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AROUND TOWN

Community service

CASTLETON — Castleton University Connections Program students in Dr. Tom Rutkowski’s business class volunteered to help prepare the Castleton Community Center garden for the growing season. They weeded and mulched around 16 raised garden beds to ready them for planting. The garden provides healthy vegetables for senior meals and for members to take home during the summer months. Garden volunteers are needed and always appreciated. For more information, call (802) 468-3093.

Poppy Day

RUTLAND — May 27 is National Poppy Day. After World War I, the red poppy came to symbolize the blood shed during battle following the publication of the wartime poem “In Flanders Fields.” On Sept. 27, 1920, the poppy became the official flower of The American Legion family to memorialize soldiers who fought and died during the war. In 1924, the distribution of poppies became a national program of The American Legion. Led by the American Legion Auxiliary, whose members distribute poppies each year, memorial poppy donations are devoted entirely to rehabilitation and assistance of veterans and their families.

American Legion Auxiliary Rutland Unit 31 Poppy Prince is Benjamin Lacross, Poppy Princess is Baily Felion.

PASDS meeting

POULTNEY — Poultney Area St. David’s Society (PASDS) held its official annual meeting recently. A luncheon gathering, the society extend sincere thanks to Whitney and staff at TAPS for their accommodations. Officers/directors elected were President Tom Hughes; Vice-President Nia Davies Demiray; Treasurer Barbara H. Stephenson; Secretary Janice B. Edwards; Directors Shirley J. Scott, Una Jean R. Capman, Carol J. Deniston, Mary Jane M. Stoneberg, Ken Williams, Nancy Williams, David G. Roberts, John G. Williams, Sheila E. Itzo. Following the luncheon, several members went to the Poultney Cemetery Association property to view the recently resurrected monument of the poet (bardd) Ioan Eryri and his family; a blessing was spoken in Welsh by Nia Davies Demiray, a native of the Aberstwyth, Wales, region and current Vermont resident.

Health needs

ROCHESTER — Through a series of “Listening Tours,” Gifford will hold guided and inclusive, informal conversation regarding community health needs.

The first of this series takes place 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, at Pierce Hall, 38 South Main St. in Rochester. Also discussed will be Gifford’s community health needs assessment which takes place every three years. The “Listening Tours” will make future stops in Bethel, Tunbridge and Randolph. For more information, call (802) 728-2377.

Subaru donation

RUTLAND — On May 4, Rutland Subaru donated more than $6,600 from the 2021 Subaru Share the Love event to support palliative care services at Rutland Regional Medical Center. As part of the Share the Love event, Subaru donated $250 for every new Subaru sold between Nov. 15 and Jan. 2. Since being selected in 2017, Rutland Regional has received more than $71,000 from the annual Subaru Share the Love event. During the past four years, these donations have supported new 3D breast imaging and nuclear medicine diagnostic equipment, upgrades to the hospital’s psychiatric services inpatient unit and most recently, palliative care services and upgrades to the hospital’s comfort suites for chronically or terminally ill patients.

Veterans employment

Veterans who need help becoming ready for the workforce can visit online vermontjoblink.com/ or contact Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist Paul Gillett at the Vermont Department of Labor by calling (802) 786-8849 at 88 Merchants Row 2nd Floor, 200 ASA Bloomer Building, Rutland, VT 05701, as well as at 200 Veterans Memorial Drive Suite 2, Bennington, VT 05201.

Nonprofits join

MIDDLEBURY — Young Tradition Vermont will become a program of the Vermont Folklife Center, following their many decades of collaboration to nurture living musical and dance traditions practiced by cultural communities statewide. The mission of Young Tradition Vermont is for young people to be inspired, learn, perform, and serve their communities through traditional music and dance.

YOUTH NEWS

Natural resources

WOODBURY — Teens interested in exploring Vermont’s natural resources and related career opportunities are invited to the 15th annual Natural Resources Management Academy (NRMA), July 15-17. University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife sponsor the annual event, to be held at the Green Mountain Conservation Camp at Buck Lake in Woodbury.

Anyone entering Grades 7-10 in the fall is eligible to attend. Registrations will be accepted at go.uvm.edu/4hcal until June 1. The fee is $125, which covers two nights’ accommodations in rustic cabins, all meals, snacks, activities and workshops. Participants must be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a negative COVID test taken within 24 hours of arrival. If requiring a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact Lauren Traister, UVM Extension 4-H Teen and Leadership Program coordinator, at (802) 888-4972, ext. 402, by June 1.

Art contest

BURLINGTON — In a Zoom meeting with high school artists statewide, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced the winners of the 41st Annual Congressional Art Competition. This year’s awardees include:

First Place: “An Unfortunate Truth,” artist Mae Searles of Lamoille Union High School.

Second Place: “Life on Repeat,” artist Zoe Maxwell of Burlington Technical Center.

Third Place: “The End of Sunflower Season,” artist Monarch Clairemont of U-32 High School.

Honorable Mentions, Judge’s Choice: “Pin It To My Soul If Need Be,” artist Vivien Sorce of Champlain Valley Union High School; “Rest,” artist Azure Wood of Fair Haven Union High School; “Highs and Lows,” artist Agnes Polk of U-32 High School.

AROUND STATE

Nominations open

The Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) is accepting nominations for the 2022 Vermont Early Childhood Educator of the Year now through June 6. The winner of the annual award will be announced Oct. 13 at VTAEYC’s annual conference in Burlington. Parents, school and program administrators, colleagues and other community members are invited to nominate exceptional early childhood educators for the award. Visit vtaeyc.org/early-childhood-educator-of-the-year for a nomination form.

BIRTHS

RRMCA daughter, Amara Jean Preneveau, was born May 6, 2022, to Annya Lamothe and Michael Preneveau, of Rutland.

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