Monday, July 2

Elks hosts bingo

BENNINGTON -- The Bennington Elks hosts bingo. There will be a $1,000 jackpot, and 31 games for $13. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and bingo starts at 7 p.m. Food service will be available. The Bennington Elks is located at 125 Washington Ave.

Bennington Free Clinic Monday hours BENNINGTON -- The Bennington Free Clinic has added Monday hours, in addition to its Thursday schedule. It will be open from 10 a.m. to noon at the First Baptist Church, at 601 Main St.

Call for an appointment, 447-3700. Drop-ins will not be seen. Senior Center activities

BENNINGTON -- Bennington Senior Center activities for today will include oil Painting from 9 a.m. to noon; walking aerobics from 10 to 11 a.m.; bridge/cards from 1 to 4 p.m.; and belly dance from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Horse camps at Mountain View Ranch

DANBY -- In an effort to see more Vermont children in horse camp, the Mountain View Ranch is offering a large discount for the children of Vermont residents.

Five-day camp sessions are July 2-6, July 9-13, July 30 to Aug. 3, and Aug. 6 to 10. The camp also offers ten-day camp sessions from July 16-27 and August 13-24. For more information on the ranch, visit www.mountainviewranch.biz or call 802-293-5837.

Nurse First breastfeeding support group

BENNINGTON -- Nurse First connects moms and moms-to-be. Those who are interested in breastfeeding, have questions about breastfeeding or would like to meet other nursing moms are invited to share experiences, find resources and make friends. Nurse First offers support, encouragement and information about all aspects of breastfeeding. Nurse First groups meet every Monday - 10:30 a.m. to noon and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. - at the Second Congregational Church on Hillside Street in Bennington and Burdett Commons on Route 7A in Arlington.

Nurse First is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Health WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program and is free and open to the entire community. Children are welcome. For information, call 802-447-6411.

Tuesday, July 3

'Dream & Drum to the Beat'

BENNINGTON -- "Dream & Drum to the Beat" will be held at the Bennington Free Library. Musician Otha Day will kick off the summer program for children and families at 7 p.m. in the Rotary Room. Day will lead a drum and rhythm circle sure to engage drummers and dreamers of all ages. Event is free and open to the public.

Call 442-9051 for more information.

Senior Center activities

BENNINGTON -- Bennington Senior Center activities will include bone builders from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; the Help Weight Group will hold its weigh-in from 4:30 to 4:55 p.m. The meeting starts at 5 p.m. sharp.

Overeaters Anonymous meets

BENNINGTON -- Overeaters Anonymous meets on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the Bennington Free Library.

Support group for parents living with a loss of a child

NORTH BENNINGTON -- A support group for parents living with a loss of a child will be held at the North Bennington Congregational Church, 8 Bank St. from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and will meet the first Tuesday of each month. Free and confidential. Contact Beth Newman at artstherapy@myfairpoint.net or 802-688-4557 with any questions.

Otha Day kicks off summer reading programs

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Milne Public Library will host local musician and teacher Otha Day for its first performance of the summer reading programs, "Dream Big--READ!" and the teen program "Own the Night."

Families are invited to join day in the courtyard at 4 p.m. for an hour of drumming up energy for the seven-week reading festivals. Come early to choose from one of about 200 percussion instruments that Day will bring to the event. For more information, contact Mindy or Helen in the library's children's room at 458-5369.

Wednesday, July 4

Bennington's Hometown 4th of July

BENNINGTON - Bennington's Hometown 4th of July will be held at Willow Park from 6 to 9:30 p.m. There will be numerous vendors, food, drank, jewelry, crafts, and more. Live music will be featured from 6 to 9 p.m. followed by state-of-the art fireworks scheduled for 9:30 p.m. The rain date will be Monday, July 9, for the fireworks only.

Bingo at Moose Lodge

BENNINGTON -- Bingo is held at the Bennington Moose Lodge every Wednesday. Doors open at 5 p.m., and food will be available. There will be a $1,000 "Red Special."

Senior Center closed

BENNINGTON -- The Bennington Senior Center will be closed for the Fourth of July.

