BEEC hosts Salamander Soiree at River Garden
BRATTLEBORO - Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center hosts a Salamander Soiree at the River Garden in Brattleboro on Saturday, April 5, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The event kicks off this year's Salamander Brigades, where BEEC enlists volunteers to help salamanders cross the roads on the first warm rainy nights in the spring.
To add to the festivities, there will be live music by The Otherwise, delectable hors d'oeuvres, a Salamander Crossing Guard fashion show, and a lively presentation by Tom Tyning, author of the Stokes Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles.
There will also be the presentation of the Stockwell Award, where BEEC recognizes the work of someone in the community who has contributed to the cause of conservation of nature. Come dressed for the occasion in funky formal of black and yellow, with polka dots encouraged, or as a fashionable salamander crossing guard.
Spring Fling dance presented at Broad Brook Grange
GUILFORD - For winter-weary folks, a special event for Guilford residents of all ages will be held Saturday, April 5, at the Broad Brook Grange, 3940 Guilford Center Rd.
The event is a Spring Fling, offering dancing to the music of a local band, open-mic time, games of all sorts, refreshments, and connecting with neighbors and friends for fun and entertainment.
The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., with live music until at least 8, followed by an open jam and open mic. Admission is by donation, with the aim of covering the cost of the band, heating the Grange Hall for the evening, and other associated expenses.
The inspiration for the Spring Fling came out of Guilford community meetings in late 2013 and early this year hosted by local organizers in cooperation with the Vermont Council on Rural Development.
The Spring Fling is organized by members of a volunteer task force focusing on projects related to preserving the Grange Hall and reinforcing and broadening its role as a community center for all Guilford residents.
Already on board for the Spring Fling is a performance by the local Butterfly Swing Band, made up of Joe LoMonaco (percussion), Lynn Lovell (upright bass), Scott Sizer (trumpet, harmonica, and vocals), Mark Anagnostopulos (guitar and vocals), and Walter Slowinski (clarinet and sax).
For more information, contact Michelle Frehsee at [email protected] or 802-275-2555.
Spring Osher lecture series begins April 7
DUMMERSTON - The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) will commence its spring series of morning and afternoon lectures on Monday, April 7.
In the morning lecture, William Edelglass will discuss the new science of happiness, describing the surprising results of research focusing on how happiness can be increased, and examining the ways income, relationships, work, and other factors correlate with happiness. The lecturer is professor of philosophy and environmental studies at Marlboro College.
In the afternoon program, Donlin Foreman presents the history of dance as a performing art and as an ancient and essential expression of our humanity. The presenter is a veteran of the Martha Graham Dance Company and has performed with many dance companies in this country and overseas. He directs the dance performance and educational organization, On Common Ground.
Lectures will be held on six successive Mondays beginning April 7. Morning lectures are 10 a.m. to noon; afternoon lectures are 1 to 3 p.m. All will be held at the Southeast Vermont Learning Collaborative, 471 Vermont Route 5. Parking and handicapped access are available. Light refreshments will be served.
The lectures are produced by the Brattleboro OLLI chapter, now in its 11th year. OLLI is a nationwide membership organization sponsoring programs for people 50 and over who wish to continue their education without tests, papers, or grades.
Payment of full membership dues ($50) entitles members to attend all 12 lectures in the present series. Couples are welcome to join as full members at a discounted rate of $80. Lectures are also open to nonmembers for a fee of $6 per lecture. For more information, including concerning cancellations, call 802-257-8600 or 866-889-0042.
Suicide Loss Support Group rescheduled
BRATTLEBORO - The Suicide Loss Support Group at Brattleboro Area Hospice is rescheduled to eight Mondays from 4:30 to 6 p.m., April 7 through June 2 (skips May 26).
This bereavement support group is open to anyone in the community grieving the loss of a loved one from a suicide death. Bereavement support groups offer a safe, mutually supportive environment for sharing experiences, insight and encouragement through discussion, handouts, and suggestions for moving through the grieving journey.
