Thursday, Sept. 28

•"Life with Diabetes," 10-hour diabetes help course, Gifford Medical Center, conference center, Randolph, runs Thursdays thru Oct. 19, 6-8:30 p.m. To register call 728-2295.

•Artists’ Roundtable, 6-7:30 p.m., Chandler Gallery, Main St., Randolph. Public invited to meet with artists from current Chandler show; "Selections" and members of the Chandler Gallery Committee to explore the process of the works on view. Info: 728-9878.

•Apple Pie Contest, open to everyone, entry fee goes to support Royalton Farmers Market, judging starts at 5 p.m. at the market on the South Royalton Green.

•Free workshop sponsored by Hospice Volunteer Services, get professional help filling out advanced directives for health care; 6:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, behind G. Stone Motors, Rte. 7, Middlebury. Info: 802-388-4111.

Friday, Sept. 29

•"Lost Bridges of Vermont and New Hampshire," free program focusing on stories of lost bridges, including the November 1927 flood that destroyed 200 bridges, 7 p.m., Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich.

Fri. & Sat., Sept. 29 & 30

•Rummage and Food Sale sponsored by Unity Circle of the United Church of Bethel; Friday, 5-7 p.m., rummage only; and Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., rummage and food; White Church, on the park, Rte. 12, Bethel.

•Northeast Regional Old-Time Fiddlers Contest and Festival, featuring participants from across the U.S. and Canada, begins Fri., 6:30 p.m.; continues Sat., 10 a.m.; with finals at 6:30 p.m.; Municipal Aud., Barre. Info: 802-862-6708.

•Rusty Dewees’ "The Logger" comedy and music show (rated SC for "some cussin’"), 8 p.m., Spaulding H.S. Auditorium, Barre. Tickets: 802-888-8838, at www.thelogger.com, or at the door.

Saturday, Sept. 30

•Randolph Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-12 noon, rain or shine, next to OSSU office, Rte. 66/Central St., parking behind the office.

•Rochester Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Rochester Park.

•"Last Mile" motorcycle ride, a 100-mile charity ride to benefit end-of-life care, staging begins at 8:30 a.m., ride leaves at 10 a.m., Gifford Medical Center, 44 S. Main St., Randolph; ride fee includes free barbecue lunch, acupuncture, live band, prizes and more. Call 728-2380.

•"Healthy Homes, Clean Water: Safer Alternatives for Household Cleaning," 10:30 a.m.-Noon, with Anita Kelman, sponsored by AVR, free; Randolph Cooperative Market, 24 Pleasant St., Randolph. Pre-registration: 728-9554.

•"Praise and Worship Day" sponsored by the Green Mt. Baptist Assoc., music and inspirational speakers, child care provided, lunch provided (donations asked to cover the cost), 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Baptist Fellowship, Rte. 66, Randolph. Info: 728-4091.

•"Meet the Author" with Linda Faillace, author of "Mad Sheep," 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Cover to Cover Books, Main St., Randolph.

•Chicken Pie Supper, with seatings at 5 and 6:15 p.m., East Brookfield Church. Takeout orders available at 5:30 and 6:45 p.m. To make reservations call 276-3064.

•10^th annual Civil War Expo with Civil War re-enactors, camp life, artillery, drills, speakers, historical displays, battle scenario, period music, educational events for all ages, torchlight parade, free parking, 10 a.m.-dusk, Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Rte. 110. Benefits historic and battlefield preservation.

•Ham and Baked Bean Supper with homemade breads and pies, sponsored by the Sharon Congregational Church, 5-6:30 p.m., Sharon Elementary School.

•Cut-a-thon fundraiser for "Locks of Love," non-profit organization that provides custom hair pieces for kids with medical hair loss; 9 a.m.-3 p.m., New England School of Hair Design, 12 Interchange Drive (behind McDonald’s), West Lebanon, N.H. Walk-ins welcome or for appointment: 603-298-5199.

Sat.-Sun., Sept. 30-Oct. 1

•3^rd Annual Vermont Fine Furniture & Woodworking Festival, over 30 Vt. furniture makers, Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Union Arena, Woodstock; plus Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Historical Park hosts free horse-drawn wagon rides and ecology tours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., free admission and free shuttle between Union Arena and the park.

Sunday, Oct. 1

•"Making Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut," 1-3 p.m., with Susan Delattre, free, Randolph Cooperative Market, 24 Pleasant St., Randolph. Pre-registration appreciated: 728-9554.

•Smorgasbord ("all you can eat") and craft sale sponsored by the Community Church of Hancock and Granville, 12 noon-2 p.m., Hancock Town Hall, Rte. 100, Hancock. Info: 767-9157.