July 4th at the Bennington Battle Monument

BENNINGTON -- The annual reading of the Declaration of Independence with actor Willy Jones will be held at the Bennington Battle Monument at 1 p.m. The reading will take place on the lawn in front of the Monument. Bring a chair or blanket and be prepared to witness one of history's most important documents, the way our ancestors first heard it, read from village to village and town to town.

Along with the reading there will be activities for children of all ages including the rolling hoop, the game of graces, jacks, marbles and more. The event is free and open to the public. The Bennington Battle Monument is a Vermont State owned Historic Site, located in Old Bennington Vermont just north of Route 9.

Lake Paran July 4th event

NORTH BENNINGTON -- Lake Paran will host a 4th of July event from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be music, swimming and fireworks. A barbecue dinner will be available for $5. Call Marlene Driscoll at 802-688-6270 for more information.

Thursday, July 5

Battenkill Grange picnic

ARLINGTON -- Battenkill Grange will hold its annual picnic and community citizen award night at 6 p.m. Bring a friend and a dish to share. The Grange will furnish the hot dogs.

Pownal road closure

POWNAL -- South Stream Road (near the Vt. Fish & Game South Stream access) will be closed to all traffic on Thursday, July 5 ,from 9 a.m. to noon for culvert replacement. Plan accordingly.

Bingo at Pownal Legion

POWNAL -- Pownal American Legion Post No. 90 offers bingo every Thursday evening. Doors and concession open at 5 p.m. There will be 30 games, including three progressive jackpots., door prizes, raffles, and family fun.

At the Senior Center

BENNINGTON -- Bennington Senior Center activities will include bone builders from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; quilting from 1 to 3 p.m., and beginnning belly dance from 5 to 7:30 p.m. There will be a trip to the Berkshire Maill from 9: 30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bennington Free Clinic

BENNINGTON -- The Bennington Free Clinic is held each Thursday starting at 6 p.m. This clinic is for uninsured people 18 years of age or older, who would otherwise fall through the cracks of our fractured health care system. It is located in the First Baptist Church at 601 Main Street. Call 447-3700 for an appointment to be seen.

Friday, July 6

Benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters

BENNINGTON -- The first Funtastic Fridays evening event at the Villiage Chocolate Shoppe, 471 Main St., will be a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bennington County. Come and make a dragon out of puffy marshmallow and chocolate. All proceeds to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bennington County.

Senior Center activities

BENNINGTON -- Bennington Senior Center activities for Friday will include ceramics from 9 to 11 a.m.; oil painting from 9 a.m. to noon; and bingo from 1 to 3 p.m.

Art opening and exhibition

SALEM, N.Y. -- A solo exhibition of the work of Jason Blue Lake Hawk Martinez will run at Salem Art Works from July 6 to 30. The artist reception will be held on Saturday, July 7, from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Cary House Gallery at Salem Art Works.

Saturday, July 7

Posh Pups Parade in Manchester

MANCHESTER -- Dogs and their owners will don their finest fashions and compete for prizes at the Posh Pups Summer Parade presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, beginning at 4 p.m. at the corner of Routes 7A and 11/30.

Contestants are required to pay a $10 parade participation fee with 100 percent of proceeds donated to the Manchester Food Cupboard, http://communityfoodcupboard.org, a non-profit organization providing food to those in need. For more information and to register in advance visit http://www.manchesterdesigneroutlets.com, or contact lana@manchesterdesigneroutlets.com. Event day registration is available at 3:15 p.m. on July 7.

Sunday, July 8

New Bingo hours

BENNINGTON -- American Legion Post 13, 225 Northside Drive, will host bingo. Doors open at 5 p.m. and bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. No one under 14 will be admitted.

To send a press release to the Banner, e-mail to dantognioni@benningtonbanner.com, or call 447-7567, ext. 117.

To check on an arts/entertainment release or notice, write knorris@benningtonbanner.com, or call 447-7567, ext. 111. To check on a religion or business release, write to mrondeau@benningtonbanner.com, 447-7567, ext. 113.

In general, notices should be sent at least seven days in advance of an event. Community news appears as space in the newspaper allows. Social news pages appear periodically. Additional listings and announcements are at benningtonbanner.com.