Everyone's Books celebrates 30 years
BRATTLEBORO - On Thursday, Dec. 11, from 3 to 6 p.m., Everyone's Books is throwing a 30th anniversary party and fundraiser at the shop on Elliot Street.
They are also throwing a raffle with all proceeds going to the Overflow Shelter. Prices are $2 for one ticket or $4 for five tickets.
First prize is a night at The One Cat Bed and Breakfast in downtown Brattleboro.
Second prize is a $15 gift certificate, a tote bag, and a t-shirt celebrating the 30th anniversary.
Third prize is a one year membership to the store, which gives you 20 percent off all adult hardcover fiction, 15 percent off adult non-fiction hardcover, and 10 percent off of just about everything else (except textbooks), including paperbacks, children's books, CDs, and remainders.
For more information, contact them at 802-254-8160 or [email protected], or visit them on Facebook or www.everyonesbks.com.
West Brattleboro Association hosts holiday party
WEST BRATTLEBORO - On Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m., the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will host its annual holiday party at The New England House, 254 Marlboro Rd.
This is a time for people and businesses in West Brattleboro to get together socially and to celebrate the Association's numerous accomplishments in this past year. The evening will feature a cash bar with hors d'oeuvres prepared by the restaurant. The WBA suggests a voluntary donation of $5 toward the food, although no one will be turned away.
In addition to this being a time to enjoy each other at this festive season, there will be a couple of short presentations. WBA board president Michael Bosworth will give a brief “state of the Association” report after which the group will present the West Brattleboro Community Leader of the Year to a deserving person or entity.
Putney Co-op to hold members meeting
PUTNEY - The Putney Co-op will hold a public meeting for members on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., at the Putney Public Library.
The main agenda item is the proposed new bylaws brought forward by the Co-op's Board of Directors, which call for changes in the governance and direction of the Co-op.
Greater Falls Connections to host holiday celebration
BELLOWS FALLS - Join Greater Falls Connections for a holiday coalition celebration on Thursday, Dec. 11, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Parks Place.
All are welcome to join them to celebrate a year of accomplishments for the coalition. Attendees are encouraged to bring their thoughts and wishes for what they would like to see the community accomplish in the New Year. Staff members will be sharing some holiday stress relief tips.
Attendees are also encouraged to bring a $5 donation to go to the Bellows Falls Police Department's Adopt-an-Angel Fund. Holiday treats will be provided.
To learn more about the coalition, visit www.greaterfallsconnections.org, or their Facebook page.
Have breakfast with Santa in Putney
PUTNEY - On Sunday, Dec. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Next Stage in Putney, enjoy breakfast with Santa.
Pancakes, sausage, fruit, milk, orange juice and coffee will be served Admission by donation: Adults $10, children $5, and families $25, and no one will be turned away. All proceeds will be donated to the Putney Foodshelf. For more information, contact Susan Kochinskas at 802-387-5889.
Katz exhibit opens in Dummerston
DUMMERSTON - “Roger Katz: The Man and His Work” exhibit opens at Dummerston Historical Society on Sunday, Dec. 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Katz, who died last year, was a well-known and respected photographer from Dummerston who was a superb street photographer, capturing the varied life that played out in Brattleboro over the years. His affectionate curiosity about people and places found expression in thousands of striking pictures taken in the Brattleboro area and beyond, his gift to the world.
Entry to the Historical Society is free, handicapped accessible, and the public is warmly welcome. The exhibit will be open also by appointment.
Also, the Historical Society has the new 2014 “Scenes of Dummerston” calendars for $10 each. Also, the new Dummerston t-shirt, in both red and blue, in sizes S-XXL, featuring a drawing by Teddy Tier of the West Dummerston Covered Bridge, is for sale for $18 ($20 for XXL). Calendars and t-shirts are available at the Historical Society, at the Dummerston Town Office, or by calling Jody at 254-9037 or Gail at 254-9311.
RFPL auctions historic quilt
BELLOWS FALLS - As part of their annual holiday fundraising drive, the Friends of Rockingham Free Public Library in Bellows Falls are conducting a silent auction for a large, unique historic quilt valued at $700.
The quilt, comprised of 45 blocks signed and pieced together as a farewell gift in 1844, was made by quilters from several towns in New Hampshire as well as Strafford and Pomfret, Vt.
