CERT needs volunteers
BRATTLEBORO - The Windham County Community Emergency Response Team is seeking volunteers to provide support to emergency responder units such as police and firefighters by aiding in traffic control, disaster relief, communications, and medical support.
Training will be provided at no charge. Contact John Borichevsky at 802-257-5526 or via email [email protected].
Next WBA Meeting on Oct. 13 at Hayes Court
WEST BRATTLEBORO - The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m., at the Hayes Court Community Room on Garfield Drive.
After a review of the treasury report and recent chicken barbecue, members of the association will get and give updates on various topics, including the status of the welcome letter initiative, the Neighborhoods Fund progress, and recent economic development, including a report on BizUp and West B commercial spaces.
Notification of hearings to abutters, an ongoing issue, with be taken up at the Association's Nov. 10 meeting.
Healing walk at Manitou
WILLIAMSVILLE - The Manitou Project will hold a healing walk on Friday, Oct. 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. This meditative walk on Manitou's Sanctuary Trail will be led by Mary Stowe, and will include poems or other readings, and chances to share about the experience.
The Manitou Project is located at 300 Sunset Lake Rd. Go 1.4 miles up Sunset Lake Road from Williamsville Village, and look for the sign on the right. Or about 5 miles over the top on Sunset Lake Rd. from Route 9. Meet at the parking lot at 4 p.m. For information, contact Stowe at 802-246-1152.
Meet author Thomas Fontaine at book signing in Grafton
GRAFTON - Author Thomas Fontaine will hold a special book signing event at the Brick Meeting House on Friday, Oct. 14, beginning at 5 p.m. It is free and open to the public and welcomes children as well as adults to hear Fontaine discuss how he came to write a new historical novel, “The Messenger Boy of Grafton Vermont.”
The book about a 14-year-old boy in the Civil War was published this fall by the Grafton Historical Society. It is about the brief army career of Henry C. Spring, whose family was one of the early settlers in Grafton.
Fontaine wrote the children's novel when he was a teacher at Grafton Elementary School and it features some of the 1860s history of Grafton, as well as many historical photos from the Historical Society archives.
For further information, contact the Grafton Historical Society at [email protected] or 802-843-2584.
Pinnacle Association hosts Athens Dome, Bear Hill hike
GRAFTON - On Saturday, Oct. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m., the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association will offer an intriguing hike led by Bill Brown of the Grafton Improvement Association and Camilla Roberts and Paul Wilson of WHPA.
Interested hikers should dress warmly, wear sturdy shoes, bring water, and meet and park in the lot opposite The Nature Museum, at 186 Townshend Road in Grafton, in order to carpool to the start at Turner Hill Road. This free, moderate-to-difficult hike will then go steeply uphill over ledges and through spruce groves and fern glens on a beautiful trail to the summit, which offers a northwest view of Target Rock.
Hikers will continue on to Kidder Hill Road, where they will be shuttled back to the parking lot. Because of the necessary car shuttle, registration is required by contacting Camilla Roberts at 802-869-1388 or at [email protected].
Information on more of the Pinnacle Association's more than 20 miles of trails from Putney Mountain to Grafton may be found at www.windmillhillpinnacle.org.
Centre Church hosts spaghetti dinner, quilt auction
BRATTLEBORO - Centre Congregational Church on Main Street hosts a spaghetti dinner and quilt auction at the church on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for teens, and children under six eat free.
Centre Congregational also invites vendors to participate in the Christmas Fair to be held at the church on Dec. 2 and 3. If you would like to participate by having a booth, a table, or in some other way, contact Meg Harriman at 718-744-7846.
Shape note singing at St. Mike's
BRATTLEBORO - All are welcome to sing shape note music at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 16 Bradley Ave., on Sunday, Oct. 16, from 3 to 5:30 p.m.
Shape note singing is powerful, a cappella singing in four-part harmony - joyful, deeply moving, and spiritual. Using a form of musical notation developed in New England around 1800, singers first sing through the notes using their syllable names. Song choice and leadership are shared by all who wish. The songs are beautiful and just plain fun to sing.
Listeners, beginners, experienced singers, and people of all ages are invited, and no musical experience is necessary. Singing will be done from “The Sacred Harp” and “Northern Harmony” songbooks; copies will be available to use. A potluck snack will be shared.
The singing is free. For more information, contact Matt Wojcik at 802-246-1008 or [email protected].
Guilford Historical Society holds annual meeting
GUILFORD - The Guilford Historical Society will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016 at 2 p.m. at the Guilford Grange building at 3940 Guilford Center Rd.
