Speak Up to Win: Toastmasters meeting Feb. 28 at Marlboro Grad Center
BRATTLEBORO - If fear and shyness around public speaking are holding you back, or are holding someone in your organization back, then Toastmasters is the answer.
BrattleMasters, the Brattleboro-based chapter of Toastmasters International, meets Thursday, Feb. 28, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Marlboro College Graduate Center, room 2E, 28 Vernon St.
The theme of this week's meeting is “Speak Up to Win,” focusing on what it takes to advocate for oneself on the job and for a more prosperous career. Four new member inductions are also scheduled. Refreshments are provided.
The club meets the second and fourth Thursday of every month at the same time and location. Guests are welcome and there is no pressure to speak, and members are working at their own pace and with assigned mentors to help them meet their speaking and leadership goals.
For more information, visit brattleboro.toastmastersclubs.org.
Language and nation building is topic of WWAC talk
BRATTLEBORO - Solveig Gannon-Kurowski, a freelance researcher interested in language and policy, particularly in developing nations, will be giving a free talk on “Language Policy as a Component of Nation Building” before the Windham World Affairs Council.
The talk takes place on Friday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m., in Rotch Hall at SIT/World Learning.
As a Master's student at American University, Gannon-Kurowski wrote a position paper on minority language policy and education. It was used to inform the writing of the interim Iraqi constitution.
Most recently, she travelled to the University of Vigo in Spain to present research produced by the Center for Advanced Study of Language at the University of Maryland research team, to which she has contributed. She now lives in Southern Vermont.
For more information on the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont, email [email protected].
Blood drive volunteers needed in Dover
DOVER - The Dover Forge Restaurant will host a Red Cross blood drive on Friday, March 1, from noon to 5 p.m. This drive is in response to the need generated by Hurricane Sandy.
The Red Cross will be operating out of their mobile unit and utilizing the restaurant as a lounge and waiting area. In order to help make this happen, The Dover Forge and Red Cross need volunteers to help with registration. Volunteers will receive a 10 percent discount on any entree at the restaurant.
Call Mark Chapman at 802-464-5320 for more information.
'Wags to Riches' Humane Society Party and Auction March 2
PUNTEY - A party and auction benefit for the Windham County Humane Society is set for Saturday, March 2, at 6 p.m. at the Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Rd.
Wags to Riches is the Society's most important fundraiser of the year. Funds raised provide loving care to homeless animals, and support important programs such as low cost spay/neuter clinics. There will be fabulous items to bid on donated by businesses from all over the county, from the practical to the sublime.
Tickets are $40/person (includes one free drink) and can be purchased by calling the shelter at 802-254-2232 or by visiting www.wchs4pets.org.
Sportsmen Inc. present youth ice fishing day
BRATTLEBORO - Sportsmen Inc., a local hunting, fishing, and shooting club, will hold its annual youth ice fishing day on Saturday, March 2, at Hunt's Meadow setback, located on Route 142 just south of the Morningside Commons traffic light.
This event is free. The club members will be on the ice with equipment, minnows, and holes drilled, and plenty of help to all who want to learn more about ice fishing. There will be hot cocoa,too.
Fishing licenses are not required for children. Dress warmly and wear boots. Call Lee at 802-258-4709 for more information.
Dummerston Community Center hosts annual fundraiser
WEST DUMMERSTON - Dummerston Community Center's annual Pampered Chef event will be held on Sunday, March 3, at 12:27 p.m. at the Center, located at 150 West St., off Route 30.
Kim Martin will host the show, with new spring products, recipes, demonstrations of many cooking needs, also hands-on cooking, and the tasting of spices, sauces and rubs. Proceeds will assist in operating expenses for the Community Center.
For more information, contact Kim (802-257-8602), Jean (802-254-9212), or Ann (802-254-2415).
'Bulgaria: An Intimate Look' presented in Putney
PUTNEY - On Wednesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. at the Putney Public Library, Carol and Arthur Westing will give a slide-talk titled “Bulgaria: an Intimate Look.”
