Westminster West Community Fair to be held Saturday
WESTMINSTER WEST - The 22nd annual Westminster West Community Fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, with a theme of “Who Cooks for You?,” celebrating people who provide meals for others.
As always, the small-town country fair will feature a road race, informal parade, live music, and, this year, a magic show at noon by “Amazing Bill” Scarlett.
The fair runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Westminster West. Attendance is free, and there also is a barbecue chicken lunch and other food for sale.
The fair also features a talent show open to all, silent auction which has yielded major bargains in the past, golden elephant sale, art show, vegetable contest, and other activities. Proceeds from the fair help support the community use of the Congregational Church of Westminster West building and community suppers held there.
More details on the fair can be found at http://www.westminsterwest.org.
Walk to End Alzheimer's set for Saturday
BRATTLEBORO - The annual Walk to End Alzheimer's will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at Lawton Hall at the Brattleboro Retreat and the walk starts at 10:30 a.m. Start a team, join a team, walk as an individual and/or recruit others to attend.
Another way to help is to have dinner at the Steak Out on Friday, Sept. 9. There will be prize raffles and a 50/50 drawing, as well as the usual delicious food. Sean Henry will generously donate a portion of all sales to the movement to end Alzheimer's.
For registration forms or information, contact alz.org/walk, or call Betty Leno at 802-380-5460.
VY vigils planned on Sept. 11, 12
BRATTLEBORO - The Safe & Green Campaign, a citizens' environmental group, invites concerned members of the public to take part in a quiet, dignified, single-line vigil in support of Gov. Peter Shumlin, Attorney General William Sorrell, and Vermont's Public Service Board, who have been named as defendants in a federal lawsuit brought by Entergy Corp., owner/operator of Vermont Yankee.
The vigil will take place from 7:30-9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 12, the first day of the proceedings, at the federal courthouse on Main Street. Participants are asked to stand facing the street in a single line, so as to avoid blocking pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks.
On Sunday, Sept. 11, from 1-2:30 p.m., Citizens Action Network will host a vigil at the Wells Fountain at the junction of Main and Linden streets in Brattleboro. The Wildcat O'Halloran Blues Band will perform and featured speakers include Deb Katz of Citizens Awareness Network, James Moore of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, and Rep. Mike Mrowicki, D-Putney.
BF Woman's Club meets on Sept. 13
BELLOWS FALLS - The Bellows Falls Woman's Club will begin its new club year on Tuesday, Sept. 13, when members will gather at the United Church on School Street, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
A representative of TARPS, the animal shelter in Chester, will be the featured speaker. Club dues will be received.
The Fall meeting of the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Vermont will be held on Sept. 10 in Poultney. Domestic violence awareness and prevention is the signature project this year. Attendees at the state fall meeting are asked to bring women's ankle socks to be donated to a women's shelter in the Poultney area. Club members wishing to attend the meeting and/or donate socks are asked to contact Betty Haggerty at 802-463-4159 for information.
The New England Region Conference of the GFWC will be held in Mystic, Conn., Sept. 23-25. Local club members will be attending. Area women wishing to join the BF club should contact Sally MacPhee, 802-463-3356.
GFPC receives multi-year federal grant
BELLOWS FALLS - The Greater Falls Prevention Coalition (GFPC) was one of 87 organizations nationwide named as recipients of the 2011 Drug Free Communities grant.
“We are overjoyed and humbled,” said GFPC Director Chad Simmons. “This was an exceptionally competitive process and many dedicated organizations were all vying for limited federal dollars. This is great news for Windham County and the Greater Falls community.
The Drug Free Communities (DFC) program provides funding to community-based coalitions that organize to prevent youth substance use. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) announced last week $12.3 million in new DFC grants to 87 communities and 20 new DFC Mentoring grants across the country.
Through this grant, GFPC will be able to continue and enhance prevention efforts. Specifically, campaign efforts will focus on the prevention of underage drinking, teen marijuana use, and prescription drug abuse.
“Acquiring this grant will significantly enhance the quality and intentionality in the kind of outreach we provide to the Greater Falls community. With secured funding for these next few years, we are able to establish a long term plan to serve the area, connect with more people, and improve our outcomes,” said GFPC board member Orianna Baez.
Hsiao discusses health care reform on Sept. 16
BRATTLEBORO- Dr. William Hsiao, K.T. Li Professor of Economics at the Harvard School of Public Health, will speak on health care reform and the long-term economic health and vitality of Vermont on Friday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. in the Latchis Theatre on Main Street. This event is free and open to the public.
Hsiao's discussion examines the link between improvements in the health care system and the potential for just and sustainable economic development. He will also reflect on his work for the Vermont Legislature to develop a model for a single-payer health care system for the state. This talk will be followed by a question and answer session.
Hsiao received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1982. He has since published articles for the New England Journal of Medicine and World Health Organization. His health policy research program spans developed and less developed nations. Dr Hsiao has helped research and design health care systems for seven countries and is currently working with universities in China to conduct a nation-wide study on health care financing for 100 million poor Chinese.
Sign-ups begin for Girl Scouts
BRATTLEBORO - Calling all girls between the ages of 5-17! It's time to sign up for Girl Scouts!
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains offers more than 100 programs for girls; registration is only $12 per year.
Through Girl Scouting, girls discover themselves and their values, connect with others, and take action to make the world a better place. They have fun, make friends, and have new and exciting experiences in the preeminent leadership development program for girls in the United States.
Adult volunteers are needed too. Volunteers receive training and learn marketable skills, make new friends and make a difference in girls' lives. See www.girlscoutsgwm.org and click on Volunteer to see the many opportunities available.
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains serves more than 15,000 girls in New Hampshire and Vermont. Call 888-474-9686 to find a troop in your area.