Witches-themed reproductive rights fundraiser set for Oct. 30
GUILFORD - Dancers of all ages and abilities will perform in the Brooms & Wombs fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 30 to benefit National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) and Planned Parenthood.
The performance at 5 p.m. (with a rain date of Sunday, Oct. 31) at the Mineral Springs Farm at 49 Carpenter Hill Rd. will be a celebration of fertility and reproductive freedom, according to organizer Mary Wallace Collins.
“It is a 'not-to-be-missed' fun, family-friendly event with costumed dancers, several fire pits, a smoke machine, and a Texas weenie roast but with the serious agenda of raising both awareness and funds for reproductive rights that are increasingly endangered,” she explained.
Dancers will perform the Witch Dance, a choreographed line dance, to “Schüttel Deinen Speck” (in English, “Shake Your Bacon”), recorded by German reggae-pop artist Peter Fox in 2008 and performed by a group of women in Germany. The song has since become a sort of universal anthem for female power, according to the event organizers.
Dancers still wishing to participate should attend the rehearsal Thursday, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. A dress rehearsal takes place at noon the day of the event. Meanwhile, dancers are encouraged to learn the steps ahead of the rehearsals by using YouTube tutorial “Witches Dance. Instruction and Demo.”
For more information, contact Mary Wallace Collins at 617-293-8002 or Michelle Frehsee at 802-275-2555.
Whitingham Library celebrates Halloween
JACKSONVILLE -On Sunday, Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m., the Whitingham Free Public Library and the Deerfield Valley Lion's Club will host a trick-or-treat event and jack-o'-lantern display for kids and adults at the Municipal Center on Route 100.
Call the library at 802-368-7506 to reserve a spot to set up a spooky table or a trick-or-treat display and hand out goodies.
Free pumpkins will be available for beginners or experts to show off pumpkin carving skills. Jack-o'-lanterns will be displayed at the library on Halloween night.
WSSD seeks members for budget review committee
BRATTLEBORO - The Windham Southeast School District is seeking volunteers to serve on an Independent Budget Review Committee. One volunteer from each of the district's four member towns (Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, and Putney) will be appointed.
The four-member committee will prepare a report that will assist participants at the March 15, 2022 Annual District Meeting to engage in a meaningful discussion of the school budget and to vote in an informed manner on the warned budget article.
Committee volunteers will carefully monitor the budget cycle, attend budget presentations and discussions by the board and its Finance Committee, contact WSESD administration to clarify points and to secure other information as needed, and conduct independent research as needed without interfering in school operations.
Those who wish to serve on this committee should email WSESD Board Chair David Schoales at [email protected] no later than Monday, Nov. 8.
Newfane Congregational Church to hold online auction
NEWFANE - For the second year, due to Covid concerns, Newfane Congregational Church's traditional Super Raffle will be replaced by an online auction.
Bidding at 32auctions.com/newfanechurchauction2021 will begin Monday, Nov. 1 at 6 a.m. and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 14 at 11:45 p.m.
All items have been donated by local businesses, community members, vendors from their Heritage Festival, and members of the church. All proceeds will go toward the church's local outreach and ministry efforts.
Auction items include gift certificates, stuffed animals, jams and jellies, jewelry, paintings, pottery, books, handmade items, a dollhouse, skin care products, and glassware.
The 50th Anniversary Cookbook of the Newfane Heritage Festival, which features 200 recipes from the community, includes some favorites from the festival, plus helpful hints and tips.
The cookbook will be offered for sale on the auction site for $15.
Chester-Andover Food Shelf begins holiday food drive
CHESTER - The Chester-Andover Family Center Food Shelf, at 908 VT Rt. 103 South, is asking for help as its volunteers prepare to provide Food Shelf participants with food for their Thanksgiving dinner.
The mission of the nonprofit is to meet the needs of food-insecure residents, and “Thanksgiving is especially challenging for families on a tight budget as it comes at the end of the month,” organizers of the effort write in a news release.
Donations will help the Food Shelf “put a bountiful Thanksgiving meal on the table for the more 100 regular participants who depend on them for supplemental food to feed their family every month.”
As Vermont Foodbank partners, the Food Shelf can purchase turkeys and shelf-stable items at very low cost. The Food Shelf also partners with local grocery outlets and farmers to purchase fresh produce and fruit.
Shelf-stable items such as cranberry sauce, canned pumpkin pie filling, pie crust mix, canned sweet potatoes, stuffing mix, evaporated milk, canned pineapple, and raisins are appreciated. Small bags of potatoes and onions are always welcome, and the food shelf will also accept small hams and turkeys.
Donations may be sent by check to the Chester-Andover Family Center, P.O. Box 302, Chester VT 05143 or made via Paypal at chester-andoverfamilycenter.org. Call 802-875-3236 for more information.
The Family Center also seeks help in “identifying friends and neighbors who may be struggling to make ends meet.”
Residents of Chester and Andover in need of supplemental food are eligible to become Food Shelf recipients. Those in need may bring proof of residency to the Food Shelf to enroll.
Food Shelf hours are Thursdays, 1 to 4 p.m., and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.