Brooks Library to host refugee support and integration panel
BRATTLEBORO - The Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC), southern Vermont's refugee resettlement agency, will host an informational panel on refugees coming to the area from Eritrea/Tigray, Central Africa, Yemen, and Latin America/Guatemala.
The event, to be held at Brooks Memorial Library on Monday, May 8, from 5 to 7 p.m., aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by refugees and to encourage community engagement in welcoming and supporting the new arrivals. The presentation will focus on recent conflict histories and human rights abuses that have led to out-migration.
The panel will feature ECDC Vermont Director Joe Wiah, who will provide background and context on the identities of refugees in southern Vermont and on the resettlement process; and will include short presentations on conflict areas. Additionally, refugees themselves will share personal stories and perspectives.
ECDC Vermont, in partnership with the Brooks Memorial Library, invites all community members to attend and engage in this vital discussion. This event seeks to foster understanding, support, and involvement in the lives of refugees who now call Vermont their home. For more information on the event, visit the ECDC Vermont Facebook page at facebook.com/ECDCMCCVT.
Guilford Cares to sponsor six Senior Walks
GUILFORD - Neither snow, rain, nor mud has deterred Guilford Cares and Guilford Conservation Commission volunteers from planning a brand-new set of Senior Walks for the 2023 season.
There will be six walks, one per month, from May through October. Walks are on the second Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. Each walk will feature a volunteer guide to share knowledge as participants ramble along, asking questions and pointing out observations.
On Tuesday, May 9, walkers can step back in time with an amble through the Green River Village where the past is part of the present. Learn why the Green River covered bridge construction, led by a Guilford resident, was considered state of the art in the 1800s, and why the village had the first and only drive-through post office. Walkers will also get an inside look at why the timber crib dam still stands strong today.
The guide for the walk, Chip Carter, will lead a loop of the Village, focusing on the stories behind the dam, covered bridge, Green River Bridge Inn, and village church. Parking is available on River Road next to the covered bridge, carpooling is encouraged.
Contact Guilford Cares for more information or to request a ride at 802-579-1350 or [email protected].
Other walks scheduled include the Abijah Prince Cellar Hole (June 13), Tapalou Guilds Farm (July 11), Hayes Road (Aug. 8), Fort Dummer State Park (Sept. 12), and Black Gum Swamp, J. Maynard Miller Municipal Forest (Oct. 10).
Grace Cottage unveils plans for new clinic
TOWNSHEND - A public forum to unveil plans for a new primary care clinic building at Grace Cottage will be held on Wednesday, May 10, at 5 p.m., at the Townshend Town Hall.
The current clinic operates out of two adjoining houses built in the 1850s. With more than 31,000 patient visits annually (up from 20,000 in 2018), it is essential that Grace Cottage moves forward with this project, in order to meet the access needs of the community, and the recruitment of additional primary care providers that will allow for future growth.
During the past year, Grace Cottage has been working diligently on the steps required to begin what the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation and the Bennington County Regional Commission have named a “Vital Project” for the region's vitality and economy.
Following a public bidding process, Grace Cottage selected the healthcare architecture firm of Lavallee Brensinger and Engelberth Construction to design and oversee the project. Southern Vermont Engineering conducted geotechnical studies to help determine the best location for the building, which will be adjacent to the existing clinic building, connecting to the hospital building.
Grace Cottage has submitted a Certificate of Need application to the Green Mountain Care Board, Vermont's healthcare regulatory body, and is preparing to apply for an Act 250 permit. It is also embarking on a $20 million capital campaign for the construction of the new clinic building adjacent to the existing Grace Cottage Family Health. This project, fulfilling a long-held dream, has been initiated by generous donors who have pledged $5 million.
Extensive feedback from employees who work in the clinic has been incorporated into the interior plan. Final exterior and interior designs have been completed for this new 23,000 sq-ft. building, and these will be shared with community members at the May 10 event. For more information about the new clinic and the forum, call 802-365-9109.
RFPL offers info on housing issues
BELLOWS FALLS - Stop by the Rockingham Free Public Library on Friday, May 12, between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m., to learn more about fair housing and your rights to shape statewide housing policies with your feedback and to connect with a local nonprofit for housing resources and help.
The Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development will be hosting an information table staffed by friendly, well-informed persons ready to hear what participants have to say and share related state resources. This table will be set up on the library's main floor.
Vernal pool exploration on Hogback Mountain
MARLBORO - Join the Hogback Mountain Conservation Association and Kevin Tolan from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies on Saturday, May 13, at 10 a.m. for a morning of exploring the vibrant world of vernal pools in springtime. Hear about the importance of these transient habitats, how to identify the creatures who depend on them, and what to do or not do around them to ensure they continue to function.
This is a rain or shine event, so please dress appropriately. Meet at the trailhead kiosk behind the Vermont Distillers building on Route 9. There is plenty of parking across the road in the large parking lot. There will be some off-trail hiking but nothing too strenuous. Registration is required and limited to 15: register at vlt.org and scroll through their list of events.
May Death Café in Bellows Falls
BELLOWS FALLS - On Wednesday, May 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., Brattleboro Area Hospice will host a Death Café at the Rockingham Free Public Library community room, 65 Westminster St.
They invite curious and like-minded folks to join and talk about death while enjoying tea and snacks. Their objective is “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their finite lives.” A Death Caféis a group-directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives, or themes. Find out more at deathcafe.com/what.
Tea and snacks provided. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP via email at [email protected] or call 802-257-0775.
Hinsdale Farmers' Market seeks vendors
HINSDALE, N.H. - The Hinsdale Area Farmers' Market, which operates on Main Street at the Millstream Park each Saturday from May through October, is seeking applications from vendors for the 2023 season.
Farmers, crafters, chefs, flea market, and others who live in Southern Vermont or Cheshire County in New Hampshire, are welcome to apply.
The Hinsdale Farmers' Market has been operating since 2014 and seeks to promote locally grown food and crafts while making fresh food available to our residents. Applications for full season, half-season, and daily vendors can be obtained by contacting the market manager at [email protected].
The market is also seeking people who would like to set up a one-time educational demonstration at the market. Examples include beekeeping, sheep shearing, pickling, or basket making. Interested persons are requested to contact the market manager as soon as possible to discuss your demonstration idea. Additionally, acoustic musicians who would like to perform at the market may email the market manager with an example of their original or open-source music.