Windham County Reads presents half-price book sale
BRATTLEBORO - Windham County Reads will host its annual half-price book sale on Nov. 25 and 26 at 80 Flat St., in the C.F. Church Building.
Sale hours on both Friday and Saturday are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and free parking is available both days in the adjacent lot. Customers who arrive early on Friday will have the best selection to choose from, while those who shop on Friday afternoon or on Saturday can browse and make purchases in a more relaxed environment.
Windham County Reads is the designated charity for the New England Independent Booksellers Association, and each fall this local organization receives thousands of new books and a variety of gift items from literary, popular and university presses.
The resulting collection includes books for all ages and interests, and customers pay just half the marked retail price. Advance readers' copies and lightly used books are also available. Customers may pay with check or cash, and no sales tax will be charged. Purchase orders from schools and libraries are also welcomed. All sale proceeds will be used to cover program costs during the current fiscal year, which concludes on June 30, 2012.
For additional information about the sale, call 802-257-5725. To learn more about Windham County Reads, visit windhamcountyreads.org.
First Congregational hosts Christmas Bazaar
WEST BRATTLEBORO - The 33rd annual Christmas Bazaar at the First Congregational Church, 880 Western Ave., will take place Saturday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds go to benefit church projects.
The bazaar will feature a wide variety of handcrafted and homemade items, including plain or decorated wreaths, partridge berry bowls, Christmas tree ornaments, house decorations, loop towels, and knitted or crocheted gloves, mittens, hats, and sweaters.
A drawing of nine items will include a one-seat rustic settee, a 51-by-90-inch quilted throw, a quilted stained glass window wall hanging, a gallon of maple syrup, an art deco cast brass planter in two-swan motif, and a gold prayer shawl.
The drawing will take place at 2 p.m. Ticketholders need not be present to win.
The food sale will feature cookies, cakes, muffins, pies, brownies, and bars, along with baked beans, fudge, jams, jellies, and preserves.
The kitchen will be open in the morning for coffee, tea, and snacks and, at 11:30 a.m., for the church's “renowned delicious and hearty corn chowder,” organizers write.
Sandwiches will also be available.
For more information, call the church at 802-254-9767 between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Monday though Friday.
Legion Auxiliary presents holiday craft fair
BRATTLEBORO - The American Legion Post 5 Auxiliary will host a holiday craft fair with the work of many local crafters on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m to 2 p.m., at the Legion home on 32 Linden St.
Breakfast items such as bagels, muffins, and doughnuts will be on sale. Lunch items such as hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, and chili will also be on sale.
There will be a Chinese auction table.
There is no admission price, but the Auxiliary asks people to bring a non-perishable food item to benefit Project Feed the Thousands.
Christmas bazaar to be held in Westminster
WESTMINSTER - The First Congregational Church of Westminster will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar at the church on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Christmas Shop will be open all day and will include crafts, gifts, and collectibles. The Woman's Fellowship has been hard at work making handmade items and homemade baked goods for this event.
At 11 a.m., Santa will visit and children of all ages are invited to take a photo with Santa and do a craft project. Prints will be available for a donation. The Christmas Café will be open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The menu will include soup, sandwiches, chips, coffee, tea, cocoa, and punch served by some enthusiastic local elves.
Learn to make holiday wreaths
WILMINGTON- Ever wonder how those little elves get those beautiful wreaths so round? Stop by Boyd Family Farm, 125 East Dover Rd., on Saturday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Nov. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a wreath making demonstration.
Other upcoming events at the farm include a holiday swag making demonstration on Dec. 3 and 4. Visit www.boydfamilyfarm.com or call 802-464-5618 for more information.
Putney Cares hosts holiday sale on Nov. 26
PUTNEY- Putney Cares presents its annual holiday sale on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Putney Cares Activities Barn, 54 Kimball Hill.
Activities also feature a raffle with many prizes, handmade gift items, Christmas decorations, plants, books, toys, “re-gifting items,” and a white elephant table.
Hot soup will be available, as well as takeout foods, pies, cookies, and candy, and free coffee for all.
Call 802-387-5593 for more information.
Secret Santa program helps Christmas wishes
BRATTLEBORO - The Secret Santa program has kicked off its 12th year.
Less fortunate local children write letters to Santa, and Secret Santas in the area fulfill some, if not all, of the wishes on the lists.
Last year, more than 350 children were served, and it is expected that the numbers will rise significantly this year.
Letters can be obtained by calling the office of Dr. Robert Fagelson at 802-257-0557. Letters will also be available beginning Thanksgiving week at Baker's, Sam's, Vermont Artisans, and Curves.
Pine Heights hosts tree lighting celebration
BRATTLEBORO - Pine Heights at Brattleboro, 187 Oak Grove Ave., will host its annual tree lighting celebration on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 4:30 p.m.
This is an opportunity for neighbors to come together and reflect on this year's passing events and to look forward to a stronger Brattleboro for the new year to come.