This group is limited to 10 people and is free of charge, as are all support groups at Brattleboro Area Hospice. Cheryl Richards facilitates. Contact her at 802-257-0775, ext. 108, or [email protected] to inquire about joining this group.
Update on single-payer health care campaign offered in Guilford, Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO - Peter Sterling, executive director of Vermont Leads, a nonprofit organization working on the nation's first universal publicly funded health care system, will present an update on April 7 on the efforts. He'll also provide information about the benefits of moving to single-payer, as well as explain the barriers to such a system.
Sterling will speak at 4 p.m. at the Guilford Church in an appearance sponsored by the local chapter of PNHP, the Physicians for a National Health Plan. The event is moderated by Margaret Newton, a medical doctor and a member of PNHP.
At 7 p.m., he will speak at the River Garden in Brattleboro, co-sponsored by Strolling of the Heifers and Vermont Wellness Education. Jesse de la Rosa, director of Vermont Wellness Education, moderates. Vermont Leads, created in June 2012, is dedicated to advancing a single-payer health care system.
Woman's Club hosts annual BFUHS art show
BELLOWS FALLS - Members of the Bellows Falls Woman's Club will gather at Bellows Falls Union High School on Tuesday, April 8, for the annual club-sponsored art show. Members should be at the school by 11:30 a.m. to view the students' work and to choose the most popular from among the categories of art on display.
A luncheon will be served by students in the Family and Consumer Science department. Following the meal, club members will be entertained by students in the music department. Winners of the pre-judged art show will be announced and monetary prizes, provided by the club, for first-place winners. Club members' most popular selection will be awarded.
The club, which has sponsored this event for many years, will make a monetary donation to the band and choral departments as well as to the Family and Consumer Science Department for the luncheon.
Vernon Historians to meet April 8
VERNON - The next Vernon Historians quarterly meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 8, downstairs at the Vernon Town Office. The business meeting is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a short film and discussion on King Philip's War (1675-1677).
In 1675, Metacom - whom the English called King Philip - led the Wampanoags and other Native American tribes against New England's more than 50,000 colonists.
It was an especially brutal war. Thousands died, and the Native American population in particular was decimated. Among the Puritan outposts attacked was the community formerly known as Squakeag, then renamed Northfield. What is now Vernon was part of that settlement for 90 years.
There is no cost for admission to this program, and all are welcome. For more information, call Trustee Chair Peg Frost at 802-254-2263.
Lessons in teamwork offered at Marlboro Grad School
BRATTLEBORO - “Inspired Teamwork: Harnessing Passions and Strengths to Get the Work Done” will be held at the Marlboro College Graduate & Professional Studies Center, 28 Vernon St., on Tuesday, April 8, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The workshop is free. Register at gradschool.marlboro.edu.
What makes a “dynamic duo” tick in your organization? What is the best coalition or work group you have participated in? What is the most exciting collaborative project you have co-created? Best practices and experiences with collaborative work are explored, including cultivating effective work flow, building trusting relationships, using great planning tools, communicating clearly, and working across departments or sectors.
Leading the workshop is Jodi Clark, director of Housing and Residential Life at Marlboro College.
This event is part of Marlboro College's Graduate and Professional Studies Programs' Tuesday lunchtime MIX (Management Ideas Exchange) workshop series. For more information about the program, contact Angie Hamilton at [email protected].
Friends of Brooks present spring book sale
BRATTLEBORO - The Friends of Brooks Memorial Library Spring Book Sale is Friday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This spring fundraising event by the Friends is held in the library and raises money to help support the library's public programs, purchase of books, non-print materials, technology tools, and digital services.
This year's sale includes thousands of books, DVDs, and audio books. Titles cover a wide range of subject areas, from adult and children's fiction to non-fiction. The spring sale mainly features paperback books, though there is a wide selection of hardback and oversized books.
The sale coincides with National Library Week, April 13 to 19.