Clift to give reading at Everyone's Books
BRATTLEBORO - Local author, educator, and doula Elayne Clift reads from the new anthology Take Care: Tales, Tips and Love from Women Caregivers on Friday, June 23, at 6 p.m., at Everyone's Books on Elliot Street.
The first-of-its-kind anthology is a moving collection of prose and poetry by 21 women who understand the challenges and rewards of being a caretaker, whether for parents and other family members, spouses, children, or friends.
As always, this event is free and open to the public, For more information, call 802-254-8160, or email [email protected].
Transition Dummerston hosts potluck, program
DUMMERSTON - Transition Dummerston will hold its monthly potluck and program on Friday, June 23, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Vermont Learning Collaborative, at 471 US Route 5.
This month's program will be on the theme, “Understanding our Response to Differences.” This experiential program will include activities, reflection, and group discussion. Three questions will focus the discussion: How do we see ourselves compared with others? How do we live our values? Where is our common ground?
The program is free and open to the public. The potluck begins at 6 p.m., and the program will go from 7-9 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected].
Dummerston church serves its strawberry supper
DUMMERSTON - Dummerston Congregational Church will hold its annual Strawberry Shortcake Supper on Saturday, June 24, with servings from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Evening Star Grange in Dummerston Center.
There will be ham, homemade baked beans, potato salad, tuna-mac salad, coleslaw, and all the shortcake you can eat with locally grown berries and real whipped cream.
The cost is $12 for adults, $6 for ages 6 to 12, and those 5 and under are free. Tickets will be on sale at the door, and takeout orders will be available beginning at 5 p.m.
Barbecue, ice cream supper in Chesterfield
CHESTERFIELD, N.H. - On Saturday, June 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Ashbury Church will host a barbecue at the handicapped-accessible Town Hall on Route 63.
The menu for their first supper of the summer includes generous helpings of pulled pork, grilled chicken legs, hot dogs, coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, watermelon, and top-your-own ice cream sundaes.
Tickets are $10 per person for adults, $6 for kids. For more information, email [email protected].
River Pilgrimage comes to St. Mike's
BRATTLEBORO - From May 31 to July 9, River Pilgrims of all faiths are paddling portions of the Connecticut River from its headwaters near the Canadian border to the river's mouth on Long Island Sound.
This spiritual journey of renewal, restoration, and reconciliation is shaped by the Christian tradition around a series of activities along the Connecticut River, from the source to the sea.
St. Michael's Episcopal Church, at 16 Bradley Ave., will be joined by members of the Pilgrimage on Sunday, June 25, in worship, food, paddling, and contemplative practice. The first part of the morning will take place at St. Michael's. All interested people from the community are welcome for any or all parts of the day.
The theme of the Adult Education Forum at 9 a.m. is “Honoring the Living Waters of our Earth and Our Lives,” with reflections on “Water Justice” and “Watershed Discipleship” led by Cary Gaunt and Fred Taylor.
At the Sunday Service of Worship at 10:15 a.m., the theme of Sacred Water continues with guest preacher Rev. Stephen Blackmer, founder of “Church of the Woods” and Initiator of the River of Life Pilgrimage.
At noon, St. Michael's hosts a “Strawberry Spectacular” fundraiser for Pure Water for the World, with strawberry shortcake, sandwiches with all the fixings, and perhaps a few river songs.
There will be an opportunity for paddling on the Connecticut River, meditative walking, and reflective sharing from 1 to 3 p.m. Canoes and kayaks will be available from the nearby canoe rental service for a reasonable charge. Bring your canoe or kayak if you have one, or just come and bring your love of water. Assemble at the boat launch just west of the Marina Restaurant at 28 Spring Tree Rd.
For more information on the Pilgrimage, go to kairosearth.org/river.
Picnic and concert at Dutton Pines
EAST DUMMERSTON - Enjoy a musical and magical evening with friends and neighbors at Dutton Pines State Park on Sunday, June 25, from 5:30 until dark. Bring a picnic. Grills, dessert, and the fixings for s'mores will be furnished by the Dummerston Conservation Commission.
Amelia Struthers and Mike Mrowicki, who perform as the musical duo Vermont Timbre, will be offering their easy-folksy blend of original songs and some stories in the folk tradition.
