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Editor of the Reformer:
We recently held our third annual "Spring into Health" 5K run and walk supporting Grace Cottage Hospital on May 12, 2012. We were blessed by outstanding weather and an enthusiastic gathering of 137 walkers and runners.
I would like to thank all who participated in the event to make it such a great success and we look forward to another great event on May 11, 2013. We hope to see all those who participated again and many more!
It continues to amaze me to see how many people and organizations it takes to pull off an event like this. Thank you to all involved: to Rescue Inc., who provided their bicycle emergency response team as well as an onsite ambulance; to the Windham County Sheriff’s Department, who provided traffic control at either end of the course; and to the Townshend Emergency Response Committee, who also helped to ensure safety and communication along the course.
Drew’s All Natural provided delicious salsa and salad dressing, which were given away as door prizes to lucky winners.
Elizabeth Harrison, the volunteer coordinator at Grace Cottage Hospital, and a team of volunteers helped greatly with the registration process.
See you next year on May 11, 2013!
Moss Linder, M.D.,
Grace Cottage Hospital,
June 13
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Editor of the Reformer:
On May 19, the Winston Prouty Center for
Community is an important part of Prouty’s mission, and we rely on many people, including members of the Board of Trustees, Prouty staff and families, who volunteer their time and efforts to ensure the event’s success. The Taste was held again at the International Center on the campus of World Learning. We are grateful to World Learning for allowing us to use such a beautiful space, with special thanks to John Benouski and his staff at Sodexo for their invaluable assistance. Ian Kelley of WTSA emceed the event and the music of Peter Siegel and friends enhanced the ambiance.
The 2012 Taste was sponsored by The Richards Group, River Valley Credit Union, TD Bank, G.S. Precision Inc, The Trust Company of Vermont, Entergy Vermont Yankee, People’s United Bank Wealth Management, Brattleboro Kiwanis Club, Brattleboro Primary Care, Brattleboro Savings and Loan, Edward Jones, Members 1st Credit Union, United Natural Foods, Inc. and Merrill Gas. Support was also given by Brattleboro Pharmacy and the Brattleboro Rotary Club. The Taste would not be possible without these sponsors and our many in-kind donors: restaurants, businesses, artists, and craftspeople who donated food, floral arrangements and auction items. A complete list of these generous friends can be found on our website at www.winstonprouty.org/taste. We are honored to have community partners who believe in our mission to provide inclusive education and family support to promote the success of children and families.
The Winston Prouty Center is proud to be part of a community that generously supports children and families. We could not successfully do our work without your help. Thank you for your commitment to helping create a community where families get a strong start.
Chloe E. Learey,
executive director,
The Winston Prouty Center, June 15
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Editor of the Reformer:
Turning Point is very grateful to Entergy for a recent grant award of $500 to help our recovery center upgrade some very outdated computer equipment. This gift will help our center better serve people in recovery who rely on our center for resources and connection.
Having this technology available to support the center’s work is essential to our mission of serving the recovering community, people who are often in transition. Our computers are used by: our office assistant, who tracks our data and handles administrative needs; our volunteer coordinator, who handles timesheets, HR matters, and promo (such as our Facebook page); our recovery coaching team, who use the computers to enter data to capture results and to find resources for the people they coach; and our guests, who use the computers to work on resumes, submit online job applications, research job leads or other needed resources, to do homework, and to stay in touch with family and friends.
Turning Point of Windham County provides services, free of charge, for people in recovery from addictions. The center is a safe, supportive gathering place that provides peer support and recovery support services. Contact us at 802-257-5600 or tpwc.1@hotmail.com, or check out our page on Facebook (Turning Point of Windham County).
Also, Turning Point is grateful to the kind folks at Marlboro College who reached out and asked if we could use some computer equipment they no longer needed. We were able to replace some very old machines that had been tottering along on their last legs for quite some time now. Our guests and volunteers use our guest computers to look for jobs, do their homework, and stay in touch with friends and family. These computers are faster and more reliable, and we appreciate the gift. Thanks especially to Eva, who delivered everything for us!
With gratitude from our board, volunteers, staff and guests.