It was donated by Kathy Metalica Cray of Grafton Village Quilts along with “Quiltings, Frolicks & Bees: One Hundred Years of Signature Quilts,” a book by Sue Reich that features the quilt.
“This genre of quilts has been popular history since the 1830s. Through the use of pattern, fabric and the placement of inscribed names, signature quilts give us glimpses of the sociological climates of the time,” explains Reich.
The quilt can be viewed at the library at 65 Westminster St., or online at www.rockinghamlibrary.org. Bids can be submitted at the library, or online at www.rockinghamlibrary.org/silentauction. Bidding ends on Dec. 13 at 1:30 p.m. For more information, call the Library at 802-463-4270.
Messiah Sing presented in BF
BELLOWS FALLS - The United Church of Bellows Falls on School Street, will host a Messiah Sing on Sunday, Dec. 14, beginning at 3 p.m.
The accompanist on the church organ will be Bill McKim. The director will be Candace Montesi. Come and participate or come and listen to the Christmas portion of George Friderich Handel's timeless work. Some scores will be available.
A free will offering will be received and a time of fellowship and refreshments will follow.
Friends of Brooks Library bookcase raffle ends Dec. 15
BRATTLEBORO - The Friends of Brooks Memorial Library have announced that the raffle drawing for a locally crafted Colonial style bookcase will be on Monday, Dec. 15. Raffle tickets are available at the Library for $2 each or 3 for $5.
The bookcase is handmade and donated to the Library by Plum Tree Cabinetworks, a one person shop which specializes in the reproduction of Colonial period pine furniture. It is on display in the library. The bookcase is 44 inches tall and 24 inches wide. The traditional dovetail joints are all hand cut. The warm honey pine finish is the result of multiple hand-rubbed layers of carefully applied finish. The five shelves are spaced to hold contemporary standard size hardback and paperback books.
Proceeds from the raffle will go to support the purchase of books and services for the library.
'Open office hours' for Vermont Health Connect offered
BRATTLEBORO - Join Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility's Health Connect Program Navigator in Brattleboro for “open office hours.”
Health Connect Navigator Anissa Lewis will be available to meet with businesses and employees about Vermont Health Connect on Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Brattleboro Savings & Loan, 221 Main St.
For more information, contact Lewis at 802-989-4844 or [email protected].
Climate Change Café screens 'Cowspiracy, The Sustainability Secret'
BRATTLEBORO - The Climate Change Café will screen the film, “Cowspiracy, The Sustainability Secret,” on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m., at Brooks Memorial Library. As always, the event is free and light vegan refreshments will be available.
The evening will begin with an update on climate action projects from community residents, as well as a discussion about any new ideas that people present. Following the film, there will be discussion about the issues raised, and actions that can be taken.
“Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret” is a groundbreaking environmental documentary that uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today - animal agriculture. It investigates why the world's leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it, and offers a path to global sustainability for a growing population.
Animal agriculture - in particular, large-scale factory farming - is the leading cause of deforestation, water consumption and pollution, is responsible for more greenhouse gases than the transportation industry, and is a primary driver of rainforest destruction, species extinction, habitat loss, topsoil erosion, ocean “dead zones,” and virtually every other environmental ill.
For further information, contact Tim Stevenson at 802-869-2141 or [email protected].
Cookie swap at Senior Center
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Senior Center would like to invite everyone to their annual Cookie Swap at the Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St. on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Bring in a couple dozen of the same kind of homemade cookie and participate in the swap. Each person participating will leave with the same number of cookies they came with. Call the Senior Center with questions, 802-257-7570.
BAJC presents its annual Chanukah party
WEST BRATTLEBORO - There are three parts to the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community's annual Chanukah party this year on Friday, Dec. 19, at 151 Greenleaf St. Join them for any and all of them, Bring your Chanukiah (menorah); they will supply the latkes and fixings.
They will begin at 5 p.m. with two groups, one primarily for kids and one primarily for adults and teens. Spiritual Leader Kate Judd will be leading the adult group in reading parts of the Chanukah story and discussion of what it can teach us about purity and rededication, zealotry, idealism, and more.
Meanwhile, kids will have story time and a chance to talk about Chanukah in another room (leader TBA).
At 6 p.m., they will light Shabbat candles and Chanukiot, saying blessings for Shabbat and for Chanukah, and singing a song or two. Then they'll be enjoying latkes and other good things, and visiting with each other.
