Community Events for Dec. 7 through Dec. 14: Health insurance help; wind presentation; uplifting music and words; and Dems hold annual fuel drive

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.

Dec. 7: Valley Health Connections offers health insurance coverage assistance

Are you uninsured, have questions about renewing or changing your current health insurance plan or need to report a life change event? Open enrollment for health insurance through Vermont Health Connections, Vermont’s health insurance exchange, ends Jan. 31, 2016.

Valley Health Connect, an authorized VHC navigator, will be at Neighborhood Connections The Mountain Marketplace 5700 Route 100 in Londonderry beginning Monday, Dec. 7 (for coverage to begin Jan. 1) and January 18 (for coverage to begin March 1) to answer questions and help Vermont residents enroll. Ninety-minute appointments will begin at 9 a.m. Call 802-824-4343 to schedule an appointment.
Neighborhood Connections is a community-based non-profit social services agency. Visit their website at www.neighborhoodconnectionsvt.org.

Dec. 11: Presentation centers on N.Y. wind project

Grafton Woodlands Group hosts a discussion by Windham residents Jerry and Nancy Dyke on their personal observations, photos and discussions with folks who live in the area of the Iberdrola energy company’s Hardscrabble Wind Project in Fairfield, N.Y., at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 in the Homestead Room at the Grafton Inn, 92 Main St. in Grafton.

Their discussion will cover wind power issues like financial, environmental, noise, taxes, property values, wildlife, health.

This event is part of a series of informational presentations by the Grafton Woodlands Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Grafton’s heritage and its future.

Dec. 11: September Rain brings a Christmas program to Chester

The contemporary Christian band September Rain returns to Grounded4Life with a special Christmas program at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11 in the lower level of the Chester Baptist Church at 162 Main St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with food, coffee, fellowship and conversation. Free admission.

Lori Jo Gardner, daughter Cassady and friend Lori Coronato along with Kemp Schanlaber, Scott Ryder and Lee Baker spread their faith through music and testimony.

For more event information visit Grounded for Life’s Facebook. For band information, visit www.septemberrainnh.com.

Dec. 12: Chester holds Senior Christmas dinner

The Chester Senior Christmas Dinner will be held at noon, Saturday, Dec. 12 at Chester Andover Elementary School at 72 Main St. Admission is free. Those who need dinner delivered should call Georgia Ethier 802-875-6242 or Chester Town Office 802-875-2173.

Dec. 12: Register for reading with Rocket

The Rockingham Free Public Library’s Youth Department will host Reading with Rocket, a program to inspire beginning and struggling readers from noon–1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 65 Westminster St. in Bellows Falls.

Rocket is a therapy dog eager to listen to readers. Reading with Rocket can help anyone that has difficulty reading or is just beginning to gain confidence in their reading skills and themselves.

Sessions for this free program are limited and filling up fast. Parents can sign children up for a 15-minute one-on-one reading session by calling 802-463-4270, emailing youthservices@rockinghamlibrary.org, or visiting the Youth Department. Beginning in January, Rocket will be available for reading every other Saturday.

Dec. 14: Dems host annual Food & Fuel funder for Family Center

The annual Chester and Andover Democrats Fuel & Food Fundraiser for the Chester-Andover Family Center will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 14 at Baba a’ Louis Bakery, 92 Vt Rt 11, in Chester.

The fundraiser has been held in mid-December each year since 2005, when it was started by then state Rep. Kathy Pellett. Current Rep. Leigh Dakin has continued this tradition. Everyone is invited to attend and bring a donation of non-perishable food and a contribution for fuel assistance. Attendees are also asked to bring a dish of finger food to share. All the donations will be distributed to local families who need assistance.

Since 2005, almost $20,000 has been raised for fuel assistance for local residents.

Those who wish to donate but are unable to attend can send a donation to Dakin & Benelli, PC, P.O. Box 499, Chester, VT 05143. Make checks payable to Chester-Andover Family Center (a 501c3 organization).
For further information, contact Leigh Dakin at 802-875-3456.

— Compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson