Senior meal in Halifax
WEST HALIFAX — On Friday, July 17, volunteers will prepare and serve the monthly Senior Meal at the Halifax Community Hall, 20 Brook Rd. Back by popular demand, the meal will feature David’s famous fried chicken. Fresh fruit, German potato salad, cole slaw, rolls or bread, and dessert will round out the menu.
Socializing begins at 11:30 a.m. with appetizers. The main meal will begin around noon. A suggested $4 donation ($5 for those younger than 60 years old) will help to support the Halifax Senior Meal. For questions, or if a large group plans to attend, call Bettye at 802-368-7797.
‘BF3F’ returns this Friday
BELLOWS FALLS — Friday evening, July 17, will be Bellows Falls Third Friday (BF3F) dowtown. The evening begins alongside the Bellows Falls Farmers Market from 4 to 7 p.m., with BF3F continuing from 7 to 9 p.m. as downtown businesses stay open late and visitors are invited to explore Canal Street and the surrounding downtown district.
This month’s event features live music down Canal Street and a community raffle with prizes donated by participating businesses. Visitors can enter the community raffle at participating businesses throughout the evening for a chance to win this month’s prizes while also being entered into the season-ending Grand Prize Basket drawing.
BF3F is a free monthly downtown event that organizers say celebrates local businesses, encourages community connection, and creates a vibrant evening experience in the heart of Bellows Falls. For updates, participating businesses, and event information, follow “Bellows Falls, VT” on Facebook and @BellowsFallsDowntown on Instagram.
Summer reading celebration at RFPL
BELLOWS FALLS — Families are invited to celebrate summer reading at the Rockingham Free Public Library Saturday, July 18, at 11 a.m., with a special visit from children’s author and photographer Steve Swinburne as part of the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) Summer Readers program.
Swinburne has inspired young readers for decades through his engaging nonfiction books about nature, wildlife, and the world around us. During this free family program, he will share stories about his books, adventures, and the creative process behind his writing and photography.
Following the presentation, every youth in attendance will have the opportunity to choose two brand-new books to take home and keep. The book giveaway is designed to encourage children to build their own home libraries and to foster a lifelong love of reading. Families who are unable to attend the event are encouraged to contact the library, and staff will select and set aside books for their children.
This free event is open to the public. For more information, contact the library at 802-463-4270 or [email protected].
Ice cream social in Windham
WINDHAM — On Sunday, July 19, from 2 to 4 p.m., the Windham Community Organization and the town of Windham Historical Society will host an Ice Cream Social. Roger Allbee will be on hand to speak about his recent book Turning the Soil: 250 Years of Vermont Agriculture, a book illustrating changes in rural communities and farm policies over a period of more than 250 years.
Wilcox ice cream will be provided in several flavors to choose from, served in a cone or a cup, as well as a variety of toppings. The event will be held at the former Windham School, 5940 Windham Hill Rd., and is free and open to all, with donations welcome.
Family fundraiser at Lilac Ridge Farm
WEST BRATTLEBORO — For 50 years, River Gallery School has been serving Brattleboro families. In celebration of this milestone, they invite everyone to join them Sunday, July 19, from 4 to 6 p.m., for a day of family fun at Lilac Ridge Farm on Ames Hill Road, including flowers, food, crafts, creemees, music, and more.
Guests can listen to songs by Emily Margaret as they gather pick-your-own flowers, participate in River Gallery School arts and crafts activities, and enjoy the farm’s famous organic creemees. Attendance is free, and Lilac Ridge is generously donating 100% of pick-your-own flower sales and a portion of creemee sales to support River Gallery School. For more information,visit rivergalleryschool.org/family-fundraiser-at-lilac-ridge-farm.
Wild Wisdom series continues at Retreat Farm
BRATTLEBORO — The Wild Wisdom series at Retreat Farm continues Sunday, July 19, at 6.p.m., as they team up with The Nature Museum of Grafton to host Sean Southey, CEO of the Canadian Wildlife Federation for his talk, “Falling in Love with Nature: Nice Idea or Survival Strategy?”
Organizers say Southey has been a champion of nature-based education internationally for over 35 years, having worked with Environment Canada, the United Nations, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
“Falling in love with nature is often framed as a nice idea, something soft or optional,” wrote organizers in a news release. “This talk offers a different perspective: that our connection to nature may be one of the most practical and urgent survival strategies we have. It invites us to rethink how we learn, lead, live, and to rediscover our relationship with nature not as a luxury, but as something essential, something worth loving, and something worth protecting.”
The event will take place at the Retreat Farm’s North Barn. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Registration is encouraged on The Nature Museum’s website (nature-museum.org). There is $10 suggested donation with a free option. Walk-ins are welcome as long as there is space available. The Thirsty Goat bar inside the North Barn will be open for drinks.
‘Among Dinosaurs’ at Townshend Library
TOWNSHEND — Travel back in time to when giant dinosaurs roamed the Earth and learn about the history of these ancient mammals and ocean invertebrates at “Among Dinosaurs,” a live animal presentation Wednesday, July 22, at 1 p.m. at Leland & Gray Union High School.
Though they get the mega-share of the prehistoric spotlight, dinosaurs weren’t the only ones out there. They were joined by plants and animals who thrived among the dinosaurs and still exist to this day.
This program is presented by the Vermont Museum of Natural History and sponsored by the Townshend Public Library as part of its Summer Reading Program. With the help of some of the museum’s animal ambassadors, the presentation will delve into the history of extinct prehistoric mammals, ancient ocean invertebrates, fossils both living and long-gone, and more.
This program is free and open to all ages. For more information, contact the library at 802-365-4039.
Sign-ups begin for Guilford Town-Wide Talent Show
GUILFORD —the Guilford Recreation Commission wants to showcase local musicians, dancers, ventriloquists, poets, storytellers, yodelers, jugglers, bird callers, and artists of all kinds.
The Recreation Commission is on the lookout for 5- to 10-minute, family-friendly talent show acts of all ages for the Saturday, Aug. 8, Talent Show at the Broad Brook Community Center at 6 p.m. Spots will be limited and on a first-come basis. Organizers will prioritize Guilford residents, but they will also accept acts that include at least one Guilford resident.
They are also on the lookout for donations of artwork, gift baskets/cards, produce, offers of 1-hour services, tickets to events and any other donations for the Silent Auction. The auction will help raise funds for Guilford food programs, the Guilford Food Pantry and the Guilford Food Hub. For more information, contact Recreation Commissioner and Town Clerk Uriel Najera at [email protected].
‘Share the Harvest’ stand returns
BRATTLEBORO — Edible Brattleboro’s Share the Harvest stand, offering free fresh produce for all, is open Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Turning Point garden at the corner of Frost and Elm streets.
Gardeners may drop off surplus from their gardens on Saturdays at 57 Spruce St. (leave in cooler on porch), or from 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Sundays at the stand. Questions? Email Marilyn at [email protected] or call 802-254-9121.
Food drop in Putney
PUTNEY — The next Putney food drop will be Thursday, July 23, 9 to 9:45 a.m. The Vermont Food Bank and Putney Foodshelf co-sponsor this service, free and open to all, offering a selection of produce and assorted foods.
The Putney Food Drop is located at 78 River Rd. More details, including a map, can be found at putneyfoodshelf.org/food-drop.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.