Stories From This Mommy

Hi there! I wanted to share the link to my blog, which I hope to keep a bit more active (that will be easier when I am a bit less active but details..)!  My newest topic discusses my experience with working and affording childcare. 


Brattleboro Area Hospice to Host Death Café in Putney

On Tuesday, December 8th from 4:00 – 5:30 PM, Brattleboro Area Hospice will host a Death Café at Katy’s Restaurant, 118 Main St. in downtown Putney. This free event is part of an international movement begun in Europe (www.deathcafe.com ), and is dedicated to taking death out of the closet in order to discuss it publicly.

Previous events that have taken place throughout Windham County have been met with tremendous praise. People have reported them as comfortable, supporting a full range of emotions – from tears to raucous laughter, easier than anticipated, energy charged, inspirational and fun.


Holiday Grief Support Gathering

On Thursday, December 3rd, from 5:30-6:30 pm Brattleboro Area Hospice Bereavement Support staff will offer a gathering for those experiencing feelings of loss.

Please join us at the Brattleboro Area Hospice office, 191 Canal St. in Brattleboro for a special time to gather with others who are grieving to talk about challenges of and strategies for grieving during the holiday season. BAH Bereavement Counselors Connie Baxter and Cheryl Richards will provide the hospitality and gentle guidance for the conversation. Give yourself the gift of support for this potentially difficult season. There is no charge for this event. It is not necessary to register, but if you have questions please call Connie Baxter at (802) 257-0775 ext. 104 for more information.


Time Trade Offers Free Memberships!

Brattleboro Time Trade’s goal is to create strong networks of support by connecting people who use their energy, time and talents to help each other and their community.

The time banking model allows for the exchange of time credits, a type of community currency that anyone can earn by helping another member of the Time Trade. Each hour of service provided to another Time Trade member earns one Time Credit. You can spend your time credits on services provided by any of the other members of the Time Trade.

All services are valued equally, regardless of the market value. For example, a web designer’s hour is worth the same as an hour spent helping someone weed their garden or an hour spent preparing a meal for someone. One hour = One hour.


Local Businesses Step Up To Support the BMH Comprehensive Breast Care Program

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, two local businesses organized fundraising activities for the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and .

Robin White and her staff at held a Zumba dance party on October 30th, with the help of local Zumba instructors, Maribeth Fonda and Rachel Shaw. More than 30 women danced for over 2 hours to raise awareness and support for women battling breast disease. Three of the participating women, who raised over $500 each, received a free one-year membership to Curves. The event raised $3,719 and will be used to support BMH breast cancer patients by providing wigs, bras, breast prostheses, books and materials, groceries and gas cards to help women through treatment and recovery. “I wanted all the money to go to local women facing this disease head on,” said White.


Missing a Book?

Maybe we have it! We have just come across a copy of “Light as Life” by B.K.S Iyengar in our Main Street Lobby. It is currently at our Information Desk with Bernadette!


Consider Brattleboro Police & Fire Projects Separately?

In our meeting last evening, members of the Brattleboro Town Finance Committee introduced, and then tabled until a subsequent meeting, a motion to recommend to the Town administration and the Representative Town Meeting that the Police & Fire Department renovations, modifications, and additions be considered separately on their merits.

Members of the Finance Committee would appreciate public feedback and ideas. We noted that several public informational sessions are scheduled. We hope that clarity on the issue will emerge over the next few weeks.


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.