At 7 p.m., after dinner, there will singing and dancing in the sanctuary for those who wish, accompanied by a small combo. Join in a Chanukah sing-along, or stay in the dining room and keep shmoozing the night away.
For more information, call 802-275-7272 or visit BAJC's Facebook page.
Jamaica library asks for patrons' help
JAMAICA - Jamaica Memorial Library seeks to improve its lending collection and is asking for its supporters to give generously to help buy new books and DVDs.
Check out their wish list (available at the library or at jamaicavtlibrary.org), select an item that interests you, and complete a donation form. Donations will receive a commemorative book plate. Or call 802-874-4901 to reserve your choice/s and drop a check in the mail to P.O. Box 266, Jamaica, VT 05343.
Choose as many (or as few) items as you wish or sponsor a whole category from the wish list (e.g., adult nonfiction).
Putney seeks members for energy committee
PUTNEY - Are you a Putney resident who is interested in energy conservation and would like to volunteer some of your time to serve on a town committee? The Putney Energy Committee (PEC) would love to hear from you.
As an ad hoc committee, the current PEC has completed several projects and has served the town well over the last several years. For a list of those projects visit www.pec.putney.net.
The current PEC and the Selectboard recently met and agreed that it is the right time to establish a new official Town committee. The Selectboard will be forming a five- to nine-member committee, with a scope of activities ranging from assessing energy conservation measures for the town and making recommendations to educating the public on energy conservation.
This will be a newly formed official Town Committee whose first task will be to assess and, if necessary, recommend changes to a Policy for the Energy Coordinator and Energy Committee that was adopted in March 1977. If you are interested in serving, send a letter of interest, by Jan. 7, to Town Manager Cynthia Stoddard at [email protected], or call her at 802-387-5862, ext. 11.
Tax-Aide volunteers still needed for Brattleboro, Bellows Falls
BRATTLEBORO - The AARP Tax-Aide Program is the nation's largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service. Each year, volunteers help hundreds of residents at local sites in Brattleboro and Bellows Falls prepare their federal and state tax returns. You do not need to be an AARP member or a retiree. No prior experience in tax preparation is necessary; some computer experience is helpful.
If you have 4 hours per week between February 1 and April 15, they can provide you with the training necessary to prepare taxes and the opportunity to give back to your community.
For more information about becoming an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer, email [email protected].
HCRS receives nearly $2,400 donation from Knights of Columbus
BELLOWS FALLS - The Knights of Columbus St. Charles Chapter, Council #753, in Bellows Falls recently donated $2,361 to Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS).
These funds are used to benefit individuals with developmental disabilities in the Bellows Falls/Rockingham area.
Some of the programs supported by the Knights of Columbus include support for the local Special Olympics team and the local chapter of Green Mountain Self Advocates – a group that meets to support each other, make new friends, learn about their rights, and inform politicians and others why people with disabilities are important.
Their donations also support the Bellows Falls Garden Project which teaches developmentally disabled adults about nutrition and the skills to raise plants from seed to harvest.
For more information regarding HCRS programs and services, visit HCRS' website at www.hcrs.org.
Chess club meets weekly at RFPL
BELLOWS FALLS - A chess club meets weekly on Thursdays, from 2-4 p.m., at the Rockingham Free Public Library.
Learn the basics of chess or enjoy a challenging game. All levels are welcome for this relaxed group. Players will be matched to others of their skill level. For more information, contact Anne Dempsey at the RFPL at 802-463-4270 or [email protected].
ACBL Charity Foundation supports Morningside Shelter
BRATTLEBORO - The American Contract Bridge League has donated $5,000 to three Vermont homeless shelters to address the rising need.
The funds were raised by members playing in special charity bridge games held throughout the year, in an effort to raise as much as possible. The significant numbers of homeless people, including a 9.25 percent increase in Vermont this year, drew the attention and concern of the members.
Good Samaritan Haven in Barre, ANEW Place in Burlington, and Morningside Shelter in Brattleboro were the three charities selected by members of District 25 of the ACBL, based on geographic areas served and membership density.
Morningside Shelter and its programs served 312 unduplicated people last year, 119 of whom were residents in their 30-bed shelter. Roughly one third of Morningside Shelter residents are children under the age of 18 - slightly more than the statewide census count, which this year found that a quarter of Vermont's homeless population are children.