Saxtons River annual village meeting is April 14
SAXTONS RIVER - The annual Saxtons River village meeting is on Monday, April 14, at 7 p.m. at Main Street Arts. Before the meeting, there will be a potluck supper from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The annual village report can be picked up at the Saxtons River Village Market or downloaded at rockinghamvt.org/saxtons-river-village-trustees. The voter checklist and instructions on how to register to vote are posted on the bulletin boards at the market and the fire station.
Library talk looks at impacts of tourism in Hawai'i
PUTNEY - The Putney Public Library, 55 Main St., presents "Death by Aloha: A Sideways History of the Hawaiian Islands" with Ben Lord on Thursday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m.
"Tourists are obnoxious ... unless you're one of them," organizers wrote in a news release. "Hawai'i knows this better than anyplace." In Lord's "nerdy and interactive travelogue" of Hawai'i, he ties together tropical science, Polynesian history, and personal stories to explore questions like: How can we go to paradise without paving it? and What do we owe the places we visit? Less of a talk, and more of a curated conversation, Lord shares a vision of travel that "is filled with compassion, insight, and a bit of humor."
Lord, a Putney community member, is a science teacher and writer who says he believes in kindness, curiosity, and gratitude. He hosts a podcast called "I Heart This" as part of his personal quest to "make familiar things strange again, so that we can appreciate how wonderful they are." His travels have included Ireland, Alaska, the Caribbean, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and, of course, Hawai'i.
Help Vermont's rivers by planting trees
BRATTLEBORO - Join the Vermont River Conservancy for tree-planting sessions in Guilford on Friday and Saturday, April 18 and 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and in Brattleboro on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. They will be planting more than 700 trees. No experience is necessary.
In a news release, the Conservancy said trees improve water quality via water filtration and erosion control, enhance flood protection by slowing down water and capturing debris during floods, provide high quality habitat for insects that fish and birds eat, and offer shade that cools water temperatures, a benefit for fish and people.
To register and for more information, visit vermontriverconservancy.org/news/spring-tree-planting-events.
Seed Sale at the Guilford Country Store
GUILFORD - Guilford Central School students have packaged 2025 Fedco seeds and designed seed packets for 28 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
The seed rack will be at the Guilford Country Store for the month of April. Packets are $4 each and all proceeds will go toward construction of a new nature trail at Guilford Central School.
Vermont Public presents 'One Small Step' in Westminster
WESTMINSTER - Vermont Public is taking the principles of StoryCorps' One Small Step on the road and partnering with Compassionate Brattleboro and Westminster Inclusion Committee for an event at the Westminster Institute/Butterfield Library, 3534 U.S. 5, on Tuesday, April 29, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
"One Small Step brings people with different views together to record a conversation - not to debate politics - but simply to get to know each other as people," said organizers in a news release. "The initiative hopes to combat the polarizing effects of news and social media just by talking to each other one-on-one again. Because when we approach each other with curiosity, we realize we have more in common than we think."
Tickets are complimentary, but participants are asked to reserve them in advance at bit.ly/810-step.
Window Dressers program seeks volunteers
GUILFORD - The Window Dressers program makes custom insulating window inserts during a work week in the fall where volunteers work together to assemble these clear, reusable inserts. This barn-raising style project makes the inserts much less expensive than similar products because the work is all done by volunteers, and helps folks lower their heating costs and stay warm in the winter.
This year, organizers say they want to make more inserts available for elderly and home-bound folks who live in houses where the windows are drafty. "Most of the jobs do involve a lot of standing up, and some older folks may not be able to do the work part," they said in a news release. "So we're looking for volunteers who would like to do the work for these older people. Getting the job done requires everybody's participation."
If you're interested and want to know more, call 802-779-1006.
Crowell scholarships now available
NEWFANE - The Moore Free Library Board of Trustees has begun the application period for the 2025 Robert L. Crowell Scholarships.
Thanks to generous support from the family of Robert L. Crowell, the Library will award a total of $12,000 in scholarships to be used for the first year of post-secondary study. Graduating high school seniors and GED recipients who are residents of Newfane or Brookline are invited to apply.
Complete applications must be received by May 9. The scholarship committee will consider academics, personal growth and community service. For more information, visit moorefreelibrary.org/scholarships.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.