SEVCA offers free tax prep services
WESTMINSTER — Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) is again offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free income tax preparation and filing help to anyone who makes $60,000 or less and fall within the VITA scope requirements.
SEVCA is offering a Covid-safe, low-contact service this year via secure drop-box locations in Windsor and Windham counties. Envelopes for client’s tax documents and VITA Tax forms for clients will be at all SEVCA drop-box locations. There are no appointments needed. All taxpayers need to do is fill the appropriate information at the drop box location and be sure to have a valid picture ID and their Social Security card. All returns are prepared by first in, first out method.
Locked drop-boxes are located at the Windsor Resource Center, 1 Railroad Avenue, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; at SEVCA’s main office on 91 Buck Drive in Westminster, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and SEVCA’s Brattleboro office at 15 Grove Street, Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m. Documents may also be mailed to SEVCA, Attn: VITA Program, 91 Buck Drive, Westminster, VT 05158. More information is available at SEVCA.org.
Nicki Steel photography show at Bartleby’s Books
WILMINGTON — Bartleby’s Books, 17 West Main Street, is hosting its annual show of Nicki Steel’s photography throughout the month of February. Steel will have cards and enlargements available from her popular Hearts in Nature series in honor of Valentine’s Day.
The show will also celebrate Vermont’s working landscapes with canvas prints and cards featuring beloved local landmark, the Wheeler Farm, as well as Steel’s newest boxed set of cards, Farms & Barns. The show will also have its traditional selection of photographs which highlight scenery and wildlife from the Deerfield Valley, available as boxed sets, mini-mats, cards, matted and canvas prints, all available for purchase.
Bartleby’s will host a reception with Steel on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 3 to 5:30 p.m., to include time for open conversation with the artist and a slideshow viewing of her latest work. Light refreshments will be served. Call or email Bartleby’s Books for details at 802-464-5425 or [email protected].
Senior meal served in Dummerston
DUMMERSTON — The next Senior Solutions/Evening Star Grange Senior Lunch will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 8 with take-outs available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the eat-in luncheon served at noon. The menu will consist of chicken pie, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetarian mac and cheese, and succotash, with black forest cake for dessert.
Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made by calling the Grange at 802-254-1138 by Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. Leave a name, telephone number, the number and type of meal requested, and whether eating in or taking out. A donation of $3 for those 60 and older and $4 for those under 60 is suggested. All are welcome.
Energy Committee presents online biofuel talk
BELLOWS FALLS — The Rockingham Energy Committee will present a biofuel discussion over the Rockingham Free Public Library’s Zoom on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m. Learn all about the emerging renewable liquid heating fuels from Sean Cota, president and CEO of the National Energy & Fuels Institute (NEFI) in Washington, D.C. This presentation will review why these fuels reduce CO2 and why immediate cumulative uses of renewable fuels affect total cumulative emissions.
Cota has more than 35 years of experience in the heating fuels industry and has testified before Congress multiple times as a subject matter expert on energy trading market functions, and in the areas of swaps, futures, options, and other nonregulated, structured financial products. To receive an invitation to join this live presentation over Zoom, contact [email protected] or call the RFPL at 802-463-4270.
Putney Community Suppers return, starting on Feb. 10
PUTNEY — A growing community desire to have opportunities to gather in community, now that the worst of the Covid pandemic is over, has led to the the return of Putney’s monthly Community Suppers stating on Friday, February 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill.
The first supper will be prepared by Eleni of the Putney Diner, who is sharing her heritage by serving a Greek dinner. All are welcome. Organizers ask those who can to make a donation to defray the costs of the food. They also welcome help moving forward with various tasks, from organizing to clean up afterwards, or to set up for subsequent events.
For more information about the suppers, contact Simon Renault at [email protected] or Mike Mrowicki at [email protected].
West River Thrives seeks Input from area families
TOWNSHEND — West River Valley Thrives is seeking your input from parents and caring adults with children in grades 6–12 who live in Townshend, Brookline, Newfane, Marlboro, Wardsboro, Windham, or Jamaica (you do not have to attend Leland & Gray). A brief survey can be found at bit.ly/700-survey. The survey is 100 percent anonymous and Thrives uses a CDC-approved data management plan.
Parental input and perceptions collected through this survey will help to guide their work and target their resources more effectively. For more information, contact West River Valley Thrives Director Meg Gonzalez at 802-365-4700 or visit wrvthrives.org.
Crowell Gallery helps Moore Free Library celebrate its 125th anniversary
NEWFANE — As part of Moore Free Library’s 125th Anniversary celebration, the library’s board of directors invites the community to a reception in the Crowell Art Gallery on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m., as select works from the Crowell collection will be on display.
The gallery, located within the Moore Free Library, will be exhibiting the Robert L. Crowell Art Collection throughout the month of February. The gallery, once a 200-year-old barn owned by the library, was transformed into an eclectic art gallery by Crowell and his wife, Muriel in 2000.
Crowell was a strong supporter of the arts, and shortly before his death in 2001, he traveled southern Vermont in search of works he felt reflected the vast diversity of the artistic culture of the area. Contemporary pieces by Mallory Lake, Jules Olitski, Emily Mason, and Wolf Kahn hang alongside works by Eric Aho, Roger Sandes, James Urbaska, Marcy Hermansader, and others. Johnny Swing’s “Penny Chair” and Jim Florschutz’s wood and stone “Shrine to the Sun Shaman” sculptures are included in the collection and on view during library hours until Feb. 28.
Located at 23 West Street, the library is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WOOL-FM completes upgrades
BELLOWS FALLS — With help from their supporters and members, WOOL-FM 91.5 has recently upgraded its studio-to-transmitter link, a significant achievement that has vastly improved the quality and stability of Black Sheep Radio’s broadcast.
The nonprofit radio station also updated its streaming address. If you’re outside of the broadcast area or simply prefer to listen to online, just go to the WOOL-FM website, blacksheepradio.org, and click either the Streamer button or the Listen link. You can also connect to the new stream directly, or to re-streaming services TuneIn or Radio.Garden.
On the WOOL-FM website, listeners can also browse the broadcast schedule, renew their membership, or make a donation. Members are also welcome to sign up to become a WOOL DJ and create their own radio show.