9/7/26

The weather is definitely changing – down in the 40s this Monday morning, but the sun is shining brightly. It seemed like record numbers of people came to our area for the holiday weekend. The crowd at the fantastic (as usual) Shakespeare Alive performance filled the Union Christian church. I did not go to the Folk and Blues concert on Saturday, but on Sunday, the attendance was huge, sprawling on the grass in a slightly different spot at the Historic Site. As usual the music was wonderful, so thanks to Jay Ottoway for organizing it. Jen’s Cookin provided food both days.

Next Saturday 9/12 at 2:00 pm there will be our FREE piano concert at the Coolidge Historic Site celebrating the completion of the restoration of Grace Coolidge’s White House piano.

I know that some folks have been lamenting the destructiveness of bears and we certainly seem to have an abundance of them in our area. Many of us enjoy seeing them, but feeding them really is not helpful since it teaches them to seek easy food and invade dumpsters, cars and even houses. Vermont’s black bear hunting season runs from September 1 through November 23, 2026, split into an early season (Sept 1–Nov 14) and a late season (Nov 15–23), with a one-bear-per-year limit. Please note that hunting hours are from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Hunting Licenses are needed for all hunters.

Baiting bears is strictly prohibited. Hunters are advised not to shoot sows with cubs. Bears may not be trapped, taken alive, or shot at bird feeders and the sale of bear paws or internal organs is illegal. Bears must be tagged immediately after harvest, with the tag displayed on the carcass. Hunters must report the bear within 48 hours to a Vermont Fish & Wildlife reporting station or game warden and a premolar tooth must be collected and submitted within 30 days to help monitor bear population age and health.

This is the latest about the Aging with Attitude program at Fletcher Memorial Library in Ludlow:
Black River Good Neighbors Services (BRGNS) and Fletcher Memorial Library (FML) are hosting programs to help older adults in the Okemo Valley area learn new skills, save money, get in shape, and make new friends. In partnership with Senior Planet, a national nonprofit which harnesses technology to change the way older Americans age, we will kick off our 2nd year offering classes and workshops about technology, health and wellness, and socialization.

Older adults across the country are utilizing technology more than ever before. BRGNS and FML offer Senior Planet’s curriculum and will host the Computer Essentials class in November. To learn more or register for upcoming classes, call the Black River Good Neighbor Services at 802-228-3663 or Fletcher Memorial Library at 802-228-8921. Senior Planet from AARP is a community of people 60 and older who are learning to thrive in the digital world. These programs are offered free to help older adults build technology skills to allow them to improve their health, make new friendships, save money, and advocate in their communities. Senior Planet curriculum includes nearly 100 multi-week courses, lectures, and workshops as well as free on-line classes. To learn more, visit http://www.seniorplanet.org or follow @SeniorPlanet on social media.