Brooks Library to close early June 20 for network upgrade
BRATTLEBORO - Brooks Memorial Library will close at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, to accomplish the transition of its electronic network.
The project is a complete network overhaul and upgrade that will result in a new internet connection that the library says "is almost 10 times as fast as the present connection. Network equipment that is more than 10 years old will be replaced, and library patrons and staff will have significantly faster network connections, both wired and wireless. The new network will no longer be at risk of slowing down under heavy simultaneous use, and it will have room to grow far beyond today's peak usage."
This network upgrade is supported by a grant from the Vermont Department of Libraries. The grant allows for the transition away from the Vermont FiberConnect network. FiberConnect was a public-private partnership dating back to 2010 that brought high-speed internet to more than 30 public libraries across the state. Brooks went live on FiberConnect in 2013 when broadband was unavailable to most area residents.
While the FiberConnect project is ending, the library will continue to provide free internet access. For more information, contact Brooks Memorial Library at 802-254-5290 or visit brookslibraryvt.org.
Fuller Park public forum on June 20
BRATTLEBORO - The Recreation & Parks Department and the Planning Department will host a community input session on Thursday, June 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Fuller Park (Esteyville Common), 98 Estey St. Those interested in attending should bring along a lawn chair.
While the park is in fair condition, the park's major feature, a hexagonal bandstand constructed in 1913–14, is in poor condition and has gone unused due to safety and accessibility concerns.
Community mewbers are welcome to share their ideas on how they would like to see the town move forward with improvements to the bandstand. Unable to attend? Send your thoughts to [email protected].
Guilford garden tour is June 22
GUILFORD - Kick off the summer season with a garden tour hosted by Neighborhood Roots on Saturday, June 22. This self-guided tour will take you to perennial, vegetable, and flower farms and gardens all over Guilford. In-person registration takes place at Guilford Central School from 9 to 11 a.m. on the day of the tour, or register online at nrfc.betterworld.org and get a digital tour map ahead of time.
The suggested donation is $5–10, but no one will be turned away. The rain date is June 23. Every $10 donation for the Garden Tour receives one raffle ticket for prizes that include: a 1-hour therapeutic body work session, a $50 gift certificate for the Guilford Food Hub, or a gift basket of local food goodies. For more information, [email protected].
Special Town Meeting in Rockingham on June 22
BELLOWS FALLS - A special town meeting for Rockingham voters is planned for Saturday, June 22, at 2 p.m. at the Bellows Falls Middle School auditorium.
Voters will discuss the pros and cons of holding the annual March meeting on a Saturday afternoon versus a Monday evening. Results of a town-wide survey done in January indicate that many voters prefer a weekend meeting. A binding vote on the issue will be taken on the 22nd.
The Bellows Falls Middle School, at 15 School St., is ADA accessible. Those needing a ride or able to offer a ride should call 802-275-4646 in advance.
Guilford Cares hosts herb gardens walk
GUILFORD - Guilford Cares invites area seniors to gather at the home of Julie Beet, 179 Bluebird Drive on Tuesday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m. In Beet's herb gardens, food and medicine grow side by side and are sometimes the same thing. She is a co-founder of Neighborhood Roots Food Collective, an herbal medicine maker, and a friend of bees. At the end of her guided tour, Beet will reward everyone with samples of her herbal teas.
This is an easy, short amble. Traveling south on Weatherhead Hollow Road, turn right onto Baker Cross Road; at the top of Baker Cross, turn right onto Sweet Pond Road; after a quarter-mile, turn left onto Bluebird Drive. #179 is the last house on Bluebird. For more information, contact Guilford Cares at 802-579-1350 or [email protected].
Senior meal in Dummerston
DUMMERSTON - Evening Star Grange and Senior Solutions will serve their second lunch of the month on Wednesday, June 26, with take-outs available between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and in-house meal served at noon. The menu will consist of chicken a la king, rice pilaf, vegetarian tortellini and cucumber salad, and marinated carrots, with bread pudding for dessert.
Reservations are strongly suggested at 802-254-1138. Leave your name, phone number, number of meals wanted, and whether you are eating in or taking it out to them know how much food to fix. Donations of $3 for those 60 and over and $4 for those under 60 are suggested.
Free produce distribution in Putney
PUTNEY - The Vermont Foodbank and the Putney Foodshelf co-sponsor a monthly food drop of free produce and some nonperishables on the fourth Thursday of every month, from 9 to 9:45 a.m., on Alice Holway drive (in front of Putney Meadows, the white building across from the Putney Co-op and the Putney Fire Station).
All are welcome. This is a drive-up service. Bags provided. The next monthly food drop is Thursday, June 27, 9 to 9:45 am.
Dummerston Cares offers free smoke alarms
DUMMERSTON - Dummerston Cares is continuing to accept requests for its "Raise the Alarm" program, a partnership of Cares and the West Dummerston Volunteer Fire Department. Any member of the community with an owner-occupied, single-family home is eligible to receive, at no cost, smoke alarms (with 10-year batteries) and carbon monoxide detectors, installed by trained WDVFD firefighters.
To sign up, call the Dummerston Cares Message Line at 802-257-5800 and leave your name and phone number. A Cares volunteer will contact you to get your application underway. Installations are on Saturday mornings between 9 a.m. and noon.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.