Monday, Sept. 3

Elks hosts bingo

BENNINGTON -- Every Monday, the Bennington Elks hosts bingo. There will be a $1,000 jackpot, and 31 games for $13. Food service will be available. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and bingo starts at 7 p.m. 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 closed

BENNINGTON -- The Bennington Senior Center will be closed in observance of Labor Day.

Tuesday, Sept. 4

Overeaters Anonymous meets

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

Senior Center activities

BENNINGTON -- Bennington Senior Center activities will include Bone Builders from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The Help Weight Group weigh -in will be held from 4:30 to 4:55 p.m. Meeting starts at 5 p.m. sharp.

September Exhibit

at Canfield Gallery

ARLINGTON -- Oil paintings by Sunderland artist Judy Cotter will be featured at the Canfield Gallery in Arlington. The exhibit, titled "As I See It," will be on view from Sept. 4 to 28.

A graduate of Skidmore College with a major in art, Cotter has exhibited at the Southern Vermont Art Center, Stratton Arts Festival, Art in the Round Barn, and "Art of the Northeast" at the Silvermine Guild in Conn. The public is invited to the opening reception on Sept. 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. The gallery is located in the Martha Canfield Memorial Library. For more information and library hours, call 802-375-6153.

Wednesday, Sept. 5

Grange to meet

ARLINGTON -- Battenkill Grange will meet at 7 p.m. for election of officers and planning the breakfast on Sept. 16. Bring an item for the Arlington Food Shelf.

Cambridge Central School announces opening

CAMBRIDGE, N.Y. -- Cambridge Central School will open its doors for all students on Sept. 5. This will be a regular day of school with regular bus pickups, breakfast, and lunch programs.

As a reminder to all parents, cars are not allowed in the bus circle in the mornings or afternoons. Drop-offs for secondary students can still be made at the science wing entrance, while elementary drop-offs are continuing at the cafeteria entrance in the rear of the school.

Any parent/student with questions regarding school schedules/assignments should contact their respective principal offices. Inquiries in regards to busing should be made to Mr. Sica at 518-677-2653, ext. 1012.

Moose Lodge bingo

BENNINGTON -- The Bennington Moose Lodge hosts bingo every Wednesday. Doors open at 5 p.m., and food will be available. There will be a $500 "Red Special."

At the Senior Center

BENNINGTON -- Bennington Senior Center activities will include a visit from Vermont Associates from 9:30 a.m. to noon; a block party at 11:30 a.m., $5 per person. Also, Zumba Gold will be held from 1 to 2 p.m., Call the center to sign up at 802-442-1052.

Wilmington Farmers’ Market to Open

WILMINGTON -- From 3 to 6 p.m. vendors can sell their wares of home-grown, home-made or hand-crafted items at the Wilmington Antique and Flea Market property.

The farmers’ market will run for seven consecutive Wednesdays, ending the season on Oct. 17. There will be no charge to area participants. All vendors are asked to arrive an hour prior to the 3 p.m. opening to set up their sale items. For further questions or comments, contact Sally Gore evenings, 802-464-3345.

Belly Dancing workshop

MANCHESTER -- Learn the art of belly dancing during a special workshop at the Mark Skinner Library at 7 p.m. Julz Irion and Bethany Perron, members of Bennington Beledi Tribal Bellydance, will teach the fundamentals of the dance form.

BBTB encompasses the locally acclaimed Sahidi Sisters, who perform at a professional level, and Sisters of the Shawl, a troupe comprised of aspiring students as well as professional dancers.

The workshop is free and open to the public. Mark Skinner Library is located at 48 West Road in Manchester. Exercise clothing is recommended. Call 802-362-2607 to reserve a space.

Thursday, Sept. 6

Bingo in Pownal

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.

Senior Center activities

BENNINGTON -- Bennington Senior Center activities will include bone builders from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; quilting from 1 to 3 p.m.; a trip to the Berkshire Mall from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Beginning Belly Dance from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Bennington Free Clinic

BENNINGTON -- The Bennington Free Clinic is held each Thursday starting at 6 p.m. This clinic is for uninsured people18 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 St. Call 447-3700 for an appointment to be seen.

National ‘Get A Library Card Month’

ARLINGTON -- September is national Get A Library Card month, and the Martha Canfield Library in Arlington has packed the month with programs to celebrate.

