Morningside Cemetery closed for season
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department would like to announce that Morningside Cemetery has closed for the winter, effective Dec. 4.
The cemetery will re-open in the spring of 2017 as weather permits. For more information, call 802-254-5808.
Sheriff's Dept. hosts toy drive
BRATTLEBORO - The Windham County Sheriff's Office will hold its fourth annual Stuff the Humvee Toy Drive on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Price Chopper parking lot on Canal Street.
Done in partnership with the Marine Corps League and other local emergency services agencies, the goal is to gather as many toys as possible to support the Toys for Kids campaign.
Deputies will be on hand to collect new, unwrapped toys from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All toys collected will be distributed by Toys for Kids to Windham County children.
Vernon Artisan Market returns this weekend
VERNON - In its second year, the Vernon Artisan Market will run for two days and feature work from some of Vernon's own creative residents. At the Market, visitors will find original paintings and jewelry, pottery, wreaths, quilts, jams and jellies, baskets, books, and holiday cards and gifts.
The market will be held at the Vernon Town Office building, 547 Governor Hunt Rd., on Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Admission is free and the building is handicapped accessible.
Also, Santa is coming to the market on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m., to visit with local children and their families.
For more information, email [email protected] or [email protected].
Cookie sale in Newfane
NEWFANE - The Newfane Congregational Church will hold its annual cookie sale on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Pick out your own assortment of cookies, and then have them boxed and tied with ribbon. The church is located behind the courthouse near the town common.
Hinsdale Historical Society hosts holiday open house
HINSDALE, N.H. - The Hinsdale Historical Society will hold a holiday open house at the 1753 Col. Ebenezer Hinsdale House on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. (snow date is Dec. 11).
Admission is $5 for adults, with children under 18 free. Tours of the house will be offered, and the grounds and barn will be open for viewing. For further information, contact Sharron Smith 603-256-6133 or [email protected].
St. Michael's presents Festival of Nine Lessons
BRATTLEBORO - Every year since the mid 1950s, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has been held at St. Michael's Episcopal Church.
On Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m., this beautifully joyful and contemplative festival will once again be presented under the direction of Music Director Susan Dedell, directing a superb choir of 25 singers.
Featuring readings, choral anthems, and congregational singing, this spirit-renewing program is open to all. St. Michael's Episcopal Church is located at the corner of Bradley Avenue and Putney Road and is fully accessible.
Senior Center hosts holiday events
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Senior Center will be hosting several holiday-related events.
A centerpiece-making class will be offered on Monday, Dec. 12, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. All materials will be provided except gloves. The event is free of charge.
On Wednesday, Dec. 21, the annual Cookie Swap will be held at 11 a.m. Bring a dozen or two of your favorite homemade cookies, and take home a plate of other varieties of homemade cookies. Everyone who participates will leave with the same number of cookies they came with.
Both events take place at the Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St. Call the Senior Center at 802-257-7570 for more information.
Putney Cares hosts community lunch
PUTNEY - Join Putney Cares for their next senior community luncheon on Tuesday, Dec. 13, from noon to 1 p.m., at the Putney Cares Activities Barn at 54 Kimball Hill.
The menu will include roast turkey and stuffing, roasted root vegetables, and green salad, with chocolate cake for dessert. Tea and coffee will also be served.
The suggested donation is $3.50 and reservations are strongly encouraged. Contact Abby at Putney Cares at 802-387-5593 or [email protected] to reserve your seat, or if you would like to volunteer to help with set up, clean up, or providing rides for those unable to drive themselves.
BF Woman's Club to meet
BELLOWS FALLS - The December meeting of the Bellows Falls Woman's Club will be held on Dec. 13 at the United Church of Bellows Falls on School Street, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Members will make holiday centerpieces to share or for their own homes. Supplies will be available - if possible, bring a glue gun. Members who signed up to attend the Kurn Hattin holiday luncheon and concert are reminded that the date of the event is Dec. 15, beginning at noon.
At the Nov. 8 meeting, two librarians, Anne Dempsey and Nancy Tusinski, and Library Director and club member Celina Houlne, all from Rockingham Free Public Library, gave reviews of their favorite books. They brought several books for showing at the meeting. Upcoming library programs were highlighted as well.
The club recently presented two checks to the BF Police Department: one for support of the upkeep of the department's drug detecting dog, Caesar, and one in support of the department's annual Angel Project, which helps ensure that area children receive clothing and gifts during the holidays. The club also decorated the waiting room at the Health Center for the holidays.
Senior lunch in Chesterfield
CHESTERFIELD, N.H. - The Chesterfield Senior Lunch is being held on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 12:30 p.m., in the Chesterfield Town Hall on Route 63.
A pot roast dinner will be served. A $5 donation is suggested. For reservations, call Joanne at 603-363-8348. Bring a gift to exchange.
Talk on coyotes, wolves presented in Dummerston
DUMMERSTON - Join wildlife biologist Chris Schadler to learn about the ecology and behavior of wolves and Eastern coyotes on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., at the Learning Collaborative on Route 5.
Schadler is the New Hampshire and Vermont representative of Project Coyote, a national group promoting coexistence with predators. Her talk, “The Dark Knights: Eastern Coyote and Wolf,” is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Dummerston Conservation Commission and Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center.
Astronomy group discusses history of navigation
CHESTER - Longtime Southern Vermont Astronomy Group member Rick Bates will present “Around the World in 360 Degrees,” a brief look at the history of navigation and how and when we conquered the challenges of latitude and longitude on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m., at the Whiting Library, 117 Main St.
His lecture will describe the development of navigational knowledge and instruments, from the adventurous South Sea Islanders in their double hulled canoes to early Mediterranean sailors who traveled the waters around Italy and Greece.
He will also venture into the adventures of spice merchants crossing the deserts of northern Africa and the northern European explorers confronted with the challenges of the Atlantic Ocean as they attempted to find safe passage to and from the New World. A brief discussion will follow the lecture. More information may be found at www.sovera.org.
Marlboro Historical Society's 2017 calendars now on sale
MARLBORO - The Marlboro Historical Society has released its calendar for 2017. Created by photographer and local historian Forrest Holzapfel, it highlights many portraits from the Society's extensive photography collection as well as an assortment of photographs depicting various periods in Marlboro's history, past, and present.
Calendars are $15 each, and are available at the Marlboro Town Office, the Whetstone Inn, Vermont Artisans in Brattleboro, or by mail. Contact Holzapfel at 802-258-2568 or [email protected] for more information.