Genealogy talk featured at Historical Society meeting
DUMMERSTON - On Thursday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m., at the Dummerston Historical Society, Jerry Carbone will give a presentation on his personal discoveries, delights, challenges, and passion fpr doing genealogical research in his retirement.
The talk, “Finding My Roots,” will discuss how he got started in genealogy, his recent education in the area, and certain unexpected revelations about his own family background using DNA, and will offer some genealogical tips on resources that he uses in his own research.
Carbone was director of the Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro from 1993 to 2015 and has also worked at the Texas State Library in the federal/state documents and genealogy departments. He recently earned a certificate in genealogical research from the Center for Professional Education at Boston University.
The program will be preceded by the annual business meeting, when officers will be elected and the 2017 budget voted upon. Dummerston Historical Society welcomes all; programs are free of charge and handicapped accessible. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 802-490-0728.
Vigil for the Earth in Brattleboro on Inauguration Day
BRATTLEBORO - A vigil for the Earth and a sustainable future will be held in Brattleboro on Friday, Jan. 20, Inauguration Day, from 4-5 p.m., at the Wells Fountain, followed by an indoor vigil from 5:15-6:15 p.m., in the parlor of Centre Congregational Church on Main Street.
The vigil is co-sponsored by the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Initiative, Post-Oil Solutions, and the Manitou Project. People of all spiritual backgrounds and faith traditions are invited.
After an hour-long outdoor vigil (bring your own signs expressing your concern for the earth and/or your faith perspective) at 5 p.m., the group will have a candlelight procession to the church, where they will gather for meditation, music, and readings from a variety of faith traditions. Participants are invited to bring readings that express their care and concern for the earth. No political signs, please.
For more information, call Fred Taylor at 802-387-2681 or Tim Stevenson at 802-869-2141.
Community supper, concert in Townshend
TOWNSHEND - This month, on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m., Community Hope & Action of Townshend will host a free community supper and concert, featuring Ten Gallon Swing.
The dinner, cooked by The Harmonyville Store, will be from 6-7 p.m. at the Townshend Town Hall; music and dancing will follow upstairs from 7 to 9 p.m. Contact Community Hope & Action at [email protected] or 802-365-4700 with any questions. If you can, please bring a side dish or dessert to share.
This event is substance-free, open to people of all ages, from all towns, and funded by the Ben & Jerry's Foundation.
Vernon Historians present Williams Farm reminiscences
VERNON - On Sunday, Jan. 22, at 1:30 p.m., the Vernon Historians will hold a brief business meeting at the Vernon Town Office Building (lower level). Immediately following the meeting, at 2 p.m., Sandy Williams Morrison will present a program about the Williams Farm in Vernon, the property where Vermont Yankee was built.
The program will include a brief history of the Williams Farm, personal stories, and memories of growing up on the farm as a child. The program is free and open to all, and refreshments will be served. Please join us for a relaxing Sunday afternoon and share your own memories of farm life. For more information, visit Vernon Historians, Inc. on Facebook.
Climate Change Café hosts Heartful Conversations
BRATTLEBORO - The Climate Change Café will host an interactive, community building presentation, “Heartful Conversations,“ on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 6 p.m., at Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro. As always, the event is free, and light refreshments will be available.
The Café will provide a format for community building that is facilitated through heartful conversation: a specific process of conversation “rounds” in small circles to support connection, reach across differing perspectives, and inspire something new to emerge. Part of the evening will be in small circles and part in the group as a whole.
This Café will be facilitated by Wendy Webber, who has been involved in a variety of community initiatives since moving to Vermont 14 years ago.
The Climate Café is a project of Post Oil Solutions that convenes the fourth Tuesday of most months. For further information, contact Tim Stevenson at [email protected] or 802-869-2141.
West B Association plans 'BizUp' event
WEST BRATTLEBORO - The next quarterly edition of the West Brattleboro Association's BizUp meetings takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 6 p.m., at MamaSezz, a new organic food business on 127 Marlboro Rd. (site of the former Mr. G's, and even more former Page's Ice Cream.)
The owners, Meg Donahue and Lisa Lorimer Donahue, will provide MamaSezz Chili.
Organizers say BizUp offers great networking opportunities, including opportunities to bounce descriptions of your own business off small-business peers. They use the “PechaKucha” format, where presenters show 20 slides for 20 seconds each, with the slides automatically advancing in a presentation that lasts no more than 6 minutes, 40 seconds. This format helps the presenters stay focused while also not losing their audience.
If you would like to make a PechaKucha presentation, contact Michael Bosworth at [email protected] or 802-258-6475. You don't need to be a business owner to attend.
Prouty Center receives $22,000 state grant
BRATTLEBORO - Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development was recently awarded a $22,000 Building Communities Grant from the Vermont Regional Economic Development program.
This grant is administered by the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services. The purpose of the grant is to support their expansion and relocation.
Revitalization of the Prouty Center campus has resulted in adding classrooms to the Early Learning Center, enlarging preschool classrooms, upgrading the indoor play space, creating space for family support and education, and expanding meeting and office space for community-based services staff.
Green Mountain accepting applications
CHESTER - Green Mountain Union High School and area high schools are accepting applications for School Choice. Any high school student interested in attending a public school outside their home district for the 2017-18 school year must submit a Vermont School Choice Application to their home district principal by Feb 15, 2017.
Once the home district principal receives the application and it has been approved, the application is sent to the receiving school principal for processing. If the number of applications exceeds the incoming School Choice-student limit a lottery will be held to determine which students are accepted. Those not accepted will be put on a waiting list.
Families will be notified in writing by April 1. The family must notify the accepting school principal by April 15 to hold the spot for the student.
Applications are available in the school office at Green Mountain Union High School. To request an application, or if you have any questions, please contact Anne Sarsfield at GMUHS: 802-875-2146 or [email protected]
Green Mountain Camp receives grants
WEST DUMMERSTON - Green Mountain Camp for Girls recently received $1,000 from the Crosby-Gannett Fund and $250 from the Dunham-Mason Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation.
GMC was founded in 1917 and in celebration of its 100th birthday has launched a capital campaign to raise $100,000. The proceeds are to be spent to make improvements to the campus in order to better serve the campers and ensure the physical viability of the camp.
The Crosby-Gannett Fund and the Dunham-Mason Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation grants are specifically earmarked for the renovation of historic Hildreth Hall, one of 10 projects identified for the camp's “Centennial Campaign.”
Built in the early years of the camp, the hall is used for a wide variety of gatherings and activities. With its large open floor plan, it is the only building on the campus able to comfortably fit the entire camp community under one roof. This is especially useful in inclement weather. Though functioning, Hildreth Hall needs several important structural repairs, most notably to its footings and windows.
Visit www.greenmountaincamp.com/centennial-campaign or call 802-257-1751 for more information on Green Mountain Camp or to contribute to the Centennial Campaign.