September 26th, 2011 | 
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Raffling prizes at the Annual Poker Walk.
Every October, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) celebrates National Physical Therapy Month to recognize the important roles that physical therapists and physical therapist assistants play in helping people maintain, improve and restore the mobility necessary to stay fit, active and independent while enjoying the things they like to do as they age.
Here at Grace Cottage, we encourage everyone to get out and exercise for their health and to enjoy the natural beauty we are blessed with here in Vermont. As part of this national celebration Grace Cottage Hospital’s Rehabilitation Department holds an Annual Poker Walk as a way to promote healthy activity, engage the community and have some fun.
This year, the 13th Annual Poker Walk will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2011.
The course
This two-mile walk/run begins at the Grace Cottage Hospital Wolff Building, where outpatient rehabilitation is located. The course goes north for one mile on Grafton Road (Route 35), then back again to the Wolff Building. It’s a relatively flat and paved route to accommodate walkers of all ages and abilities.
The game
Playing cards are dealt to walkers at different points along the route. At the end of the route each participant’s hand is recorded. Walkers may do the course as often as they wish, collecting a different poker hand each time and increasing their chances of winning.
The best hand gets two nights here.
The prize
Well, everyone’s a winner of course, but the participant with the best poker hand at the end of the day takes home the grand prize — a romantic weekend getaway for two at the Snow Goose Inn in West Dover.
There are also several door prizes donated by local businesses including bed and breakfasts, auto repair shops, restaurants, artists, markets, gift shops and more that will be raffled off.
The Annual Poker Walk is held rain or shine and it’s free and open to the public. Participants may start at the Wolff Building anytime between 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Advance registration is not required.
Hundreds of walkers have attended over the years, so put on your walking shoes, practice your poker face and come out and join the fun. Good luck.
For more information contact Grace Cottage Hospital at 365-3649.
Everyone in the Grace Cottage “family” has been affected in some way by the havoc wreaked in this area by Irene. Some employees and patients have lost their homes and/or businesses, and our hearts go out to all, especially those so severely impacted. Some are still without power, some have been evacuated, some are isolated on back roads or in towns that are still closed off. We give great thanks to the employees who stayed through the storm, kept Grace Cottage Hospital up and running.
Grace Cottage Hospital never skipped a beat, never lost power, and has stayed open and treating patients during this whole event. Grace Cottage has been working closely with the civil emergency personnel in the surrounding towns to keep the townspeople safe and healthy. While there has been widespread damage, neighbors have been helping neighbors in the usual Vermont way and the staff at Grace Cottage has been here to help.
It has been confirmed by the Army Corp. of Engineers Army Colonel himself, that the Townshend Dam is stable and in NO DANGER. On Sunday they had a small culvert near the dam give but that is separate from the Dam and has no impact on the dam itself.
Damages
If your home sustained any damage or you had to evacuate you can register for FEMA/state disaster assistance.
- register online at www.disasterassistance.gov
- call the toll-free registration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
Road Closures
Call 511 or visit www.511vt.com for current information about travel conditions throughout Vermont.
Volunteering
If you have time to volunteer or resources to offer, such as equipment and supplies, an organization in the Londonderry/Jamaica/Bondville/Weston area that you can call is Neighborhood Connections at 824-4343 and let them know:
- Your name and contact details
- What you can offer / your availability
- What towns you can help in
Conversely, if you need assistance, and you’re in the Londonderry area, please call Neighborhood Connections at 824-4343 and let them know:
- Your name and contact details, including your town
- The status / priority of your situation
- What assistance you need
They will work to match volunteers and resources with those who need it.
Donations
The Stratton Foundation has established a relief fund and is accepting financial contributions. You can donate online, and you can also designate your contribution to a specific town, or the general area, if you wish.
We will be continuing to post links to more information on our Facebook page and on Twitter.
As always, the doors at Grace Cottage are open!
Hitting the road and clocking some miles is a perfect way to see the country and enjoy summer time in the great outdoors. Those road trippers who regularly take to the highway, find a sense of community among fellow travelers and folks they encounter along the journey. A caravan of VW campers known as the West River Westies (WRW), are living the dream from the beds of their pop-up micro buses and annually gather at the Bald Mountain Campground here in Townshend.
The gathering draws vehicles, drivers, families and visitors from around northern hemisphere. This year there were even campers from four Canadian Provinces; Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. The rest came from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachuetts & Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Illinois.
The weekend is filled with games, swimming, tubing, biking, sharing stories, food and laughter. In addition, as they have done now for seven years, the ‘Westies’ hold a bucket raffle – donating the proceeds to Grace Cottage Hospital. This year through the generosity of all participants, they generated a record donation of $1,000 for the new Medical Imaging Facility. We were overwhelmed at the news and so thankful for their kindness and support.
This year’s contribution, added with their donations from past years, totals in nearly $4,000 that the West River Westies have raised for Grace Cottage Hospital. Upon completion, the new Medical Imaging Suite will proudly don a plaque in honor of their contributions that reads LIMBO – West River Westies.
It’s touching to see how a community that comes together just once a year, is connected to our small town community and little rural hospital. A very heartfelt thanks goes out to Nev and Sue Lescher, the WRW wagonmasters for organizing this event and to everyone who came out for the fun. We truly appreciate your support. Happy camping.
Just like a family reunion, the Grace Cottage Hospital Fair Day is an annual festival in southern Vermont that’s filled with good times and good people. The tradition of meeting on the common in Townshend has continued throughout generations and every year seems to top the last. This year we are celebrating the 61st Fair Day on Saturday, August 6 and we hope you and your family will be there to join us.
If you’ve never experienced Hospital Fair Day before, here is an idea of what you can look forward to. Not only is this a FREE event that is fun for all ages, but it’s packed full of activities from 9 a.m. until the sun goes down. Fair vendors line the common selling crafts like handmade baskets and jewelry. Carnival games are set up for kids and parents alike to win prizes.
You can enter in the raffle to win cash, crafts, even a vacation night stay and see the many generations of Grace Cottage babies as they march in the Baby Parade. There’s plenty of great summertime food to eat. Enjoy a chicken BBQ, burgers, hot dogs, watermelon and of course, cotton candy.
And don’t forget the Fair Day auction. You’ll find just about everything from paintings and furniture to local crafts and even power equipment at the auction. If you’ve got items to contribute to the auction, contact Stan Holt at 365-4455 and we’ll pick them up.
The whole day caps off with a free concert by the Grafton Cornet Band. With so much going on, make sure you get there early so you can catch it all, and get a close parking space. See the schedule below for full details.
The time has come to mount up and roll out for a good cause. The 2011 Tour de Grace Bicycle Rally to benefit Grace Cottage Hospital is this Sunday, July 24. Whether you’re an avid rider, a proven road racer, or just enjoy the wind on your face as you coast down the back roads of Vermont, this benefit ride is the perfect chance to get some exercise and have some fun outdoors.
The 2011 Tour de Grace is part of Stratton Mountain’s Support Southern Vermont Weekend. So while the ride will undoubtedly be warmer than years past when we’ve held it in September, the weather forecast for the weekend looks sunny and beautiful. Be sure to layer lightly, wear some sunscreen and bring a water bottle on your bike. As always, you can find refreshment stops stocked with water and snacks along the 19 mile route. One in Jamaica Village, West Townshend, and at the top of the Townshend Dam. And of course, a grand reception will await you at the Grace Cottage Hospital finish line in Townshend. Plus there will be volunteers along the way if you need assistance.
Complete details about the rally, including a map of the route and a list of directions are over on our Tour de Grace event page.
If you haven’t registered yet, don’t forget that early registration saves you $5. Pre-register by NOON on Friday for just $25, or at Stratton Mountain on the day of the event for $30. Everyone involved gets a 2011 Tour de Grace commemorative t-shirt.
We had a great turn out last year. Individuals, friends, families with riders young and old all came out and had a great time. Check out the slideshow below for some pictures from the 2010 Tour de Grace.
We have come a long way in our fundraising for the new Medical Imaging Suite at Grace Cottage Hospital, but there is still a long way to go. If you plan to join us, let your friends know. RSVP to the Tour de Grace on our Facebook page, then grab your helmet and bike gloves, and let’s roll.
This past Sunday was Grace Cottage’s 2nd Annual Tee Up for Health Golf Benefit at the Tater Hill Golf Club. Tater Hill is a gorgeous venue for this event, and despite the rain and relatively low temperatures, 93 golfers turned out to play 18 holes and everyone had a great time.
The final tally isn’t in yet, but over $15,000 was raised for Grace Cottage Hospital. Thanks to everyone who participated and volunteered, making this event a huge success.
Check out a couple of pictures from the weekend in the slideshow below and on our Facebook page.
Another 12″ of snow (or so) over the weekend, and now a coating of us, but you can dream of springtime by signing up now for the Spring Into Health 5K on Saturday, May 14 or the Tee Up for Health Golf Benefit on Sunday, June 12. Just go to Events on this website to register for either event (or both!).
Grace Cottage just received a certificate from the Windham Farm & Food Network in appreciation for support of local farms. During 2010, Grace Cottage purchased 3,766 pounds of fresh, local food. Way to go, Denise and the rest of the wonderful dietary crew!
It’s another white day in Vermont, very icy, so the Emergency Room is full. 13 patients in the hospital.
We’ll be posting to this blog several times a week, to bring you up-to-date on what’s going on at Grace Cottage. It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, with bluebird-blue skies, lots of white snow, and 12 patients being cared for in the hospital, countless others in the doctors’ offices, outpatient lab, X-ray and rehab, and Messenger Valley Pharmacy.