For more information, contact Kerry Baird at 802-257-0307 or by email.
Avoiding depression during the holidays
TOWNSHEND – If you have a tendency to feel “blue” during the holidays, you might benefit from attending a free educational session by Dr. Mario Hasaj.
This evening presentation by Hasaj, Grace Cottage Hospital's psychiatrist, will be held at the Grace Cottage Hospital Community Wellness Center, 133 Grafton Rd. (Route 35), on Thursday, Dec. 1, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Dr. Hasaj's presentation, “Avoiding Depression during the Holidays,” will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Light refreshments will be served.
The presentation will be held in the Holt Conference Room. Everyone is welcome to attend but, due to space limitations, the session will be limited to the first 25 people to register at 802-365-3649.
Bellows Falls celebrates a Community Christmas
BRATTLEBORO - The annual Bellows Falls Community Christmas will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. at the Bellows Falls Opera House.
The movie Kung Fu Panda 2 will be shown, with admission sponsored by the Bellows Falls Rotary Club. The Bellows Falls Woman's Club and Emblem Club will be providing punch and cookies in the Woman's Club Room following the movie.
Santa will arrive at 3:45 p.m. Be sure to to bring your cameras if you would like pictures of your child with Santa. For more information, contact Rita R. Hinds at 802-463-3779.
Friends of Wardboro Library present holiday bazaar
WARDSBORO- The Friends of the Wardsboro Library will sponsor its 10th annual Holiday Bazaar on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Town Hall on Main Street.
At noon, Santa Claus will arrive and will visit with the younger set until 2 p.m. Santa's visitors will all receive a free souvenir photo and a special gift.
A popular attraction at last year's bazaar was a visit from a few of the Siberian husky sled dogs from the West Wardsboro sled dog operation, Husky Works Mushing Company.
Owner Laura Bedortha will be on hand to introduce children and adults to her working dogs and answer questions about what it's like to go on a dogsled ride through the snowy woods.
The café will offer homemade soup beginning at 11 a.m. Shoppers can purchase homemade baked goods, including holiday cookies by the dozen or individually, candies, jellies, and relishes - all donations from at the gourmet food and bake shop. Generous donations from provide the treats sold at the shop.
A large selection of handcrafted holiday ornaments and decorations is always a highlight of the annual bazaar. New, reasonably priced gifts round out the merchandise available in Santa's Gift Shop.
Popular gift items from the Friends will also be for sale including the Gilfeather Turnip Cookbook, Vol. 2; the DVD, Rooted in Wardsboro – the Gilfeather Turnip by Theresa Maggio; handpainted china Gilfeather ornaments by Jennie Blue, and Wardsboro, VT - Exposing the Past, the photo history book of Wardsboro by Dan Hescock and Bob LeBlond.
All proceeds from the Bazaar will benefit the Friends of the Wardsboro Library for the maintenance of the Gloria Danforth Memorial Building, the home of the Wardsboro Public Library.
RFPL hosts holiday open house
BELLOWS FALLS - On Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1-3 p.m., the Rockingham Free Public Library's Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Library invite the community to celebrate the 2011 Holiday Season with an open house at the Library. There will be music, refreshments, raffle drawings, and everyone is welcome!
The raffle drawings include wonderful donations from the community, including many items from local artists, a pair of weekend passes to the 2012 Roots on the River Festival, a Keurig Coffee brewer, as well as gift certificates to stores in Bellows Falls and Saxtons River. Visit the Library's website, www.rockingham.lib.vt.us to see the many raffle prizes or visit the Library at 65 Westminster St. to purchase tickets.
The Friends of the Library's 2012 Calendar is also now available for purchase. It features historic bridges in Rockingham, from the Covered Bridge in Bartonsville that was recently lost during Hurricane Irene, to the Arch Bridge and railroad covered bridges. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Library. For more information, call 802-463-4270.
Craft fair raises money for flood relief
WILMINGTON - Shop locally for unique gifts this holiday season at the Bright Lights Craft Fair on Dec. 10, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Memorial Hall on Main Street.
There will be candles, jewelry, art work, baked goods, and more from Deerfield Valley artisans. Proceeds will benefit the Deerfield Valley Rotary Flood Relief Fund. Admission is free.
'Adopt an Angel' program helps BF children in need
BELLOWS FALLS -The Bellows Falls Police Department is accepting applications for their “Adopt an Angel” program. The program is designed for underprivileged children that live within the village of Bellows Falls.
Any families that are interested in applying should stop by the Bellows Falls Police Department and pick up an application. Applications are due back to the police department by Saturday, Dec. 17.
Anyone that is interested in adopting an Angel may stop by the police department and select an angel off of the Christmas tree, or drop off a new, unwrapped gift that will be given to a child in need. If selecting an angel off the tree, the gifts are due back at the police department, unwrapped, by Tuesday, Dec. 20. For further information, contact Alisha Beam at 802-463-1234.