VTC Nursing Program Open House: Tues. Nov. 17

VTC’s Nursing Program in Brattlelboro WELCOMES ALL TO THEIR OPEN HOUSE on TUES. Nov. 17

BRATTLEBORO—Vermont Technical College’s Nursing Campus, SE Region, is holding an OPEN HOUSE on Tuesday, November 17 from 4-6 PM at their campus on the second floor of the Brooks House. There will be blood pressure reading and hand-washing demonstrations. VTC Admissions counselors, nursing instructors, nurses and student nurses will be on hand to talk about nursing and the VTC program. Community College of Vermont academic advisors will also be available to talk about pre-requisite nursing courses and a program for high school students allowing them to take college-level classes for free.

VTC’s nursing program in Brattleboro, one of the nation’s first-ever practical schools of nursing, was started shortly after the Civil War and has been in continuous existence since 1907 when funds from Thomas Thompson’s estate made it possible. It has been part of Vermont Technical College since 1994.


Brattleboro Area Hospice to present Advance Care Planning: Digging into the Details

On Monday Nov. 16th from 6-8 pm, Brattleboro Area Hospice and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will co-sponsor a free public workshop on Advance Care Planning as part of the Wellness in Windham educational series. It will be held in the Brew Barry conference room at BMH.

Many of us know we need to complete our advance directives, but we keep putting it off. If a serious illness or accident leaves you unable to communicate, an advance directive becomes your voice. It tells those you love and your healthcare providers what you would want them to do for you. An advance directive is a gift to your loved ones—preventing them from the heart-rending burden of having to second-guess your wishes.

In this workshop you will:


Qigong for Healing and Living Fully – Healing Sounds

You are your best healer! Come learn how each and everyone of us is born with the innate gift to heal ourselves. In this half-day intensive, you will experience simple and profound ways to awaken your body’s innate healing ability while deepening your capacity to relax and enjoy your life more completely.

Qigong is an ancient form of meditative movement that is over 5,000 years old. In China, qigong is one of the secrets to living a long and healthy life. The simple movements and breathing practices help relax the physical body, calm the mind and raise the spirit. It is an excellent form of preventative healthcare, and also used in treating major illnesses and minor ailments.


Dummerston Cares Luncheon and Program for Seniors

Join us for the Dummerston Cares Luncheon and Program for Seniors on Monday, Nov.16th, 11 am -12:30 pm at the Dummerston Community Center, 150 West St. in the West Dummerston Village.

Free light lunch at 11 am, program at 11:30 am. Priscilla Svec, Dummerston resident and Physical Therapist, will speak on exercises for Seniors that can be done at home during the winter months, keeping us healthy. Janice Duke will talk about the current Bone Builders program held in the Dummerston Congregational Church, twice a week, Monday and Thursday morning from 9:30-10:30.


BSL Requires My Mobile Device Number Or Else

Today my online banking site told me I had just three chances to give them my mobile device or I would be cut off from electronic access to my funds. What the HECK?? Is this happening to other people at other banks?

I will pull my money out if they insist. This is the message I get:
“You are required to provide your mobile device phone number below. If you do not complete this requirement within the maximum number of opportunities allowed by your financial institution (3), your log in will be blocked. If you are prompted for text authentication, your screen will display a button to send a passcode to your device and an entry field into which the code must be typed. Once authentication has been completed, the transaction will process.”


Very Old Vinyl Records

I have 3 boxes of very old (1920’s 78’s and forward) vinyl records that are in unknown condition, though likely not the greatest.  Before I throw them out, I thought I would make one final inquiry, to the great minds of ibrattleboro, as to whether or not there might be some possible use for them.  I have been assured by several pretty reliable sources that they are not aware of any people or places that would want them.  It seems just wrong to me that there is not a use for them, either through some creative recycling purpose or as records, but it appears that is the probably case.  Please, if anyone has any possible ideas, let me know here. Thanks so much!!


Does Your Loved One Have a Diagnosis of Dementia?

As a caregiver, are you finding it difficult to meet your own needs while caring for your loved one?

Senior Solutions (Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont) has respite funding available through the Dementia Respite Grant. This grant, funded by the State of Vermont, supports paid respite opportunities for primary, unpaid caregivers in Windsor and Windham counties.  The elder’s income eligibility limit is $2,917.00 per month for an individual or $3,932.00 per month for a couple.

For more information please call the Senior Helpline at 1-800-642-5119 and ask to speak to our Grant Manager.


Holistic Expo – A Complementary Trail to Wellness

Holistic Expo ~ A Complementary Trail to Wellness

Come out to the HOLISTIC EXPO this Friday, November 13th!  This event, free and open to the public, is a chance to experience many complementary
options offered to improve your health and wellness. Experience mini
sessions, as well as 30-minute educational discussions. Reiki, Medicinal
Herbal Remedies, Bowenwork, Reflexology, Massage, Shiatsu, Astrology,
Expressive Arts Therapy, Clinical Hypnosis, Dowsing, Spiritual Soul
Readings & Counseling, Somatic Breath Therapy.

