Annual book sale in Guilford on Oct. 12
GUILFORD - The Guilford Community Church, UCC, is holding a book sale on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the church. A wide selection of current books will be available for sale from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Choose a few books or fill a bag. All books by donation. If $25 or more is spent, you can receive a complementary hardcover bestseller of your choice! Coffee and baked treats are available for purchase while you browse.
Guilford Community Church is located at 38 Church Drive. From Interstate 91 Exit 1, take Route 5 south 1 mile (just past the Guilford Country Store), turn left onto Bee Barn Road, and bear left onto Church Drive. Contact the church for more information at 802-257-0994.
Blessing of the Animals in Chester on Oct. 13
CHESTER - On Sunday, Oct. 13, at 9:30 a.m., St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 313 Main St., will hold a Blessing of the Animals on its back lawn. Members of the public are invited to bring an animal with whom they live or work - or the photo of an animal about whom they care or are concerned. Participants should come a bit early to the service, which will start promptly at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at 10 a.m., and bring a small lawn chair, if they need to sit, as well as a leash or restraint for their animal.
The pet blessing ceremony is in commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi, who was famous for preaching to a wolf that then spared the lives of those who would feed him and for leading a simple life of poverty and charity that honored all creatures, a lifestyle still honored in the monastic orders that bear the Saint's name. Blessing events traditionally take place on or closely after St. Francis Day, which is Oct. 4.
Immediately after the blessing, inside the church sanctuary there will be a regular Eucharistic service of thanksgiving for creation. All are welcome to attend the communion service. Pets are also welcome to be with their owners inside the church to celebrate God's love for all creation if the animals are well-behaved and on leash or in a carrier.
Estey organs is topic for Guilford Historical Society
GUILFORD - The Guilford Historical Society invites the public to a program on "Brattleboro's Estey Organ Company and the Organs of Guilford's Historic Meeting House," with Ned Phoenix, co-founder of the Estey Organ Museum.
The program will take place Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m. at the Meeting House, 4042 Guilford Center Road, in Guilford. Parking is available at the library, museum, and Broad Brook Community Center. All are welcome and the event is free with donations welcomed.
Phoenix will speak about the history of Estey organs while playing a few selections. Attendants can hear several Estey organs played in the exceptional acoustics of the recently restored Meeting House, which "are exquisite, and hearing the organ played will tickle your soul," Diane Frost, member of the Guilford Historical Society, says in a news release.
This will serve as the annual meeting of the Guilford Historical Society with a very brief business meeting prior to the program. RSVP on the Facebook event titled Annual Meeting and Estey Organ Presentation, or just come. For information about accessibility, contact Chuck Collins at [email protected].
BF business owners come together under new BDCC initiative
BELLOWS FALLS - Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation'S (BDCC) popular BizConnect series will host its first event in Bellows Falls. The program invites business owners and leaders to connect for a light breakfast and a big opportunity at the Waypoint Center, 17 Depot St., on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 8 a.m.
"We are excited to host the BDCC and this BizConnect and opportunities for business owners to meet in Bellows Falls to have coffee together," Betsy Thurston, executive director of the Bellows Falls Downtown Development Alliance (BFDDA), said in a news release. "This is an opportunity to discuss shared business issues and collaborate on solutions."
This event is co-hosted by BFDDA and the town of Rockingham Development Office; entities with long histories of supporting business development, connection, and growth in their communities.
Refreshments are provided at all BizConnect events. Attendance is complimentary, though registration is required. Interested business owners should sign up at brattleborodevelopment.com/bizconnect.
RFPL offers tips on living well, living long
BELLOWS FALLS - On Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 p.m., at the Rockingham Free Public Library (RFPL), Dr. Carol Blackwood will discuss steps toward living a healthy and long life.
During her medical career spanning 20 years, she has cared for people of all ages, from prenatal to death. She will plant some seeds of evidence-based knowledge to help improve your health and well-being. Dr. Blackwood has most recently worked at the VA Community Clinic in Keene, New Hampshire, retiring in 2021. She currently fills in for doctors at Springfield Hospital and serves as the vice-chair of the RFPL board of trustees.
For more information about this free program, email [email protected], call 802-463-4270. or stop by the library at 65 Westminster St.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.