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.

Arts

Chester Art Tour artists work on display at the Guilford Welcome Center

May 23: Open Studio Tour includes Chester Art Loop

On Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, Vermont Crafts Council’s Spring Open Studio Tour once again includes the Chester Art Loop through Southern Windsor County.

Working together for years to present a varied and talented group of painters and special artisans, the 20-mile loop also encompasses the beauty of Chester and the surrounding towns of Andover, Springfield and Ludlow.

Following the tour’s familiar yellow numbered wayfarer signs, travelers can visit the local fine arts shops and studios of more than 100 artists. Many artists will be on hand to demonstrate their crafts and answer questions. Artist work may also be available for purchase.

All of the Chester open studio artists will have their work on display at the Guilford  Welcome Center throughout the month of May. A VCC map booklet may be picked up at the Welcome Center or go online to bonniesbundlesdolls.com to download the Chester art loop map showing the artists’ locations. For more information and locations of open studios throughout Vermont state visit the VCC’s website at http://www.vermontcrafts.com/OSW/maps-directions.html.

Movies

May 22: ‘Ragamuffin’ screened
at Grounded4Life

On Friday, May 22 Grounded4LIFE will show of Ragamuffin at a free movie night.

The PG-13 rated film is based on the life of Rich Mullins, a musical prodigy who rose to Christian music fame and fortune only to walk away and live on a Navajo reservation.

An artistic genius, raised on a tree farm in Indiana by a callous father, Mullins wrestled all of his life with the brokenness and crippling insecurity born of his childhood. Mullins refused to let his struggles with his own darkness tear him away from a God he was determined to love.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the movie begins at 7 p.m. A coffee bar and refreshments will be ready when you arrive. Grounded4LIFE is located in the coffee house at the First Baptist Church at 162 Main St., Chester. Check out the Grounded4Life Facebook page or contact John Nunnikhoven at john4ns@fastmail.fm.

May 27: Documentary on financial decision-making at Rock Library

On Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m., the documentary film “Thinking Money – The Psychology Behind Our Best and Worst Financial Decisions” presented by the Rockingham Library, 65 Westminster St. in Bellows Falls.

Attendees will learn how emotions may influence financial decisions, how a good nudge can help achieve financials goals and how technology can help save money. Following the film, Jessica Tobey and Connie Viguel, personal bankers from Merchants Bank in Brattleboro, will lead a discussion about the film’s insights. Light refreshments will be served.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 802-463-4270, email anne@rockinghamlibrary.org, log on to rockinghamlibrary.org or stop by the library. This program is collaboration between the Vermont Department of Libraries, the State Treasurer’s Office, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation and Merchants Bank.

Lectures & workshops

May 28: Vermont Law School offers free lectures on environmental issues

Throughout the summer, Vermont Law School faculty,  scholars, media fellows and others will deliver one-hour “Hot Topics” lectures on a wide range of current issues in environmental law and policy.

Free and open to the public, the lectures will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 28 to July 30, in Oakes Hall Room 007 on the VLS campus at 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton. Vermont Bar Association Continuing Legal Education 1 credit for each lecture is available.

The 2015 Hot Topics are:

May

Thursday, May 28: Innovative Strategies and Long Overdue Victories in CAFO Litigation with Pamela Vesilind ’08, University of Arkansas School of Law.

June

Tuesday, June 2: Bridging the Gap Between Vermonters’ Alarm and Action in Response to Climate Change with Kathryn Doherty, Social and Environmental Research Institute.
Thursday, June 4:  Legal Signal Processing with James Chen, Michigan State University.
Tuesday, June 9: Dishonest Congress, Dirty Air with David Schoenbrod, New York Law School and American Enterprise Institute.
Thursday, June 11: Sanitation Law and Policy in India: Multiple Challenges with Philippe Cullet, University of London; Centre for Policy Research; International Environmental Law Research Centre.
Tuesday, June 16: The Past, Present, and Future of Drinking Water with James Salzman, Duke University.
Thursday, June 18: Living Next to a Wind Turbine: Local Vs Global Interests with Birgitte Egelund Olsen, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Tuesday, June 23: Environmental Protection in Indian Country with Randolph L. Hill, Environmental Protection Agency.
Thursday, June 25: Solar Wars with Timothy McDonnell, Mother Jones and Climate Desk.

July

Tuesday, July 7: On the Road to the Paris Agreement: COP21 and Its Impact on Climate Change with Tracy Bach, Vermont Law School.
Thursday, July 9: Should We Pay More for Water? Untangling California’s Drought-Ridden Future with Zoë Schlanger, Newsweek.
Tuesday, July 14: Will the U.S. Constitution Inhibit the Transition to Sustainable Energy that Many States Are Implementing? with Steven Ferrey, Suffolk University Law School.
Thursday, July 16: The Next Legal Profession: Lawyers Creating Sustainable Local Economies with Janelle Orsi, Sustainable Economics Law Center.
Tuesday, July 21: Silo-Busting for Sustainable Communities with George Hamilton, Institute for Sustainable Communities.
Thursday, July 23: Missed Message: How the Media Failed on Climate Change with Natalie Allen, CNN International.
Tuesday, July 28: Environmental Law in ‘The Last Place on Earth’ with Robert Percival, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
Thursday, July 30: Still a Paper Tiger? China’s Environmental Courts in the Wake of the 2014 Amendments to China’s Basic Environmental Law with Huiyu Zhao, Shanghai Jiaotong University.

