Community events: April 27 through May 2, 2016

For more upcoming events, click here for The Chester Telegraph calendar. To be included in our Upcoming events briefs, email Susan Lampe-Wilson at calendar@www.chestertelegraph.org. Photos welcome. No PDFs, please. Notices must be received by noon on Fridays to be eligible for publication the following week.

April 27: Rural Vermont hosts final Small Farm Action Day

Rural Vermont closes out its series of Small Farm Action Days at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27 at the Vermont State House, 115 State St. in Montpelier. This is the last opportunity of the 2016 legislative session for farmers to visit the statehouse to demonstrate the value and benefit of small farms.

For this final event, lawmakers will join Small Farm Action Day attendees during lunch hour for an “Eat Like a Farmer” meet-and-greet featuring samples of food provided by farmers.

To make it easier for farmers to participate, Rural Vermont offers stipends, made possible by a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation.

The event is free and open to all farmers and their customers. For more information, to reserve a seat, and for farmer stipend applications, go to accessed at www.ruralvermont.org or by calling 802-223-7222.

April 28: Master gardeners at Neighborhood Connections

Join Windham County master gardeners at 10 a.m. on April 28, May 5 and May 12 as they present lectures on horticultural topics at Neighborhood Connections, which is located in the Mountain Marketplace 5700 VT-100, in Londonderry, next to the Post Office.

April 28: Color in Your Early Spring Garden: Master gardener Cheryl Wilfong will tell you how easy it is to grow your own colorful spring perennial garden and share plants from her own garden.

May 5: The Big Three: Windham County forester Bill Guenther will talk about the top invasive insects that have an enormous impact on woodland resources: the hemlock woolly adelgid; the emerald ash borer; and the Asian longhorned beetle.

May 12: Lyme Disease and Other Tick-borne Illnesses: William M. Fritch and Megan Lynde of the Vermont Department of Health will discuss how you can minimize your risk of contracting Lyme disease, recognize symptoms and what to do if you have any indicators.

The lectures are offered at no charge and are handicapped accessible. Space is limited. Call 802-824-4343 if you would like to attend all or some of the presentations.

Check out Neighborhood Connections’ website at www.neighborhoodconnectionsvt.org.

April 28: Misty Valley Books’ Italian classes feature Sardinia

An intermediate level Italian course takes place on six consecutive Thursday evenings, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. beginning April 28 and ending June 2 at Misty Valley Books on the Green in Chester.

The course topic will be Sardinia (la Sardegna). Class members will learn through film and discussion of culture, geography, history, literature, archaeology and the myth of Atlantis, interlaced with grammar, vocabulary and conversation, all in Italian.

The cost is $100. For more information or to sign up, call the bookstore at 802-875-3400.

April 29: Jason O’Brian returns to Grounded4Life

Enjoy the fresh new talent of Jason O’Brian at Grounded4Life located in the coffee house downstairs at the First Baptist Church at 162 Main St., in Chester. The program is free.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and music will begin at 7 p.m. The coffee bar and refreshments will be ready when you arrive.

Check out the Grounded4Life Facebook page or contact John Nunnikhoven.

April 30: Coloring mandalas at Immanuel Retreat

Introduce yourself to the Seven Rays of Life by coloring mandalas. Transformational Kinesiology educator Leslie Lassetter leads a drawing and coloring workshop at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 30 at Immanuel Retreat Center’s Currier Hall, 12 Church St. in Bellows Falls.

Create your own mandala or add color to an already existing design. Learn about the rays of will and power; love and wisdom; creative activity; beauty; knowledge; devotion; and right order with their corresponding symbols and colors.

Art supplies are included in the workshop fee, but feel free to bring drafting supplies, coloring pencils or markers of your own.

Tuition is $55. For more information and to register call 802-460-0110 or visit immanuelretreat.org.

April 30: Eastern Star raises funds with Basket Party

The Order of the Eastern Star, Mizpah Chapter #40 is holding a fundraising Basket Party on Saturday, April 30, at the Masonic Hall, on The Green in Chester. Doors open at 11 a.m. A donation of $10 buys lunch and a sheet of raffle tickets to use to bid on themed-baskets. Baskets themes include pet, baby, kitchen, flower and bath items.

This fundraiser enables the chapter to give back to the community. In the past it has supported the Chester Family Center, Fire Department, Rescue Squad, CAES summer program and  college scholarships to high school students. On a state level the chapter donates to the OES project of the year, which is the Vermont Veterans. So far this year, the statewide fundraising project has raised more than $17,000 for the veterans.  For information, call 802-875-3248.

April 30: Police offer Women’s Rape/Aggression Defense course

The Chester and Weathersfield police departments offer a class of Rape/Aggression Defense for women from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, at Chester-Andover Elementary School at 72 Main St. in Chester. There is no fee but registration is required as enrollment is limited.

Participants must be over the age of 16. To register, call Chester Police Department 802-875-2035.

May 1: 17th Annual Herrick’s Cove Wildlife Festival 2016

Herrick’s Cove Wildlife Festival takes place this year from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 1 at Herricks Cove Road in Rockingham.

The Nature Museum at Grafton joins other environmental exhibitors as part of this local tradition.

Visitors will learn about wildlife, experience live animal demonstrations along with crafts, workshops, vendors and food. On average, over 2,000 nature lovers come out every year to Herrick’s Cove on the Connecticut River less than three miles north of Bellows Falls. The suggested donation price of admission is $2 per individual, $5 per family.

May 2: Workshop on Healthier Living with Chronic Conditions

Springfield Medical Care Systems offers a free Healthier Living Workshop series for managing chronic conditions begingin on Monday, May 2 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Group Room at Rockingham Medical Group, 1 Hospital Court in Bellows Falls.

Classes meet each Monday for this six-week program empowering individuals living with chronic diseases and their caregivers. Attendees will learn to manage and improve their health through education, support and skill-building exercises.

A light dinner will be provided. Advance registration is requested. Contact Sarah Doyle at the SMCS Community Health Team to register or for more information by calling 802-886-8946 or emailing cht@springfieldmed.org.

— By Susan Lampe-Wilson