They will share established material and some songs from the in-process recording project, Songs Along the Way, an exploration of journeys of the spirit in song. The songs are light and easy and utilize guitar, concertina, and recorder, along with soaring harmonies.
'Life of a School House' featured at Grafton History Dinner
GRAFTON - Grafton's old school houses will be featured at the Grafton Historical Society's “History Dinner” on Tuesday, June 27, at 6 p.m., in the White Chapel on Main Streer.
After the dinner, two Grafton residents who live in two of the town's old school houses, will present the “Life of a School House,” an informal history of each of their homes and the stories that have been part of these buildings' legacies.
This fundraising dinner is held in conjunction with the Flow of History seminar for Vermont teachers, who will be visiting Grafton that week to research and study the town's old school houses. The workshop provides a hands-on approach to teaching history in the classroom. This year the teachers are focusing on the history of the school houses as an example.
In the 1800s, Grafton had 13 schools. Today there is one active school on its original site, but rebuilt twice, and six remaining original school structures in the town, most of which have been converted to homes.
Grafton residents, Bill Watson and Dan Michaelson, will discuss the “life” of each of their school houses, and how it has survived over the years. Watson's home was the village's first school house built in 1856. Michaelson's home, the Pettengill school house, was also built in 1856 and continued as a school house until 1937. Some Grafton residents remember attending this school.
Photographs and memorabilia from these and other school houses will be on display.
The dinner and program are open to the public. Tickets are $15 per person and will help support the Grafton Historical Society Museum. Seating is limited; call 802-843-2584 or email [email protected].
June Climate Change Café examines the human future
BRATTLEBORO - The June Climate Change Café will present, “Council on the Uncertain Human Future,” a heartfelt community conversation about the climate crisis, our thoughts and feelings about the future, and what we can do.
The Café will convene on Tuesday, June 27, at 6 p.m., at the Brooks Memorial Library on Main Street. As always, the Café is free. Light refreshments will be available.
Council is an ancient practice that brings people together into a talking circle for candid and heartfelt conversation. With the aid of a talking stick, each person has a voice, speaks from the heart, and all the others listen. It fosters attentive listening and authentic expression.
The Climate Café is a project of Post Oil Solutions that convenes the fourth Tuesday of most months. For further information, contact Tim Stevenson, [email protected] or 802-869-2141.
Mott leads civil liberties series at Putney library
PUTNEY - Democracies thrive on disagreement. By weighing and considering a variety of possibilities, the people will make better-informed decisions.
In the U.S., most of our political debates invoke constitutional language, with each side claiming to represent the more lawful approach to the problem. The way these constitutional debates are framed tells us something important about our underlying political values and where we disagree.
Join Meg Mott, Professor of Politics at Marlboro College, for a discussion series about civil liberties in today's political climate at Putney Public Library, 55 Main St. This event is free and open to the public.
This series will look at three civil rights debates in order to better understand the character of contemporary American democracy. How do the various sides frame the issue? What underlying political philosophy is being invoked? What does a democracy lose when these important questions are no longer matters of debate?
The first event will be Wednesday, June 28, at 7 p.m., and will take up the topic, “Should harmful speech be silenced?” Marlboro students Fiona Craig and Zoe deHart will join Mott, who is Putney's Town Meeting Moderator, for this first event.
Hospital Fair needs artists and crafters
TOWNSHEND - The Grace Cottage Hospital Fair Day Art and Craft Show/Sale is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 5, on The Common in Townshend.
This one-day show and sale is one of the attractions at the fair, an all-day fun and fund raiser for Grace Cottage Hospital, and is housed in the vestry of The Townshend Church, adjacent to the other fair activities on The Common.
The Fair Day Art/Craft Show and Sale is always an eclectic assortment of arts and crafts ranging from fine-art originals and prints, photography, jewelry, fiber and fabric crafts, “almost perfect” pottery and glass, and more from many well known area artists/crafters. An admission fee isn't charged, but all sales are subject to a 25 to 30 percent consignment fee.
The committee is seeking local artists and crafters to participate in this year's event. Contact Kathy Greve, 802-874-4403; Lauri Miner, 802-365-4194; or Patty Jerez, 802-365-9266.