Town announces Thanksgiving closures
BRATTLEBORO - In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, all Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22 and 23, with the exception of emergency services.
Brooks Memorial Library will close at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21, and will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. It will be open for regular hours on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 23 and 24.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22 and 23. Parking will resume regular enforcement hours on Saturday, Nov. 24. All other violations, including extended parking, will be enforced.
Trash and recycling will not be picked up on Nov. 22. Trash and recycling normally picked up that day will be picked up on Friday, Nov. 23.
The BeeLine Bus will not run on Thanksgiving, and will resume its normal schedule on Friday.
Boys & Girls Club offers free family dinners
BRATTLEBORO - As part of their mission to fight hunger and promote strong families, the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro at 17 Flat St. is offering free dinners to youth and their families four nights a week. Our organization serves youth ages 6-18 in the greater Brattleboro area.
Members and prospective members of the Club are invited to enjoy a free meal with their families on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 5:30 p.m.
Hunger Free VT reports that 20 percent of Windham County children are food insecure. Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to sufficient food for meeting basic nutritional needs. The free meals not only fight hunger among children, but also give parents and guardians a chance to relax and enjoy a meal with their children without the stresses of time and money that make dinners at home increasingly difficult for many working families.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro is to enable all young people, especially those most in need, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. This mission is best accomplished on a full stomach and with the engagement of families. For more information, visit bgcbrattleboro.com.
Mary's Closet, a new thrift store, opens in West B
WEST BRATTLEBORO - First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro has started a new venture called Mary's Closet. The name has been chosen because of several Bible characters named Mary, all of whom are caring, nurturing, loving individuals.
Mary's Closet is a thrift store selling gently used, seasonal clothing for men, women and children. They have some lovely warm sweaters, fleece tops, dresses, skirts, blazers, men's suits and sports jackets, slacks, shirts, warm jackets and coats, hand-made scarves, hats, and footwear, with new items arriving weekly. They also have locally made boot jacks, which are extremely useful in prying off winter boots.
Mary's Closet is located in the back of the church on the ground floor and is usually open the last Saturday morning of each month from 9 a.m. to noon. It will be open during the church's Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 24 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Volunteers needed for free tax program
BRATTLEBORO - The United Way of Windham County, in collaboration with Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA), is seeking volunteer tax preparers in Brattleboro and Westminster for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).
No previous experience is required – just an open mind and the willingness to help others. Free training is provided, starting in mid December. The VITA program serves low to moderate income families with household incomes of less than $50,000. The tax program will kick off on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 and continue weekly through Wednesday, April 10 at two convenient locations in Brattleboro and Westminster.
Last year, 17 volunteers provided free tax services to more than 400 taxpayers, resulting in refunds of over $500,000 going directly back into the pockets of Windham County residents. In just one hour, you can help to maximize people's'refunds and help them to obtain valuable tax credits that may be available.
To learn more about this worthwhile volunteer experience, come to a Volunteer Open House on Wednesday, Nov. 28, from 5-7 p.m., at the United Way office, 28 Vernon St., Suite 312, and talk to experienced VITA tax volunteers who have participated in the program.
If you are unable to attend the Open House, but are interested in becoming a VITA volunteer, contact Kate John at the United Way office at 802-257-4011, or email [email protected].
Marlboro Grad School offers video class
BRATTLEBORO - “Get Better Video Online with Free Tools” will be offered at Marlboro College Graduate School in Brattleboro on Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Participants will learn how to get better video online with any point and shoot camera or smart phone. Attendees will practice composition, microphone proximity and lighting. Basic editing tools and upload options will be presented. All resources will be on the Web with a link provided to attendees.
This workshop is free to the public and is perfect for teachers, small business owners, artists, communications professionals and anyone interested in harnessing the power of video on the Internet.
The class is presented by the Grad School's EdTech Program and is part of their “HOT (Hands On Tech) Workshops” series.
