Lake Sunapee VNA to Host Meeting on Public Health

Lebanon — The Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice is hosting a public health forum this week to help its leaders better understand the needs of the Upper Valley community.

“We hope area residents will join us to share their thoughts and concerns about the health and wellness of our region,” Jim Culhane, president and CEO of Lake Sunapee VNA, said in a news release. “While Lake Sunapee VNA can’t address every need, we can work as an agency and community partner on those issues where we can have the greatest impact.”

The free meeting, part of the organization’s 2017 community needs assessment, is scheduled for Tuesday, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., at Hypertherm, 71 Heater Road, Lebanon. Reserve a seat by calling 603-526-4077.

Claremont MakerSpace Gets Ready to Open

Claremont — The nonprofit Claremont MakerSpace will hold an open house on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the former Sawtooth mill building at 46 Main St.

Renovations to brick structure began earlier this year and visitors will be able to see progress that has been made.

The idea behind makerspace lets members use tools and equipment in a shared environment for a variety of purposes including technology, woodworking, jewelry making. The interior of the building is being divided into areas for metal, wood and electrical shops, jewelry and textile studios and a computer lab training room. There will also be a common area and individual work spaces.

More information is available at www.claremontmakerspace.org

Windsor Community Partners Honors Supporters

Windsor — Windsor Community Partners, a youth mentoring program, honored the Upper Valley organizations that have helped support mentoring work at its anniversary luncheon last month at the Windsor Mansion Inn.

Three awards were given at the event. The Co-Op Food Stores received the Community Spirit Award in recognition of its support for special events and its Pennies for Change effort. The award was accepted by Co-op Board President William Craig and staff representative April Harkness.

The Springfield School District received the Community Service Award for hosting Windsor Community Partners’ Let’s Do Lunch in-school mentoring program and providing staff and school board members to serve as mentors.

The town of Hartland received the organization’s first Town of the Year Award for its ongoing financial support and for hosting Windsor Community Partners events. The award was accepted by Selectboard Chair Gordon Richardson and Town Manager David Ormiston.

Fundraiser Supports Girls Troop

Brownsville — American Heritage Girls Troop VT-3031 will host a bottle drive and bake sale on Saturday, from 9-11 a.m., at the Brownsville Community Church, 53 Brownsville-Hartland Road. Proceeds will benefit the troop’s upcoming badge work and community service, which will include baking for local first responders and seniors and supporting Operation Christmas Child, which provides for people in need during the holidays.

The 15 girls from the troop will be baking for the sale as part of the activities required to get their cooking and baking badges, said Linda Ley, one of the board members for the troop.

The troop was founded in May, along with a Trail Life USA troop for boys. Ley said both programs have already benefited the community.

“I am thoroughly impressed with the programs of both of these organizations and have witnessed the benefits youth can derive by participating,” she said in a telephone interview.

American Heritage Girls is a faith-based character development program for girls 5 to 18 that focuses on service to family, community, country and God. This year the girls in troop VT-3031 have learned about emergency first aid, mutual support, fishing, sewing and decision making. The troop meets twice a month and includes girls from throughout the Upper Valley. For more information, email bcchurchvt@gmail.com.

Montpelier Council Backs Regional Dispatch Center

Montpelier (ap) — An effort to create a regional emergency dispatch center in central Vermont has received a vote of confidence from city councilors in Montpelier, but they say they still need to see a more detailed plan.

The Times Argus reported the Montpelier City Council gave the Central Vermont Public Safety Authority four weeks to provide more specifics. At a meeting Wednesday, some councilors raised concerns that there had been significant revisions to the proposal recently.

The authority’s board chairman Tom Golonka said the changes were based on feedback from officials in Montpelier and Barre, which would also be covered by the dispatch center. The authority had planned to take over municipal dispatch centers in both cities, but now wants to start with Montpelier and grow into Barre.

— Staff and wire reports