This 90-minute illustrated presentation offers a glimpse at the land and people of Bulgaria, a fascinating, but little known country of southeastern Europe - a country about five times the size of Vermont, although with about 10 times its population.
It is based largely on two weeks of hiking and sightseeing during July 2008 in three rural areas of western Bulgaria, but augmented by insights from three previous one-week professional visits (in 1984, 1986, and 1988) while Bulgaria was still ruled by a Communist government.
To be presented are unspoiled nature and majestic mountains, small timeless villages, spectacular Orthodox churches and monasteries, a modern capital city, an ecologically aware government, and the wonderfully friendly and outgoing inhabitants. For information, call 802-387-4407.
Sugar-on-Snow supper in West Brattleboro
WEST BRATTLEBORO - Church records indicate that the First Congregational Church, 880 Western Ave., has been putting on Sugar on Snow suppers for at least 61 years.
This year's will be held on Saturday, March 9. The menu includes ham, baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, deviled eggs, rolls, sugar on snow, homemade donuts, pickles, coffee, tea and milk.
There will be two sittings - 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The prices are adults, $12; children ages 5-12, $6; ages 4 and under, $3. For reservations, call 802-257-7495.
Garden Collaborative hosts winter storage of garden produce workshop
ATHENS - The Greater Falls Community Garden Collaborative (GFCGC) will host a Winter Storage of Garden Produce Workshop on Sunday, March 10, at 3 p.m. The workshop will be in the home of Athens resident Camilla Roberts.
The event is free, though donations are always appreciated. Because space is limited, however, advanced registration is requested (call Tim, 802-869-2141). Directions to Roberts' home will be given upon registration. Light refreshments will be provided.
She will cover storage options in a root cellar, pit, bulkhead, or root bin, and dry storage. She will talk about cold storage (versus dry storage), and which vegetables and fruits do best for storage. Structures for cellar options - bin, dirt cellar, barrels in cold room, bulkhead - will be discussed, as well as timing of harvest to storage to eating to saving roots for replanting the next spring.
Farmers' Market seeks new members
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market is now accepting applications for new members to vend their products at the Saturday and/or Wednesday Markets. The Farmers' Market is the region's largest and oldest open-air market and supports local agriculture, prepared foods, and crafts. It features more than 50 diverse vendors from the local area and attracts thousands of visitors annually.
The Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market is a not-for-profit, membership organization and welcomes applications from those who grow and/or create their own high-quality products, especially those working with local ingredients/materials to bring variety to the market's offerings.
The Saturday Farmer's Market is located on Route 9 and runs for 26 consecutive weeks, May through October, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The Wednesday Market runs 20 consecutive weeks, June through October, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Memberships are available for reserved site and daily vendors. Qualified applicants must reside and produce in Windham or Cheshire counties.
Interested parties are encouraged to attend an information meeting on Wednesday, March 13, at 7 p.m. at the Gibson-Aiken Center on Main Street. For more information or for an application, call 802-254-8885 or visit www.brattleborofarmersmarket.com.
Windham Regional Career Center offers spring programs
BRATTLEBORO - The Windham Regional Career Center at Brattleboro Union High School will present 17 community education and training programs this spring to meet the needs of area employers and their employees, as well as provide personal and professional enrichment opportunities for all community members.
New technical training opportunities include Certified Fiber Optic Technician training and Intermittent Electrical & Drivability Diagnostic Strategies training.
Other courses include: American Red Cross LNA program; ServSafe Certification Training; Forklift Training the Trainer; Preparing Your Motorcycle for the Riding Season; Introduction to Computer Applications; Beyond the Introduction to Computer Applications; Introduction to Microsoft Excel; Beginning French; Cabinetmaking Techniques; Organizing 1-2-3; Thriving with ADHD; Take Better Photos; Digital Photography; The Digital Book; and Preparing for Retirement.
The Career Center also offers over 300 online courses available throughout the year. For more information, visit wrccvt.com or call 802-451-3965 to receive detailed information on all the courses and a registration form. Class sizes are limited, so early registration is suggested.