Sanders to hold town meeting event on Labor Day
BRATTLEBORO - U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will hold five town meetings across Vermont over Labor Day weekend, including one scheduled for Monday, Sept. 6, at noon on the Brattleboro Common.
According to a news release, the town meeting is an opportunity for communities “to hear about the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill and how it will make major investments in working families in Vermont and across the country.”
As Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Sanders introduced a historic budget resolution which passed the Senate on Aug. 11, and included what he calls “a blueprint for the crafting of sweeping legislation to invest in the long-neglected needs of the working class.”
Those wishing to attend an event are asked to RSVP at www.sanders.senate.gov/events, or call 802-598-0606 and leave the following information: first and last name, mailing address, phone number, and the event location they are attending.
All events will be held outdoors, rain or shine. Attendees must follow Vermont Department of Health guidance. Masks are encouraged, regardless of vaccination status.
Brattleboro Selectboard reschedules meeting
BRATTLEBORO - In observance of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, the previously scheduled regular meeting of the Selectboard on Tuesday, Sept. 7 has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 6:15 p.m.
The physical location of the meeting will be the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center, 230 Main St. Due to continued concerns over the spread of COVID-19 in the region, the public is encouraged to attend the meeting on Zoom.
Consistent with the town's standard practice, the Zoom link for this meeting will be printed at the top of the agenda, which can be found at brattleboro.org.
Dummerston plans public forum on home business rules
DUMMERSTON - The Planning Commission will hold a public forum at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7, in the meeting room on the lower level of Dummerston Congregational Church 1535 Middle Rd.
The forum will discuss with residents and home business owners some proposed changes to home business and sign regulations in the zoning bylaw.
The Planning Commission is hoping to hear constructive feedback so that revisions can be made before bringing the bylaw amendments to a public hearing.
Draft amendments may be viewed on the town website.
Senior lunch served in Dummerston
DUMMERSTON - Senior Solutions and Evening Star Grange will hold their Second Wednesday Senior Lunch on Sept. 8, with takeout available for pickup at 1008 East-West Rd. between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and in-house serving at noon.
The menu will feature baked chicken breast in mushroom sauce or broccoli-spinach quiche; rice pilaf; marinated carrots; and apple crisp. Registration is requested by Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. to help organizers gauge the amount of food needed.
Call the Grange Hall at 802-254-1138 and leave your name, telephone number, the number of meals you would like. and whether you will be joining them in-house or taking it with you. A donation - $3 for those 55 and older, or $4 for those younger than 55 - is suggested.
Women's Chorus begins 26th season
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Women's Chorus will begin its 26th fall session on Wednesday, Sept. 8.
To start the year, the chorus will be singing songs of resilience and joy, on Zoom or with multiple outdoor options.
Registration is necessary, and singer's masks will be required this year.
Rehearsals will take place Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. For more details on times and costs, and to register, visit brattleborowomenschorus.org.
Republican town caucuses to be held in Windham County
BRATTLEBORO - A caucus to organize the Republican Town Committee in town is planned for Thursday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. at Whetstone Church on 28 Birge St.
For GOP caucus locations and times in other Windham County towns, see the public notices posted at your town clerk's office or online at VTGOP.org, or contact Windham County GOP Chair Rick Morton at 802-257-2780.
Caucuses to organize Republican town committees in Windham County will be held in the early part of September, in accordance with state law.
DeWalt to play solo piano jazz concert
BRATTLEBORO - Jazz pianist Dan DeWalt of Newfane will perform a concert on Friday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. at 18 Town Crier Drive, home of the First United Methodist and the First Baptist churches.
DeWalt is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who has been performing since his teens. He plays in several ensembles, notably Trio Mambo, Creación Latin Big Band, and Celebration Brass Band. He played for more than two decades with Simba.
He also is known for his composing and performance of music for silent films and is about to debut his new music to accompany the 1989 almost-entirely-silent film Sidewalk Stories.
DeWalt will perform jazz standards, original compositions, and a bit of gospel music.
The concert is free, but donations -$20 per person is suggested - will support music at, and help for the community by, the First Baptist and First Methodist churches.
Parks Place partners with Turning Point in Springfield
BELLOWS FALLS - Over the summer, Parks Place and Turning Point Recovery Center of Springfield teamed up and established the first recovery outpost center in the Greater Falls area.
Through this partnership, the loft in the carriage house at Parks Place at 44 School St. Ext. will now serve as a drop-in center for recovery resources and connection for people who experience substance-use disorders, cutting down on the need to travel to Brattleboro or Springfield for meetings, peer recovery coaching, and other services vital to recovery.
The center is staffed by volunteers and employees of Turning Point Recovery Center, including J.R. Layne, with referral and resource assistance from Parks Place staff. The center is open during Parks Place business hours (listed as Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Founded in 1995, Parks Place is a one-stop resource hub that connects people with social service and community agencies. For more information, call 802-463-9927.
Vermont Adult Learning launches Online Learning Center
BRATTLEBORO - Vermont Adult Learning (VAL), which serves students in Windham and Windsor counties, is launching its Online Learning Center (OLC), which will complement in-person services.
Students will now be able to pursue their high school diploma for free via in-person, online, or hybrid models.
As described in a news release, VAL says it has taken experience with remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic “and turned it into something positive and exciting, where students have access to more teachers, a greater variety of courses, and a more-varied schedule than ever before.”
The OLC was created to reach a broader segment of Vermonters who lack reliable transportation, are busy parenting young children, and/or have demanding work schedules.
VAL has served tens of thousands of adult learners ages 16 years and older since its founding in 1980. The agency's free programs include basic education and literacy, high school completion, GED tutoring and testing, courses for English language Learners, workforce readiness and development, and transition to post-secondary education and/or the workforce.
For more information, access the OLC course catalog at bit.ly/628-olc. To learn more about VAL, visit vtadultlearning.org.