Participants should bring their own laptops (observers without computers are also welcome) because this workshop emphasizes a practical, hands-on approach to learning about technology.
Caleb Clark will conduct the workshop. He is the director of the EdTech Masters program at Marlboro, where he also teaches. He is also a technology integrator with local schools. He has been an educational technologist since 1999. He has an MPS from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and an MA in Educational Technology from San Diego State University.
To register, visit: http://hotoctober.eventbrite.com/#
Masons to host Dick Hamilton for dinner, conversation
WILMINGTON - Once again, the Scottish Rite body of Vermont Masons will host a dinner and talk by one of Windham County's celebrated veterans.
On Wednesday, Nov. 28, at the Wilmington Masonic Lodge on Main Street, Dick Hamilton of Marlboro will be talking about his early life as a Vermont farmer, logger, wood cutter and citizen. He will also speak about his participation in the Allied war effort in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and of his time spent as a prisoner of war.
Hamilton is a longtime resident of Marlboro and is widely-known throughout the region; his talks are riveting.
Dinner will be served by Lonny Page and the celebrated Twin Valley Junior Iron Chefs. Tickets are $20 with all of the profits split between the Junior Iron Chefs and the Scottish Rite's charities.
Reservations may be made at either [email protected] or 802- 257-0464, or at [email protected] or 802-348-7221 no later than Nov 26.
RFPL offers genealogy class
BELLOWS FALLS - Do you want to learn more about your family history but don't know where to start? Genealogical research is a rewarding endeavor and the Rockingham Free Public Library has resources to help get you started.
On Thursday, Nov. 29, from 9-10 a.m., librarians will demonstrate some of the online genealogical research tools that you can access from the RFPL: Ancestry Library Edition, Heritage Quest, and the New England Historical & Genealogical Register.
This will be a hands-on class using computers. Basic computer skills are necessary to get the most out of this one-hour session. Space is limited, sign up by contacting the RFPL at 802-463-4270 or [email protected].
SeVEDS, Marlboro College team up for 'Get on Board Windham County'
BRATTLEBORO - Windham County residents and employees under the age of 44 are invited to the next SoVT Young Professionals social event on Friday, Nov. 30, from 5:30 until 7 p.m., at Metropolis on Elliot Street.
This is the fifth young professional's social event hosted by the Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) Board, and will be their first jointly hosted event as they welcome Marlboro College's “Get on Board Windham County” program.
“Get on Board Windham County” connects young professionals with nonprofit boards. This new program has a dual mission: to provide skill development and networking opportunities for young professionals while supporting local nonprofits. This program is a partnership of the Marlboro College Graduate School with Latchis Arts, United Way of Windham County and Youth Services.
Prior SeVEDS young professionals events were held in Bellows Falls, Stratton and Wilmington and Brattleboro. Light fare provided with cash bar.
For more information and to RSVP for the event, contact Laura Sibilia at 802-257-7731, ext. 217 or at [email protected] or Ariel Brooks at [email protected] or 802-451-7118.
Senior Solutions trains with LGBT organization
SPRINGFIELD - Senior Solutions staff recently participated in training provided by SAGE: Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders.
“As the nonprofit Area Agency on Aging for southeastern Vermont,” said Director Joyce Lemire, “we need to be able to serve all seniors and caregivers well, and to make sure they know that Senior Solutions is here for them.”
The SAGE training is designed to help organizations improve their service and outreach to people of all sexual and affectional orientations.
“The training helped me to be more aware of how important and powerful it is to give LGBT people the opportunity to disclose,” said Case Manager Jessica Emerson. “And more importantly, to let them know that Senior Solutions does want to create a safe and confidential environment. Being sensitive, listening and meeting elders on their level of openness is essential in creating safe collaboration.”
An overview of services may be found at www.SeniorSolutionsVT.org, and all services are available by calling the Senior HelpLine at 800-642-5119.