November 13, 2015, 11am – 4pm

The River Garden

157 Main Street

Brattleboro, VT 05301


The Compassionate Friends – New Bereavement Group Remembers Children Who Died

Brattleboro, VT—Bereaved families that have experienced the death of a child now have an opportunity to meet with others on a regular basis who have endured similar tragedies.

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) of Brattleboro, a national self-help organization for families that have had a child die, will hold its next monthly meeting Sunday, November 15th, at 2:00 PM at 541 Black Mountain Road, Brattleboro, VT. Meetings will be held each month the third Sunday of the week at the same time and location.

“A bereavement organization like TCF where families could talk about their loss publicly without feeling out-of-place is invaluable to those of us whose children have died,” said new chapter leader Beverly Miller. “After your child dies, most people do not want to talk with you about your child probably because they are afraid of making you feel bad. The irony is that talking about your child helps you–no one wants their child forgotten. And studies have proven that sharing our stories and tears is an emotional release that helps us.”


Retreat Woods Showing Signs Of Wear

We took a walk in the Retreat Woods recently as a way to get back into nature without having to go too far.  It had been a while since we last went — probably in the early summer sometime.  The trails were already too wide then, but this last time, it was obvious they had seen some hard wear.

In most places, the main paths were down to hard-packed bare earth, with lots of trippy rocks and tree roots pushing up that I don’t remember being quite so much in evidence before.  The softer, smoother top layer of earth seems to have been worn away.


Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market Opens for 10th Season!

Join us as we kick off the 10th season of the Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market – one of the longest running diverse indoor farmers markets in Vermont.  Starting Saturday, November 7, come to the market and dazzle your senses at the beautiful River Garden in the heart of downtown Brattleboro.  Visitors will find more fresh local produce than ever before!

Each week we transform the space into a warm welcoming indoor marketplace.  You’ll find up to 30 vendors including favorites from past seasons.  Our regular farm vendors returning this season are Big Picture Farm, Circle Mountain Farm, Deep Meadows Farm, Deer Ridge Farm, Dwight Miller Orchards, Hickin’s Mountain Mowing, New Leaf CSA, Old Schoolhouse Plantery, Walnut Ridge Farm, and Wild Shepherd Farm.  Favorites from the past bringing back their crafts and great prepared food items include Susan Dunning’s Potteryworks, Orchard Hill Breadworks, Wild Flour Bakery, One World Soap, Vermont Quince, Sawyer’s Artisanal Cheese, Cai’s Dim Sum, Thai Hut, and more. New products to look for at the market this season include a wonderful array of jars of delicious local fruit juice, chocolates, woodcrafts, handmade bags and tunics, blown glass ornaments and beads.


Heat Pump Workshop Offered In Brattleboro Nov. 9

Do cold climate heat pumps make sense for you? Cold climate heat pumps have rapidly emerged as a promising technology for Vermont. Come to a workshop to learn about heat pump options for both hot water and space heating to see if they make sense for your home, business, or rental property.

These devices provide heat and domestic hot water using 25-50% less energy than conventional systems. They are environmentally-friendly as well – 87% free of carbon emissions when the electricity comes from Green Mountain Power. Heat pumps can also be combined with solar electric panels to provide 100% renewable energy.


Brattleboro Senior Meals Breakfast Menu

Brattleboro Senior Meals Breakfast Menu

November Breakfast Menu

November 3rd     Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Home Fries, Muffin, Fruit, Yogurt, Juice

November 6th   Stuffed Eggs w/Sausage Gravy, Potato Pancakes, Scone, Fruit, Yogurt, Juice

November 10th Whole Wheat Pancakes, Syrup Choice, Sausage, Home Fries, Fruit, Yogurt, Juice


BMH Offers Free Workshop on Bone Health

On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will be offering a free workshop, open to the public titled: “Bone Health: Make It Or Break It” in the Brew Barry Conference Room. This workshop will highlight the perspectives of providers in two disciplines, Orthopaedics and Endocrinology, as they discuss evaluation and treatment of our bone health.

Margaret Ferry, MD and Maureen Mahoney, PA-C


Looking for Non-Abstinence-Friendly Alcohol Counselor

Hello Brattle-friends,

I’m hoping to find a substance abuse counselor to talk with who is open to non-absinence approaches like harm reduction, moderation and so forth. I’m looking for someone who can meet me where I’m at, take my goals seriously and be non-judgmental and non-pressuring. Any ideas or recommendations anyone may have would be appreciated.

Thanks a million.

Moss