Brattleboro taxes, utilities due May 15
BRATTLEBORO - The fourth installment of the 2019 real estate and personal property taxes and the utility billing will both be due on Friday,. May 15 by 5 p.m.
Payments made after that date will incur an additional 1-percent interest, as well as an 8-percent penalty added to the unpaid balance.
Payments can be mailed to the Town of Brattleboro, 230 Main St., Suite 111, Brattleboro VT 05301. An official postmark of May 15 will be considered as an on-time payment.
Payments can also be made by dropping an envelope containing your check (no cash) into the locked black drop box attached to the large wooden light pole in the parking lot behind the Municipal Center. Include the quarterly payment stub to ensure your payment is applied properly.
Payments slipped in the drop box after hours on the due date will not be considered on time.
Electronic bank checks must be received in the office by the due date. Checks dated for the due date, but received after the due date, will not be considered an on time payment. Check with your bank for payment schedule.
In addition, you may choose to make your payments via a credit card or debit card at brattleboro.org. Click on “bill pay” at the bottom of the home page. There is a fee for this service.
The town cannot accept credit/debit card payments at the office or by telephone.
Due to the COVID-19 virus, the Treasurer's Office is not accepting in-person payments for the May quarter. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Recreation & Parks Dep. reopens some outdoor facilities
BRATTLEBORO - The Recreation & Parks Department announces the following update regarding the status of its facilities:
• The Fred H. Harris Tennis/Pickleball Courts at Living Memorial Park are open.
• The flying disc golf course at Living Memorial Park remains open.
• All softball fields are available to families for informal kickball, Wiffle ball, etc. Softball fields are not yet open for more-formal team games or practices.
• Basketball courts remain closed until further notice.
• The Dog Park at Living Memorial Park remains closed, due to COVID-19 and its having recently been reseeded.
• All park equipment - benches, picnic tables, playgrounds, etc.- remains closed because it is impossible to sanitize that equipment in between users.
• Restrooms at Living Memorial Park and West River Park remain closed.
Department personnel encourage everyone to enjoy the town's facilities and green spaces while following these guidelines:
• Maintain social distancing. (Everyone in the group wears masks and stays at least 6 feet apart whenever possible.)
• No-contact sports/games.
• Use the “arrive, play, and leave” approach to using these facilities.
• No gatherings of more than 10 people.
All users must be Vermont residents (in accordance with Gov. Phil Scott's executive orders).
For information, contact [email protected].
County genealogical group to meet online
BRATTLEBORO - The inaugural meeting of the Windham County Genealogical Interest Group will be held via Zoom on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Genealogists Jerry Carbone of Whetstone Brook Genealogy and Wayne Blanchard, genealogy volunteer at Rockingham Free Public Library (RFPL), will facilitate the event.
Sponsored by Brooks Memorial Library and the RFPL, the group plans for future meetings to meet bimonthly, alternating between Brooks and the RFPL. Dates and times will be announced.
The May 16 program will focus on a guided tour of the redesigned Vermont State Archives website and using the online Vermont newspapers of record, available to any state resident who registers at Vermont.gov.
Parts of the session will be devoted to answering genealogical research questions and planning topics for the next meeting.
The Zoom meeting is free and open to the public, but will be limited to the first 30 people to register at bit.ly/wcgenealogy.
For more information, contact Brooks Memorial Library at [email protected] or the Rockingham Free Public Library at [email protected].
Applicants sought for Robert L. Crowell Scholarship
NEWFANE - The Moore Free Library is offering $12,000 in scholarships funded by the family of the late Robert L. Crowell.
These awards are open to graduating high school seniors and GED recipients from Brookline, Newfane, South Newfane, and Williamsville who will be entering their first year of college, community college, or trade or vocational post-secondary education in the fall.
The scholarship committee will consider academics, personal growth, and community contributions.
Applications should include the printed cover page, a brief autobiography (including plans for continued study and the name of the school to which the applicant has been accepted), a high school transcript, and at least two letters of reference.
Applications should be submitted by Friday, May 15, either by email (preferred) to [email protected] or by postal mail to Board of Trustees, Moore Free Library, P.O. Box 208, Newfane, VT 05345.
The number of scholarships awarded and the award amounts will be determined by the applications received.
Athens initiates Virtual Community Conversation
ATHENS - “We're all in this together!” This bit of everyday wisdom is being expressed more frequently during these days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a small, rural town like Athens, however, the benefits of this wisdom can be challenging to practice in one's everyday life. To help bridge this gap, townspeople are initiating a new community service, the Virtual Community Conversation (VCC).
Organizers say the purpose of VCC is to provide neighbors with an opportunity to engage in those kinds of conversations that neighbors have. Examples range from stories about gardening, animal sightings, or a great walk, to information about resources that might be useful to others and announcements of upcoming events.
What VCC is not, organizers says, is a place for gossiping or complaining about others, or making political or partisan comments. It is only for Athenians, and is designed to strengthen connections among residents.
Making use of the newly created town Google Meet, residents can join the conversation every Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. Check the calendar each week, and follow the instructions for participating at the bottom of the home page of the town website.
For assistance, contact Tim Stevenson at 802-869-2141 or [email protected].
Chester-Andover Family Center supports the community
CHESTER - The Chester-Andover Family Center wants to reassure the community that the operation will support and meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens during these challenging times.
While the Thrift Shop is closed until further notice, the food shelf and financial assistance programs are open and available.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, requests for financial assistance must be made by phone. Call the Family Center at 802-875-3236 and leave a message, including your name, what you need, and a phone number where volunteers can return the call.
Current food shelf recipients can pick up their food on Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If you or someone you know would like to sign up for food, call the center at 802-875-3236 and leave a message, or stop by during Food Shelf business hours on Thursday or Friday.
While the Food Shelf requires proof of residency in Chester or Andover, volunteers will always provide anybody with emergency food and, if appropriate, refer you to the food shelf that serves your address.
To make a donation, visit chester-andoverfamilycenter.org or send a check to CAFC, P.O. Box 302, Chester, VT 05143.
Anyone over 60 is now eligible for Meals on Wheels
SPRINGFIELD - Meals on Wheels will now accept applications from anyone over age 60 in Vermont who is self-isolating due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Spouses and caregivers are also eligible, even if they are under 60.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Meals on Wheels delivers enough meals for a full week.
To apply, call the Senior Solutions Helpline at 802-885-2669.
U.S. Postal Service says it is hiring in northern New England
BOSTON - Post offices across northern New England are currently hiring. The U.S. Postal Service says it has positions open in processing and delivery operations, on all shifts, at postal facilities around the region.
According to a news release, the Postal Service says it offers “flexible schedules, competitive salaries and opportunities for career advancement.”
By logging in to usps.com/careers, you can search by state for positions in your area and learn about the variety of positions available, job duties, salaries, benefits, and more.