Community events: Jan. 29 through February

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.

Jan. 29: House band entertains at Grounded for Life

The Grounded for Life house band, Grounded, plays 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29 at the coffee house in the lower level of the Chester Baptist Church, 162 Main St., Chester.

The band will present some new material this Friday. The group never stops expanding its repertoire while drawing enthusiastic fans from South Londonderry to North Springfield.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with food, coffee, fellowship and conversation. Free admission. Check out the Grounded4Life Facebook page or contact John Nunnikhoven at john4ns@fastmail.fm.

Jan. 30: Owl, hawk program at Wilder

Did you know that not all owls hoot? Wilder Memorial Library in partnership with the Little School present a Vermont Institute of Natural Science Program: “Two Owls and a Hawk” 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Wilder Memorial Library, 24 Lawrence Hill Road in Weston.

The program includes live owls and hawk, as well as photos and audible sounds of the local owls and their calls.

This first-hand encounter enables participants to understand the defining characteristics and adaptations for life as a nocturnal predator on the wing. Touchable artifacts and hands-on materials round out this special experience. Presentation at the library will be followed by a crafting activity at the Little School at 8 Lawrence Hill Road, Weston.

For information and to reserve a space email director@wildermemoriallibrary.org or call 802-824-4307.

Jan. 30: Vermont interactive Author Talks launch

The Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St. in Bellows Falls, invites the public to experience the first in a series of video-conferences with authors. The inaugural session features author Sarah Stewart Taylor streaming from Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30.

This Vermont Interactive Author Talks series will engage young people in writing at local libraries under the guidance of Vermont authors via video conferencing.

The series maximizes the impact of new digital technology at libraries to support reading, writing and direct discussion between authors and young writers, and fosters interaction of young people beyond the borders of their local communities. Taylor’s talk and exercise will focus on finding story ideas and taking steps to develop them, as well as how she finds ideas for her own writing and her writing career.

All programs are free, and while targeted for those in grades 4 to 12, everyone interested in writing is welcome. Future talks in the series will be posted on the Young Writers Project http://youngwritersproject.org and Vermont Department of Libraries websites http://libraries.vermont.gov.

Jan. 30: Step up your health by calming down

Learn to let go of stress in a relaxing class lead by Holistic Nurse Practitioner, Joni Foster-Robison at 2–3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Springfield Town Library, 43 Main St., Springfield. Call the library at 802-885-3108, email stlib@vermontel.net or visit www.springfieldtownlibrary.org.

February: Free wellness classes offered by Springfield Med

Springfield Medical Care Systems is offering a variety of free health and wellness classes during February. There is no charge for any program, but registration is requested. Contact the SMCS Community Health Team for more information or to register by calling 802-886-8946 or email CHT@springfieldmed.org.

Unless otherwise indicated, classes meet at the Springfield Health Center at 100 River St. in Springfield

Wellness Recovery and Action Plan

Mondays, Feb. 1 to March 21 at 5–8 p.m. ; Springfield Health Center Third Floor
Learn to effectively manage a variety of situations, including sadness, substance abuse, panic attacks, diabetes, arthritis or weight loss. Increase health and well-being by developing a personal action plan. Light refreshments will be provided.

Cooking For One – A Four-Week Series


Wednesdays Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24
 at 5:30–7:30 p.m.
A series of four cooking classes will demonstrate strategies to prepare single meals, based on the plate method, in a minimal amount of time to reheat food.

These strategies are also appropriate for those feeding a family. Class participants will have the opportunity to try the dishes that are prepared during the class. Recipes will be provided.

Learning to Live Well with Diabetes—Four-Week Series


Friday Feb. 5, 12, 19, and March 4
 at 10–11:30 a.m.
Led by a certified diabetes educator, this informative four-week series about diabetes is an opportunity for individuals newly diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes to learn the best strategies to manage it successfully.

The class will cover the comprehensive areas of diabetes education, including, what diabetes/pre-diabetes is, an introduction to goal setting and action planning, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, monitoring of blood sugar, medications and preventing risk of complications.

Wellness / Lifestyle Change Support Group

Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month (Feb. 9) at 5:45–7 p.m.
This class offers an opportunity to use knowledge gained from other programs and experiences, and continue to be successful.

This monthly class will feature topics from nutrition and cooking to fitness and stress management. You will be offered an optional weigh in or measurements, discuss previous goal successes, gain new knowledge toward a healthier you, and set goals to work on for the next month.

Healthier Living with Chronic Pain

Mondays Feb. 15–March 21 at 1–3:30 p.m.; The Huber Building, 80 Main St., Springfield..
An educational program that provides for interaction helping individuals with chronic pain learn how to manage and improve their own health. Trained facilitators supply participants with tools to help meet that challenge.

— Compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson