Gifford Hospital gets $35,000 grant

RANDOLPH — The hospital in the Vermont town of Randolph is going to use a $35,000 grant to help promote breast cancer awareness.
Gifford Memorial Hospital said the Avon Breast Health Outreach Program is designed to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of the early detection of breast cancer.
The program is part of the Avon Foundation for Women, the largest corporate philanthropy dedicated to women’s causes.
This is the 11th year that Gifford’s Breast Health Program has received funding from the foundation.
Gifford is one of 120 institutions across the country to receive the grants.

‘Normal Heart’ in Randolph for World AIDS Day

RANDOLPH – Actor and director Dan Butler, probably best known as the sportscaster Bulldog on NBC’s “Frasier,” is a Vermonter making a difference for World AIDS Day this year.  This Newbury resident has organized both Equity and non-Equity actors throughout the region for a benefit staged reading of Larry Kramer’s Tony Award-winning play “The Normal Heart” tomorrow - Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., at Chandler Music Hall. In observance of World AIDS Day, Chandler Pride is presenting this performance as a chance for Vermonters to reflect on the lives of people with HIV/AIDS as well as to honor those we have lost to the disease.  Butler’s cast features Lisa Harrow of Woodstock, who starred in “Wit” at Northern Stage and Off-Broadway; and Alan Gelfant of Norwich, frequently seen in productions of the Parish Players, based in Thetford. 
Premiered in 1985, the play chronicles the early years of the spread of HIV, especially the complicated emotions and conversations about love, sex, and death in the face of a disease that at the time was little understood and had little prospect for cure or treatment.  About the play critic Rex Reed commented, “No one interested in the future of the human race can afford to miss The Normal Heart.”
Audience members will have the chance to greet the director and actors and comment about the production at a reception following the reading.
Admission is by donation. For reservations, call (802) 728-6464.

Help center to match needs with offers

The Randolph Area Help Center opened Monday and will match people needing help with people who can provide that help.

Donors and people with needs are encouraged to call 728-8013 or send e mail to [email protected].

The Help Center is aimed at helping the many voluntary aid initiatives that have sprung up throughout the valley so that offers to help don't go unclaimed, and storm-affected people can get needs met.

The Help Center is located at Ayers Brook Center and will be staffed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, but phone messages and emails can be placed at any time and will be monitored by volunteers in off-hours as well.

Some categories in which the Help Center seeks to match offers with needs include:

Child Care (short or longer term)
Clothing (locations offering clothing)
Emotional Support (counseling, listening)
Food (food shelf locations, hot meal delivery)
Hauling (people with trucks for delivering items or hauling debris)
Housing (short or long term, individuals or families)
Household Items (give or loan tools, appliances, furniture)
Laundry and showers (stop by and get cleaned up)
Money (sources of grants and loans, where to donate)
Paperwork Assistance (help with filling out applications, interpreting
documents)
Physical Labor (shoveling, loading and unloading, cleaning)
Special Expertise (carpentry, animal care, plumbing, electrical, mold
management, computer skills)
Transportation (Rides for appointments and shopping)

There is a special need right now for the shelter at VTC. People are needed to staff the shelter during the day and overnight, if possible. Right now there are between 10 and 12 people staying at the shelter. Those who volunteer at the shelter will get a dorm room and meals during their stay. If someone would like to volunteer for this now, send an email to [email protected].

 

Prince Street in Randolph

From Main Street Bridge.  Photo by Stephen Manchester