Berlin Community News

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Sent by Corinne Stridsberg and also posted at: http://socialenergy.blogspot.com
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If you're not already receiving this news by email, send an email to request this to corinnestridsberg@gmail.com
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Check out the Berlin, Vermont Community News page on facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berlin-Vermont/205922199452224
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NOTE: I hope you're marking your calendars as I'm not repeating many events that are scheduled even if they're not being held for awhile.  That's one of the reasons I post these emails to my blog to make it easy to look back at previous issues.  Blog address is above.
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Included below please find:

GREEN UP DAY IS SATURDAY, MAY 4TH!
SILVERWARE DRIVE AT BERLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR CENTRAL VERMONT
"TAPPED" - WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BOTTLED WATER?
FLEA MARKET MAY 4TH & 5TH AT CIVIC CENTER
BARTER SYSTEM IN CENTRAL VERMONT GROWING
FREECYCLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
VERMONT HISTORY MUSEUM - UPCOMING FREE VISIT
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How about a free train ride?!  If you're interested sign up right away for this special Amtrak excursion which will take place on Saturday, May 11th.  It leaves the Montpelier Junction Station (Junction Road, Berlin) at 10AM and travels to the Bellows Falls Amtrak Station arriving at 11:48AM.  There will be time for a stretch and to pick up your free box lunch to eat on the next leg of the journey which is a train ride aboard the VRS White River Flyer to go to White River Junction (WRJ).  This train will arrive in WRJ about 1:30pm where there will be a celebration at the historic WRJ Rail Station at 1:45pm.  After the ceremony there will be time to view historic displays of railroading in New England and other railroad exhibits.  Around 2:45 or 3pm those who traveled down by train will board motor coaches (buses) to return to the station they started from.  IF you want to stay in WRJ a little longer and return by train, there will be a charge - you may reserve a $12 "In Vermont" seat on the northbound Vermonter which will depart WRJ at 6:22pm.  Children, as always, ride for half fare, $6.  It's very important to sign up right away, no later than May 6th as seating is limited.  See all the details at this link: http://rail.vermont.gov/NationalTrainDay2013
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Did that $12 "Inside Vermont" Amtrak fare catch your eye?  That's available on a regular basis, details can be found at: http://rail.vermont.gov/passenger/current_services
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GREEN UP DAY IS SATURDAY, MAY 4TH!
Green Up Day is on Saturday but it is possible to get bags and start early!  http://www.greenupvermont.org   There is a Green Up facebook page also with some information https://www.facebook.com/GreenUpAdmin

Don't forget Twin City Subaru is Paying Cash for Trash to support Berlin Elementary School's playground http://www.twincitysubaru.com/berlin-elementary-school-playground-fundraiser.htm AND the kids are having a bottle drive that day from 9am - 1pm to help raise money for the playground equipment they want to have installed this summer.
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SILVERWARE DRIVE AT BERLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
In an effort to be more “GREEN” we would like to have a larger supply of silverware so that we no longer buy and throw away plastic knives, forks and spoons. If you have extra odds and ends of silverware you are willing to donate, please drop them off at Berlin Elementary School for Chef Greg and they will be put to good use. This will be an ongoing effort, feel free to donate at any time. Thank you!
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RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR CENTRAL VERMONT
Spring & Summer at the Montpelier Recreation Department where there are always a lot of fun activities going on. Includes information about the pool and the Senior Center http://www.montpelierrec.org/files/Brochures/2013%20summer%20spring.pdf
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"TAPPED" - WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BOTTLED WATER?
What an eye-opener the movie "Tapped" is.  While people assume that bottled water is the better option, it's virtually unregulated and therefore may contain contaminants.
The movie is available on Netflix.  A trailer can be found at: http://www.tappedthemovie.com/
Fill a reusable water bottle from your tap. Tap water is cleaner, cheaper and healthier than store-bought water. One and a half million tons of plastic water bottles are thrown out every year. In Vermont we spend more than $10 million every year to ensure that municipal tap water is clean and healthy. Taking advantage of that investment is good for your health, your wallet and the health of our communities.
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FLEA MARKET MAY 4TH & 5TH AT CIVIC CENTER

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BARTER SYSTEM IN CENTRAL VERMONT GROWING
Information on Onion River Exchange, our local barter system, can be found at: http://www.orexchange.org    What do ORE members offer?  Transportation, tutoring, cooking, sewing, yard work, computer help, dance lessons, proofreading and editing, childcare, business services, personal finances, car repair, pet care, carpentry, yoga and wellness, music lessons, entertainment for parties, sports, word processing, graphic design, phone calls, providing food for potlucks… and so much more!
Want to know more about Time Banks? The Bridge recently had a story: http://www.montpelierbridge.com/2013/04/new-economy-the-onion-river-exchange-your-central-vermont-time-bank  There was also some national coverage of Time Banks on ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7082441
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FREECYCLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Freecycle is available throughout the country and there are several groups in Vermont.  Our local group is Washington County - http://groups.freecycle.org/WashingtonCountyVT/posts/all
There is also a Freecycle facebook page with some interesting ideas to recycle or repurpose items https://www.facebook.com/freecycle
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VERMONT HISTORY MUSEUM - UPCOMING FREE VISIT
The Vermont History Museum / VT Historical Society 109 State St, will be free and open to the public from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on June 7th as part of the Montpelier Art Walk.  http://vermonthistory.org/visit/vermont-history-museum
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