The month kicks off at 7 p.m. with husband and wife team Sue Halpern and Bill McKibben. Halpern will read from her award

winning book "Learning to Swim" and give a preview of her upcoming book, "So A Dog Walks Into A Nursing Home." McKibben, widely known writer on the environment, will talk about "The Fight for a Working Climate."

Events will continue every week throughout the month and range from author appearances, technology and social media workshops, and film presentations. All events are free to the public, but some require pre-registration, so call ahead. The Martha Canfield Library is located at 528 East Arlington Road. Call 802-375-2219.

Friday, Sept. 7

Hunter education course

BENNINGTON -- There will be a hunter education course at the Bennington Fire Station on River Street. The course will be held Sept. 7, 10, 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The instructor will be William LaTour. Pre-registration is required by contacting him at 802-442-6102 before Sept. 7. The course is free of charge.

At the Senior Center

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

Saturday, Sept. 8

Bingo at Masonic Lodge

BENNINGTON -- Bingo is held at the Masonic Lodge, 504 Main St., every Saturday at 6:30 p.m., except major holidays. Doors open 5 p.m. Snacks and beverages will be available.

Defensive driving course

HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. -- The Northeast New York Safety & Health Council will sponsor the Defensive Driving Course at the Hoosick Falls Health Center, on Danforth Street, beginning at 8:30 a.m. promptly.

Successful completion of this class allows for 10 percent insurance reduction on collision and liability for three years, as well as reduces four points from one’s driver’s license on points acquired in the prior 18 months. The course fills up quickly, so register early by calling 518-686-4854.

Tri-tip steak barbecue

BUSKIRK, N.Y. -- The Eagle Bridge Methodist Church will hold a tri tip steak barbecue at the Flea Market at Strawberry Acres, beginning at 11 a.m. The menu will include steak barbecue, baked potatoes, copper pennies, rolls, dessert. Eat in or take out. Price $10. For reservations call 518-686-9845 or 518-677-3945.

Gem and minerals show

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The 49th annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show, sponsored by the Northern Berkshire Mineral Club will be held Saturday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #130, 515 Curran Highway. This is one-half mile north of Walmart on Route 8.

The show will feature choice minerals, gems, jewelry, gifts, activities for children, door prizes and refreshments. Admission is $4 and children 15 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. For more details, contact Larry Michon, show chairman, at P.O. Box 297, North Adams, MA 01247. Phone 413-663-8430.

McCullough Library Book and Bake Sale

NORTH BENNINGTON -- On Saturday, Sept. 8, and Sunday, Sept. 9, the John G. McCullough Free Library will hold its annual Book and Bake Sale at the library. Area residents have been donating books, DVDs/videos, LP records, CD’s and audio-books to the library and the Friends of the Library have been sorting and boxing the materials for the past 2 months.

There is a large selection of contemporary fiction, children’s books, mysteries, cookbooks, gardening books and other non-fiction, as well as classics. The bake sale features a wide variety of baked goods from breads, to cakes, cookies and pies from the kitchens of the area’s best bakers.

The book and bake sale will be held rain or shine in a tent at the back of the library from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday the 8, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday the 9. There will be no early bird sales; the sale starts promptly at 9 on Saturday.

This is an annual event undertaken by the Friends of the McCullough Library to serve the community by raising money to expand its collections, and otherwise support the library and its activities.

The Friends group provides services as well, such as a weekly reading program for Head Start children, and a program that takes books and other materials to homebound readers who cannot come to the library themselves.

Texas Hold’em Tournament

STEPHENTOWN, N.Y. -- The Veterans of Stephentown will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament in the Stephentown Fire Hall, located at 35 Grange Road. The doors will open at 5 p.m. and close at 6 p.m. Play begins at 6:15 p.m. sharp.

A free buffet will be served at the first break. No advance registration is required, and a donation of $35 per player will be accepted. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 1,000 extra chips. This tournament will pay one place for every ten players with a minimum of four places and a maximum of 9 places.

For more information, call Tom McVeigh at 518-658-2448.

Marilyn Cavallari art exhibit at Milne Library

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- An exhibit of oil paintings by Marilyn Cavallari will be on display during September at the David and Joyce Milne Public Library. She will host an artist’s reception from 2 to 4 p.m. The public is welcome.

