoes and pickled items, can be safely preserved in a hot water bath. Other foods which have a naturally low-acid content, such as apples, pears, green beans, etc. require greater heat and must be done in a pressure canner.
North will cover the differences between these two processes, the food pathogens that one must eradicate in order to safely preserve different foods and why it is so important to use a pressure canner for low-acid foods. The various components of a modern pressure cooker and their importance and function will be outlined.
The workshop will go through the entire process from how to pack the canning jars properly, load the canner, managing the pressure and heat, cooling down and unloading. This will be a demonstration workshop. A suggested donation of $5 covers the cost of space rental. Information at [email protected] or 802-387-4102.
Foreign language potlucks at Main Street Arts
SAXTONS RIVER - Main Street Arts continues its fall series of foreign language potluck suppers with a potluck for Spanish speakers Sunday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.
Potlucks for French and German speakers will be Sunday, Oct. 10 and 17, respectively. The series continues Nov. 7, 14 and 21.
The potlucks are generally a small group of friendly people with a wide range of proficiency in the language who join in an informal sharing of culture and language practice. Those who want to listen more than join in the conversation are also welcome. Native speakers are often present to lend encouragement. Previous participants have come from all corners of Windham County and New Hampshire.
There is no fee, and potluck contributions need not be ethnic. A beverage is provided. Information is available by contacting MSA at 802-869-2960 or [email protected], or visiting www.MainStreetArts.org.
Talk at RFPL focuses on Haiti's recovery from deadly quake
BELLOWS FALLS - January's earthquake in Haiti lasted only 35 seconds, but the recovery continues.
On Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m., the Rockingham Free Public Library welcomes Dr. Craig Goldberg, D.O., who will be presenting a program on Haiti: the country, the people and the devastating effects of the earthquake and Haiti's ongoing recovery. The program will include slides, discussion and there will be time for questions.
Dr. Goldberg spent two weeks in Haiti doing emergency medical disaster relief work after the earthquake. He worked with a small team of doctors and nurses setting up facilities and treating victims at refugee camps. They also spent time at an orphanage, and Goldberg says the children there were living in “conditions horrific and unimaginable.” The team was part of AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team), a private international voluntary organization created to meet disaster and development needs all over the world.
Despite the calamity, Goldberg was impressed with the spirit of the Haitians; describing them as peaceful, loving and deeply spiritual. Before the earthquake, Haiti was host to deep poverty, political instability and need for humanitarian aid-after the devastation, all needs increased a thousand-fold.
All ages are welcome. Refreshments will be served. The talk is free and open to the public.
Grace Cottage Auxiliary to meet on Oct. 14
TOWNSHEND -The Grace Cottage Hospital Auxiliary will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m., in the hospital Dining/Community Room. Members of the public will be welcomed.
During the meeting, Grace Cottage Hospital Trustee John Nopper and CEO Mick Brant will unveil Grace Cottage's master plan for the future, which includes a proposal for a new building.
Also, the Auxilian of the Year Award will be given at the meeting and $60,000 will be given to Grace Cottage Hospital for the Medical Imaging Suite expansion and other needed equipment for the hospital. Refreshments will be served during the meeting.
For information about the meeting or about the Auxiliary in general, call Auxiliary President Stan Holt at 802-365-4455.
Rockingham Recreation Center hosts open house
ROCKINGHAM – The Rockingham Recreation Department will host an open house Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the new recreation center building and refurbished pool.
The facility is located at 10 Playground Road at the end of Williams Terrace. Recent changes include construction of a new recreation building to house changing rooms, showers, office space and a large game room. The swimming pool has undergone a complete rehab with the installation of a new liner, water slide, decking and fencing, plus a zero entry to allow handicapped access.
Community members are invited to tour the facility, meet the staff and learn about future plans. Refreshments will be served.
Marlboro Grad School hosts seminar on community-level Internet use
BRATTLEBORO - Marlboro College Graduate School will offer a free seminar, entitled “The Local Internet” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9.
Author Jon Udell will lead the seminar, which will define and teach a core set of principles for Internet usage that help cities, towns or neighborhoods live and work better together. He is an information architect, software developer, and new media innovator. His 1999 book, Practical Internet Groupware, helped lay the foundation for what is now called social software. Udell was formerly a software developer at Lotus, and executive editor of BYTE Magazine. He currently works for Microsoft exploring new media.
Marlboro College Graduate School offers courses in technical fluency and the Internet as part of its Master of Science in Information Technologies (MSIT), as well as other master's degrees in managing for sustainability, teaching with technology, and health care administration. Classes meet in weekly or monthly formats with an online component to make it convenient for working adults.
For more information, contact Joe Heslin in the Marlboro College Graduate School admissions office, 888-258-5665, x209 or [email protected].
Mediterranean dining offered at BMH
BRATTLEBORO - On Wednesday, Oct. 6, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will host another Mediterranean Dining: A Healthy Approach to Living. This is a chance to enjoy delicious, healthy food at this popular BMH healthy dining event.
The low-fat fare served at these BMH dinners is often based on food eaten by people living in the Mediterranean area. It will be held in the New Brew Barry Conference Room at 5:30 p.m. Note that the new conference room is located on the lower level of the main hospital in the former Physical therapy gym (down the same hallway as the Cafeteria). Follow signs from the main front lobby for the easiest access.
The guest speaker for the evening is Hans Estrin, co-founder of the Windham Farm and Food Network, and local Food Network Coordinator for UVM Extension. Estrin will tell the story of connecting cafeterias to local farms in Windham County. He will also discuss the potential impacts of local food systems. A lifelong gardener, Estrin sees local food as a tool to build the health, wealth, capacity, and resilience of communities.
The menu for the evening will feature mixed green salad with fresh pear, braised duck, and caramelized red onion, served with homemade focaccia bread featuring Vermont chevre (cheese), eggplant, garlic, and rosemary. The main course includes braised cabbage in red wine and currants, along with golden spaghetti squash served with sautéed fennel and parmesan cheese. Dessert will be a delicious pumpkin bread pudding. Vegetarians can request no duck with their salad when they call to reserve seating.
The Mediterranean Dining is open to the public, although seating is limited. Reservations must be made by the Friday before the dinner, Oct. 1, by calling the Cardio/Pulmonary Department at 802-257-8331. The cost for the dinner is $11.95 per person.
National Honor Society students host Community Service Fair
BRATTLEBORO - The members of the National Honor Society at Brattleboro Union High School will hold its annual Community Service Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
The fair is designed to acquaint high school students with opportunities to provide service to nonprofit organizations in the community.
Honor Society members invite local nonprofit organizations to set up a station at the fair. If interested in participating, let them know by Oct. 8 and arrive at BUHS at least a half hour early on the day of the fair. Table space will be provided in the Multipurpose Room, as well as donuts and coffee. Participants are free to stay as long or as short as is appropriate. Those with special needs such as a television, VCR, DVD, access to an electrical outlet or anything else should provide advance notice.
Contact Deb Heller at the school at 802-451-3757 or [email protected] for more information.