VTF&W
Bat houses
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Small Mammals Biologist Alyssa Bennett will lead a forest hike to discuss bat habitat and forest management in Bolton from 10 a.m. to noon, Oct. 22. The hike is hosted by Women Owning Woodlands and is open to all. Register on the Vermont Woodlands Association Events Page. The onset of fall sends Vermont’s bats into motion, time for conservation-minded Vermonters to learn about and help conserve our nine native bat species. Bat Week, Oct. 24 to 31, aims to raise awareness about bats’ ecological functions and dispel myths and misinformation.
Bats migrate between winter and summer roosts during the fall and spring and do not have vulnerable young at these times. Learn how to safely evict bats from your building at Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s best management practices page. To help bat conservation efforts, report large colonies of bats living in structures to the department’s website. Locations with rare colonies of endangered little brown bats are eligible for free bat houses from Vermont Fish and Wildlife.
AROUND TOWN
ReSOURCE
BARRE — The “grand reopening” of ReSOURCE store and training facility will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in Barre. The event will celebrate, thank all the volunteers who helped during the past three months, and announce the launch of Serve Learn Earn Flood Rebuilding Initiative. Serve Learn Earn is a nonprofit workforce development collaborative founded by Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, ReSOURCE, Vermont Works for Women, Audubon VT and funded through the Legislature. Throughout the past two years, SLE has worked with over 1,000 Vermonters in paid service and learning opportunities statewide; programs focus on the trades, affordable housing, environmental education, outdoor recreation and conservation.
During the past month, building a partnership with Barre City’s long-term recovery group, Barre Up! Together, construction training participants are addressing the historic damage caused by the July flooding. Small crews will work to rebuild projects throughout the city, helping Barre residents remain housed or return to their homes.
BIRTHS
Copley Hospital
A son, Oliver William Rocheleau, was born Oct. 5, 2023, to Kaylee Rumley and Emmerson Rocheleau, of Westford.
A daughter, Oaklyn Aurelienne Clair Roy, was born Oct. 5, 2023, to Tailynn Holmes and Todd Roy, of Williamstown.
Call for art
MONTPELIER — Montpelier Alive has established “The Renewal Project,” offering photographic documentation, kids art, painting and podcast interviews telling the story of what happened and how the city is moving forward. The Renewal Project is currently accepting ideas from individual artists, artist teams and school groups that offer levity and inspiration to the downtown area, and/or tells Montpelier’s history with flooding and its resilient citizens through a request for proposals. The RFP is for grants up to $500. BIPOC, LGBTQIA, school groups and populations who have traditionally had limited visibility within the creative sector, are encouraged to apply. The next deadline for submissions has been extended to Monday, Oct. 16. Visit www.montpelieralive.com/renewalproject for more information.
Barre City
BARRE — All Barre community members are invited to a flood response and recovery efforts discussion starting with a free pizza dinner at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the Opera House lobby.
Housing, social and community well-being, infrastructure and planning are the event topics. This second gathering will build on discussions from the Sept. 13 Community Forum and responses to the online survey bit.ly/FloodRecoverySurvey that is open until Oct. 15. Input will inform the focus points, next steps, and actions of Barre Up Flood Recovery Committee and other organizations for the immediate and long-term future of the city. Child care will be provided.
For more information, visit www.vtrural.org/barre-up or call Vermont Community on Rural Development at 802-223-6091.
Hoots & Howls
QUECHEE — Hoots & Howls will be held Oct. 28 at the VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way in Quechee. All are invited to this annual celebration of snakes, owls, skulls and bones; costumes are welcome at this full-day, family-friendly event featuring Animal Artifacts, Spooky Crafts, Peeps & Squeaks, Predators of the Sky, Songbird Aviary Tour, Scales and Serpents, Raptor Feeding Time.
The evening portion (5:30 to 8 p.m.) includes a guided tour through multiple stations on the Forest Canopy Walk. Advanced ticket purchase required; visit bit.ly/VINS_HootsAndHowls to register for evening tours.
With taxes & fees: Adults $17.25, Youth $15.11, Seniors and veterans $15.11, Children under age 3 free. Guests are requested to purchase tickets on its website prior to arrival. Service dogs are always welcome at the VINS Nature Center; all other pets must remain at home, and may not be left in a car in the parking lot.
Executive director
BARRE — Lincoln House Residential Care Home Facility Board recently hired Sarah Rowan as its new executive director. She comes as a BSN nurse who has served as a PCA, LNA and LPN. Her recent employment was with Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice for nearly 14 years. The past three years, Rowan managed the Home Care Department, the largest division of CVHH.
Recovery funds
BARRE — Downstreet Housing and Community Development (Downstreet) announced receipt of disaster recovery funding from NeighborWorks America in response to the July flooding that devastated Vermont. The $250,000 grant will help make critical repairs to damaged buildings and ensure housing is more resilient in the face of future disasters.
AROUND VT
Alzheimer’s awareness
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America invites sites worldwide to help Light the World in Teal on Nov. 2 to raise Alzheimer’s awareness. To date, more than 1,000 landmarks in all 50 states and 13 foreign countries have signed up to participate in the initiative, which takes place during National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Teal is AFA’s Alzheimer’s awareness color. Sites interested in participating can sign up by visiting www.lighttheworldinteal.com or calling 866-232-8484. There is no fee for sites to participate in the program.
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