•"A Course in Miracles" support group begins weekly meetings, facilitated by Robert Walker, Sr.; free, 4:30-6 p.m., Innerharmony Community Wellness Ctr., Main St., Rochester. Info: 767-9914.

Monday, Oct. 2

•Orange County Parent Child Center playgroup, 9-11 a.m., St. Anthony's Church, Bethel. Free for families with children ages birth to five, snack provided. Info: 685-2264.

•Bethel Historical Society meets 7 p.m., Bethel Public Library.

Tuesday, Oct. 3

•Bingo Night, 6:30 p.m., White Church on the park, Bethel.

•Bingo Night, 6:30 p.m., Old Town Hall, Sunset Pond, Brookfield.

•Orange County Parent Child Center playgroup, 9:30-11:30 a.m., First Congregational Church, Brookfield. Free for families with children ages birth to five, snack provided. Info: 685-2264.

•Orange County Parent Child Center playgroup, 9-11 a.m., Rosa B. Tyson Gymnasium, Strafford. Free for families with children ages birth to five, snack provided. Info: 685-2264.

•HomeBuyer Orientation: Determine if homeownership is right for you. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Central Vermont Community Land Trust, Barre, Info: 802-476-4493 ext. 211.

Wednesday, Oct. 4

•Orange County Parent Child Center playgroup, 9-11 a.m., United Church on the Green, So. Royalton. Free for families with children ages birth to five, snack provided. Info: 685-2264.

•Chelsea Harvest Festival: farmers market, 3-5:30 p.m.; North Common, plus live music, games, food tastings, demonstrations, giveaways; community potluck (bring a dish to share with local ingredients) 5:30-7 p.m., town hall, followed by local farmers panel with Rory Allen, David Ainsworth, Suzanne Long, David Childs, and Bob Gray discussing the future of farming in Vermont.

•Prospective Parent Night, 6:30 p.m., The Sharon Academy, Rte. 14, Sharon. RSVP to 763-2500.

Thursday, Oct. 5

•River View Community Speakers meeting, learn skills for leadership, public speaking and impromptu speaking at your own pace. 7:15 p.m., Vt. Law School, Oakes Hall, Rm. 211, So. Royalton. Info: 728-4450 or 763-7821.

Friday, Oct. 6

•Chicken Pie Supper, seatings at 4, 5, 6 and 7 p.m., Chelsea West Hill Methodist Church. Tickets at the door. Take out orders available. Call 685-4335 for directions.

Saturday, Oct. 7

•Randolph Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-12 noon, rain or shine, next to OSSU office, Rte. 66/Central St., parking behind the office.

•Rochester Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Rochester Park.

•Rummage Sale sponsored by the RUHS Senior Class, proceeds help support class activities; 9 a.m.-2 p.m., OSSU Office lawn, Central St., Randolph.

•"The How and Why of Depression," with Lynne Ihlstrom, (instructor fee), 1-3 p.m., Randolph Cooperative Market, 24 Pleasant St., Randolph. Pre-registration: 728-9554.

•Roast Pork Supper with all the trimmings, 5 p.m., Sts. Donatian & Rogatian Church, So. Pleasant St., Randolph. For more info call 728-3227 or 728-9509.

•"Clothes ’n Things" fall sale sponsored by the Women’s Alliance, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Federated Church, Main St., Rochester.

•"Spam-a-thon" competition of local amateur and professional chefs’ Spam-based creations and apple desserts; begins 5:30 p.m., followed by palette and art bench auction, White Church, Church St., Bethel. Info: 234-5292.

•Octoberfare sponsored by the Royalton Memorial Library, with craft fair, flea market, book sale; 9 a.m.-2 p.m., South Royalton Green. Rain site: South Royalton School. Info: 763-7094.

•Chicken Pie Supper with all the trimmings, sponsored by the First Congregational Church of Royalton, seatings at 5, 6 and 7 p.m., Academy Building, Rte. 14, Royalton Village. Info: 763-7812 or 763-8402.

•Harvest Supper, family style serving begins 5:30 p.m., Post Mills Congregational Church, Vt. Rte. 244, Post Mills. Info: 333-9803.

•Pot Roast Dinner with all the trimmings, "all you can eat," 5-7 p.m., United Church of Cornish, Cornish Flat, N.H.

Sat. & Sun., Oct. 7 & 8

•34^th Annual Apples & Crafts Fair, more than 100 crafters, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Bailey’s Meadow, Rte. 4, Woodstock. Info: 457-1502.

•Wagon Ride Weekend with horse-drawn wagon rides through the fields and along the Ottauquechee River, Billings Farm & Museum, Rte. 4, Woodstock.

Sunday, Oct. 8

•19^th Century Apple and Harvest Festival, press and taste cider, horse-drawn wagon rides, period games, orchard tours, apple treats, and more; 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Justin Morrill Homestead, Strafford.