Suzie Walker,
director, Turning Point,
Brattleboro, June 11
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Editor of the Reformer:
On behalf of Grace Cottage Hospital’s patients and employees, I would like to thank everyone who helped to make the third annual Tee Up for Health golf benefit such a huge success. Golfers (26 teams), sponsors, auction contributors, bidders and winners, volunteers, and the staff at Tater Hill Golf Club in Windham all pulled together on June 10 to raise more than $20,000 for the expansion and renovation of Grace Cottage’s Messenger Valley Pharmacy.
The event’s Platinum Sponsor was Cerner Corporation; Gold Sponsors were Architect Vance Hosford, and WKVT; Silver Sponsors were Brunelle and Son, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and People’s United Bank; the Dinner Sponsor was Elizabeth Walker; Hole Sponsors were Delta Dental, Durand Motors, e-PharmPro, Dr. Walter Griffiths, Hickey Alignment and Repair, Homestead Landscaping, Howard Printing, Dr. Susan Lemei, Dr. David and Dr. Kim Liebow, Dr. Elizabeth McClarney, Joan McConnel, Mount Snow, Primmer, Piper, Eggleston and Cramer, The Richards Group, and The Windham Foundation.
"Friend of Grace Cottage" Sponsors were Amerinet, Greater Falls Pharmacy, Merrill Gas Company, Dr. Timothy Shafer and Dr. Deborah Luskin, and Trend Business Solutions.
Save the date for next year: Sunday, June 9, 2013.
Jim Heal,
Grace Cottage Hospital,
Townshend, June 18
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Editor of the Reformer:
I recently and happily attended an 84th birthday celebration for Pauley Aumand at his daughter’s home in North Walpole, N.H., a fitting and enormously attended celebration complete with huge amounts of good food and beverage. My intention was to make these comments during the party, but at the time I was not feeling very well and have realized that since I have attained senior citizen status, my bladder seems to have been relocated near my eyes. Therefore, I did not want to embarrass myself.
In my, and in many other people’s, estimation, Pauley Aumand did more for the kids in North Walpole than anyone else ever did. From the time he was a young husband and father he gave us his time, talent and treasure as if it were perfectly natural to do so. A great athlete himself, he endeavored to give us the best facilities, opportunities and encouragement to spend every chance to enjoy all forms of outdoor sports. To mention a few: The skating rink behind the fire station; making sure the school field was mowed at the far end of Nim’s field every summer; and later, building dugouts and installing real bases to the crowning accomplishment of designing and constructing a full outdoor basketball court, eventually with lights right next to his new house.
These are but a few of the many things he did for us kids. His insistence that children of all ages play and have fun was probably the most inspiring thing he did. Pauley continued later on with his monetary support and Herculean efforts to make American Legion Pierce-Lawton Post 37 baseball program what it is today. I’m sure I’m omitting dozens of other thoughtful accomplishments he orchestrated, even without our knowledge.
During the entire time, his sense of humor seemed to not only sustain him, but also encouraged him. He became, and still is, the master of elaborate practical jokes in town. Suffice it to say that the stories of these pranks are still the stuff of legend in all of the clubs that Pauley belongs to.
During this time, Pauley also helped raise a large family of accomplished athletes and good citizens, all of whom learned and still practice his amazing work ethic, an ethic he personified full time into his early 80s.
It is with great gratitude and a true sense of pride that I not only relate these thoughts, but that I can count myself as one of his friends.
Terrence J. Griffin,
Bellows Falls, June 20
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Editor of the Reformer:
This letter is to sincerely thank Tom Staats and the crew of the Newfane Painters.
Recently my special little boy Ambrose fell ill with a severe respiratory infection. My wife, Rebecca, a newly licensed RN who primarily takes care of Ambrose’s complicated medical situation, also became sick and needed several days of bedrest. Inasmuch as small business depends upon the dedication and dependability of the common worker, Tom Staats demonstrated his compassing and understanding in allowing me the necessary family leave I needed to take care of my wife and son.
From my first day at Newfane Painters I was told of the importance of acting in concert as a team. This experience has served to reinforce this maxim. To this end, I wish to also thank Mike, Bob and Toma for their concern and support during this difficult week.
Also, thanks to Meghan Rink, Chris Chapin and Cheryl Ellison for their assistance with Ambrose’s care.
James Brown,
Brattleboro, June 20