A Williamstown resident, Cavallari paints with oils and teaches ballet. She had work accepted into the Southern Vermont Arts Center 55th National Fall Open Exhibition in 2011, the 20th Annual Winter Member’s Exhibition, the SVAC 83rd Annual Members’ Exhibit, the SVAC 17th Annual Little Picture show and presently has work in the SVAC Stamens and Stems Exhibition.

For more information or to reserve exhibit space, contact Pat McLeod, library director, at 413-458-5369 or pmcleod@williamstown.net

Park hosts ‘Pets in the Park Day’

GRAFTON, N.Y. -- Grafton Lakes State Park will host the first-ever "Pets in the Park Day." This event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your pet to Grafton Lakes State Park at the Deerfield picnic area. The event is free with park admission.

This event will show patrons how pet friendly the park is, and what activities they can do here with their furry friends, so bring them along. There will be guided hikes, an agility course, food vendors, pet care vendors, live acoustic music from "The Stray Dogs," raffles, and the animal rescue groups Pepper Tree Rescue and Forever Home Greyhound Adoptions, bringing adoptable dogs. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to these adoption agencies.

For more information on "Pets in the Park Day," call assistant park naturalist Jean Gijanto at 518-279-1155. Information about park events may also be found online at www.nysparks.com/parks.

Ethan Allen Heritage Festival

BURLINGTON -- From 1 to 5 p.m. to the first annual Heritage Celebration at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum will be held. This will be a festival of arts and crafts from the eighteenth century including demonstrations of cooking and crafts as well as performances by folk singers, a fife and drum corps, and a performance by the Vermont National Guard’s Woodwind Quintet. Admission is free of charge. For full details including a schedule of events, visit www.ethanallenhomestead.org or call 802-865-4556.

Sunday, Sept. 9

Bennington Senior Center trip

BENNINGTON -- Bennington Senior Center trip to Washington, D.C., Sept. 9 to 13. Included in this trip will be breakfast and dinner each day. The trip will include visits to Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon; veterans’ memorials, Georgetown, Alexandria, the Smithsonian and more.

The price is $629 per person double; $959 per person single. A $100 non-refundable deposit will be required. Call the Bennington Senior Center at 442-1052 for more information.

Bingo at Bennington Legion

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.

Rescheduled bingo in Pownal

POWNAL --Rescheduled because of the Labor Day holiday, bingo will be hosted at 1 p.m. by the Pownal Valley Seniors at the Pownal Center firehouse.

Take-out barbecue at Lodge

BENNINGTON -- Giffy’s Barbecue will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge at 504 Main St. Take out only. Get tickets ahead to reserve your dinner at $10 each, for a half-chicken dinner. Sponsored by Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America, Airoc Court #42, of Rutland. Brighten a child’s life. Call to reserve your tickets, 518-265-6187 or 518-598-4010.

Grand opening of Pownal Library’s reading room

POWNAL -- Solomon Wright Public Library invites the public to attend a grand opening celebration for the Lucy Wright Case Reading Room from 2 to 4 p.m.

The new reading room added about 800 square-feet to the existing building which was constructed in 1966. Last year the library received a challenge from the family of Solomon Wright Jr. -- a donation towards a library addition in memory of Lucy Wright Case, daughter of Solomon Wright Jr. This windfall supported 80 percent of the cost, with additional funding raised by the citizens and businesses of Pownal.

The grand opening celebration is open to all and refreshments will be served. The Solomon Wright Public Library is located at 97 Main Street, Pownal, VT 05261. For more information, call 802-823-5400.

Elisabeth Von Trapp concert

EAST ARLINGTON -- At 4 p.m. Elisabeth von Trapp will be performing at the Federated Church of East Arlington, on Ice Pond Road.

Von Trapp, who was born and raised in Vermont, is the granddaughter of the legendary Maria and Baron von Trapp, whose story inspired "The Sound of Music." She has released five self-produced albums and has performed throughout the world.

A free-will offering will be collected and von Trapp will donate back a portion of the offering to the hosting church. CDs will also be sold following the performance.

After the concert the Trustees of the Federated Church of East Arlington invite all the attendees to an open house to celebrate the renovation of the interior of Bailey Hall. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, call the church office at 375-2548.