For more information about the Hot Topics series, including detailed descriptions of upcoming lectures, visit www.vermontlaw.edu/summer, call Courtney Collins at 802-831-1371, or email ccollins@vermontlaw.edu.

Library events

Friends of the Fletcher Library to discuss this novel about two boys who find themselves on opposite sides of the Holocaust.

May 28: ‘Once We Were Brothers’ discussed at Fletcher Library

The Friends of the Fletcher Memorial Library at 88 Main St. in Ludlow are starting a book discussion series at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 28. The novel chosen for Thursday is Once We Were Brothers by Ronald Balson.

The book tells the tale of two boys in Poland, once as close as brothers, who are divided by the Holocaust and who meet again 60 years later in another country.

When they meet again, one of the men levels serious charges against the other. The accusations, the search for facts and the court case make for a gripping story. Books are available at the library. For information call 802-228-8921.

June 2: VT Foodbank presentation at the Rock Library

On Tuesday June 2 at 6 p.m., the Vermont Foodbank presents “A Portrait of Hunger in Our Community” at the Rockingham Library at 65 Westminster St. in Bellows Falls. Learn about what hunger looks like in the state and what you can do to help. Judy Sterner from the Vermont Foodbank will be joined by Lisa Pitcher of Our Place Drop-in Center to address this issue through a short video, photo slides and Q & A.

For more information, call 802-463-4270, email anne@rockinghamlibrary.org, log on to rockinghamlibrary.org or stop by the library. This event is free and open to the public.

June 8: Rock Library offers Healthy Aging workshop

The Alzheimer’s Association is offering the “Healthy Habits for a Healthier You” program at the Rockingham Library on at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 8 at 65 Westminster St. in Bellows Falls. This workshop will cover four areas of lifestyle habits that are associated with healthy aging: Cognitive activity; Physical health and exercise; Diet and nutrition; and Social engagement.

Maggie Lewis, regional director of the Vermont Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, will draw on current research to discuss what steps can improve or maintain overall health in each area. At any age, these habits may also help to keep your brains healthy as you age and possibly delay the onset of cognitive decline.

This program is designed for individuals of any age who are looking for information on ways to age as well as possible. This event is free and open to the public. To register, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at info@alz.org or 800-272-3900.

Wilder seeks book donations for July fundraiser

Wilder Memorial Library at 24 Lawrence Hill Road in Weston is collecting used hardcover or paperback books, either for children or adults, for its Annual Book Sale fundraiser. The library is also looking for DVDs and books on CD in good, working condition. Not accepted are smelly, mildewed books, textbooks or encyclopedias. Donations will be accepted until Saturday, July 18. Donations can be dropped off in boxes at Wilder Memorial Library during our regular hours of operation. If you can’t get to the library to drop off books, schedule a home donation pick up by calling 802-824-4307. The book sale takes place 1–5 p.m. on Friday, July 24 and 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, July 25. For more information on donation guidelines and book sale volunteer opportunities, visit www.wildermemoriallibrary.org.

Tag sales & flea markets

May 23: Tag, bake sale to benefit Steampunk Festival

The Steampunk Society of Vermont is holding a Tag and Bake Sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. May 23 at the Congregational Church, 77 Main St. in downtown Springfield. Proceeds will benefit the organization’s Steampunk Festival.

It is still collecting donations for the sale of household items, small furniture or appliances, and any small hardware, jewelry and watch pieces. Not accepted are electronics or books. Donations may be dropped off at the church from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday prior to the event.

For more information contact robynpriebe@hotmail.com or call 802-226-7113 or visit their website at www.springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com.

May 23: First Universalist holds annual church sale

Saturday, May 23, the Old Stone Church in the historic Stone Village hosts its annual church sale at 211 North St., Chester. This is a tag, plant and bake sale. Hot dogs and lemonade and other refreshments will be available for purchase. The tag sale will offer many donated items including kitchenware, china, toys, home décor, bric-a-brac, antiques, collectibles and small furniture.

The sale runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. No early birds. For more information about the tag sale or if you’d like to make a donation, contact Melody Reed 802-875-5414 or email her at melodious54@gmail.com.

May 24: Grafton Women’s Community Club estate sales

The Women’s Community Club of Grafton will be holding two fundraising estate Sales on Sunday, May 24. The sales will be held at two locations: 18 Pleasant St. and 194 Main St. in Grafton

The contents of two homes will be up for sale. Items include antiques, original artworks, oriental rugs, lamps, books, furniture and household items. The sale at 18 Pleasant St. will have items tagged with “Buy It Now” prices and also offered as part of a silent auction. Admission will be limited to 10 people at a time. Buyers will be given a number and then allowed access in small groups. No early birds. Numbers will be given out at 8:45 a.m. sharp.
At the 194 Main St. location the items will be sold in a garage sale format. No early birds. The sale will start at 9 a.m.

Select items are available to view on the WCC Facebook page or search on Facebook for Women’s Community Club of Grafton Vermont.

The Women’s Community Club of Grafton encourages higher education through the awarding of scholastic aid. All proceeds from the sales will go to the Scholarship Fund. For additional information call Kim Bank at 802-843-1180.