The meeting will include elections for President and Secretary, as well as election of Trustees; drawing of prizes for the recent fund raising raffle; and will end with refreshments featuring apple desserts prepared by members. The public is invited. Admission is free. Information: 802-254-5910.
Enchanted Halloween held on Solar Hill
BRATTLEBORO - The Neighborhood Schoolhouse invites families to celebrate the magical side of the Halloween season for the sixth year in a row. The school will host its annual Enchanted Halloween event from 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, on the school's campus at 231 Western Ave.
The event features a Magical Mansion, which celebrates the fantasy and wonder of the Halloween season and is meant to delight kids of all ages. Other highlights include a bouncy house, storytelling, face painting, delicious homemade food, and plenty of other fun.
Proceeds from the event benefit the school's scholarship fund. Tickets are $5 for kids, $8 for adults, or $25 for a family pass. Order tickets online at NeighborhoodSchoolhouse.com/Halloween.
Retired teachers to meet
VERNONT - Windham County Retired Teachers will meet on Monday, Oct. 17, at 11 a.m., for a presentation at the Vernon Hall Chapel prior to a luncheon at Vernon Green. Both sites are located on Route 142.
For further information, call Mary Laitres at 802-257-0753.
Fall Osher Lectures continue
DUMMERSTON - The second in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's autumn series of morning and afternoon lectures will be held on Oct. 17. The morning lecture, examining how schools support and constrain the humanistic impulse, will be given by Jerry Levy. The afternoon series, presented by Felicity Ratte, will consider the Mosque and the Five Pillars of Islam. Both presenters are on the faculty of Marlboro College.
The Osher Lectures are held on six successive Mondays. Morning lectures run from 10 a.m. to noon; afternoon lectures, from 1 to 3 p.m.
All lectures are held at the Vermont Learning Collaborative, 471 U.S. Route 5. Parking and handicapped access are available, and light refreshments are served at the lectures. For further information, contact Julie Lavorgna at 802-365-7278 or [email protected].
Free cancer support group at Grace Cottage
TOWNSHEND - Grace Cottage is offering a free support group for community members dealing with cancer. The eight-week group begins Monday, Oct. 17, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Grace Cottage Community Wellness Center (Heins Building), 133 Grafton Road, Townshend.
Hearing the news that you or a loved one has cancer can stir a range of emotional responses. While some people feel shock, disbelief, and anger, others may experience sadness, fear, and a sense of loss.
Cancer support groups are designed to help people cope with all aspects of a cancer diagnosis by providing a safe environment to share experiences and learn from others. These groups can have powerful benefits on the success of treatment and recovery. Studies have shown that patients who attend them have a higher quality of life than cancer patients who do not.
The group will be facilitated by Grace Cottage Behavioral Health Specialist Caroline Chase, M.S., Counseling Psychology. Pre-registration is requested. For more information, or to register, call Chase at 802-365-3715, ext. 6.
Brattleboro Area AARP hosts local history presentation
BRATTLEBORO - On Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 1:30 p.m., a presentation on local history and a review of the book, “Not Without Peril,” will be given at the Brattleboro Senior Center, 207 Main St.
All persons over 50, friends and guests, are invited to attend.
Leland & Gray hosts Wellness Fair
TOWNSHEND - Leland & Gray's annual Wellness Fair takes place on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 2 to 5 p.m., at the school (the same day as parent/teacher conferences).
The goal is to increase awareness about wellness organizations and services available in our area. The fair will host vendors from a wide variety of sectors, including youth-serving organizations, massage therapists, the food shelf and local farms.
Food and drink will be provided by West River Valley Thrives. Students, parents, and community members are welcome.
Ham radio classes offered
BRATTLEBORO - The West River Radio Club will offer classes for Technician Level licensing. Classes will be held on the lower level of the Brattleboro Savings & Loan, 221 Main St., on two Saturdays: Oct. 22 and 29; testing will be held on Sunday, Oct. 30.
The first class will review and explain text materials that the test covers. The second class will be a flashcard-style lesson, focusing on the test materials. Classes begin each day at 9 a.m. and end approximately at 3 p.m.; testing begins at 9 a.m. and should end before 11 a.m.
The WRRC asks for a donation of $50 to cover the cost of the American Radio Relay League's newest text and test fee. Coffee and snacks are provided, but not lunch. Registration is required. Contact Mary Peterson (KB1YCD) at [email protected] or 802-258-3921 for registration and/or more information.