7-12 - The Bridge
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7-12 - The Bridge
THE BRIDGE sunset, following an enticing farm lane. Ahead of us lies a fairy-tale looking scene consisting of tidy red barns, a huge white farmhouse, expansive fields full of whitebelted dairy cattle (the ones my daughter calls “Oreo-cookie cows”) and a dirt lane that curves gracefully until it disappears into the forest about half a mile away. From far in the distance, a figure slowly approaches us on a noisy all-terrain vehicle. “I think we’re trespassing. Maybe we should turn around,” Alice says to me nervously. “It’s too late now,” I say. A distinguished-looking country gentleman pulls up on the ATV, eyeing us curiously. “Howdy. I’m Paul Daniels,” he says cheerily, extending his hand in friendship. “Welcome to the Diamond Heart Farm.” After introducing ourselves, I tell him I’m looking for the heart of the Northeast Kingdom. Sweeping his hand over the vast lay of the land that stretches as far as the eye could see, he says proudly, “Well I guess you found it, didn’t you?” I tell him I’ve been photographing some pretty amazing farmsteads all over the state for the past couple years, but this could be the most enchanting one I’ve ever had the pleasure to stumble across. He informs us that the 500-acre farm that he’s owned for 50 odd years recently won a prestigious Dairy of Distinction award. “You look like a musician/artist type,” he says to me. “Do you play a musical instrument?” “Oh, I fool around a little on the guitar, but my wife here plays the violin!” “Well, bust my buttons!” he blurts out. “Come on up to the big house and I’ll fetch my fiddle.” Walking up to the white clapboarded farmhouse, Alice gives me the “hairy eyeball’’—a look that says, “Why did you have to open your big fat mouth?” She’s been so busy studying for her Master’s degree that she hasn’t even looked at her old Scottish fiddle, let alone played it, for the last six years. “Relax, honey,’’ I tell her reassuringly. SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 • PAGE 7 Northeast Kingdom traffic jam. “It’s just like riding a bike; you never forget.” Besides, maybe he’s the king of the Kingdom. You never know.” Inside the orderly farmhouse, Paul returns with his fiddle and plays us some energetic Celtic tunes before handing over the instrument to my not-so-eager wife. He taught himself to play 10 years ago and sometimes goes into the local nursing homes to regale the residents with some tunes. We head outside to enjoy the glorious sunset. Alice tears into “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” and some other Scottish reels. Paul’s wife, Nancy, appears out of nowhere, looking very much the queen that I suspect she might be. They tell us that BRAGG FARM Maple Creemees “Just Gotta Have One” Enjoy maple and chocolate creemees, milk shakes, and sundaes 223-5757 OPEN EVERY DAY 8:30 am–8 pm Located 1 mile north of East Montpelier village on Rt. 14N (follow signs) today is their 50th wedding anniversary. I snap a photograph of them standing together on the green grass. The spirited music continues as the sun sinks lower and lower in the sky—the sharp notes of the fiddle floating up into the air and away past the barn and down the lane into the immaculate fields, where the Austrian Pinzgauer, whitebelted and other rare breeds of cattle are happily grazing in the fragrant dusk. Sitting on the grass and soaking it all in, I realize it’s going to be very difficult to extricate myself from such a perfect Vermont scenario. The gentleman eagerly playing the fiddle in the middle of this 500-acre dream compound may or may not be the king that I am searching for, but I resign myself to the idea that some mysteries are meant to remain just that. Michaet T. Jermyn, who considers himself a “reincarnated Impressionist,” is a local writer, musician and photographer. He lives with his Scottish wife, three children and a scrawny black (as yet unnamed) kitten in a rambling house in Montpelier. His photographs are on view at the Jolly Trader at 87 Barre Street, the Round Barn in Waitsfield until September 5 and the Wood Gallery in Montpelier until October 24. College Admissions Strategies for High School Students and Their Families We provide support through every phase of the college application process We help students identify a balanced list of potential colleges that would be a good fit for them and their families We offer assistance with essays, resumes and other narrative require- ments in college applications and the Common Application so that students can present themselves to be as good as they really are Extremely reasonable rates, references upon request; the initial session is at no cost Brian Vachon Vachon and Associates Offices at 4 Pitkin Court in Montpelier 802 229-4441 brianvachon@comcast.net BETH JACOB SYNAGOGUE High Holiday Services ROSH HASHANAH Sept. 8 7 p.m. Community Service Sept. 9 9:30 a.m. Community Service 4 p.m Tashlich at North Branch Park (Cummings St. off Elm St.) Montpelier Sept. 10 9 a.m. Traditional Service 9:30 a.m. Family Service at Unitarian Church, Main St., Montpelier YOM KIPPUR Sept. 17 6:30 p.m. Kol Nidre Community Service Sept. 18 9:30 a.m. Community Service 5 p.m. Family Service All services at Vermont College Hall Chapel (2nd floor) unless otherwise noted. See www.bethjacobvt.org for details. New style of community service will be accessible for all levels of observance. No ticket required. Contributions encouraged to defray cost of $54/person. Beth Jacob Synagogue, P.O. Box 1133, Montpelier VT 05601 PAGE 8 • SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 THE BRIDGE End-of-Summer Barnstock and Poetic Revelry in Calais by Tara Gita T here’s a greensward at the Maple Corners end of the Calais Pond that offers a big green for games, a pond for cooling off in at one end and a barbecue pit in the middle with a shed that makes a country backdrop for bands. It’s owned by the folks who live there—communityminded folks. This past Saturday, that bucolic setting saw its third annual Barnstock: a lineup from 1 to 10 p.m. of 10 bands. In the morning, there had been a triathlon, I discovered. Local folks with children are more up on these events than I am. It was a potluck affair, so I brought a big macaroni veggie salad and kicked back in my canvas chair, getting into the music. One of my favorite bands was a girls-only high-school singing trio whose lead singer/musician is Halle Toulis. Her parents, Artie and Nancy, own the Maple Corners Store. They had just finished their gig when a local gal came over, sat down next to me and with a smile handed me a poem. It was Joy Seadeek. Color her Dutch: blond, blue-eyed and savvy. Turns out, she’s the daughter of June Morse—a wellknown pianist in the area—and aunt to the singer/musician Halle. “We’re all musical,” she said (after all, poems are music too). I read her poem and asked her how she came to it. I also ran home to get my camera so I could share a glimpse of this lady who’s given to reading rivers. “I was awake early one morning awaiting the poetry vibe,” she said. “I’m usually awake in the morning . . . because something’s there. The window was open. I wanted to go to the brook. It was the middle of the night, so I just kept listening. And just kept listening. And I’m yet to pan for gold.” Contact Tara Gita at gita@vtlink.net. Brook, Brook Brook, Brook, tell me friend tell me of your travels I try, though I can't comprehend the gurgles and the babbles It sounds as if you're laughing What secrets do you hold? Should I keep on listening? Should I pan for gold? —Joy Seadeek 8/27/2010 Above, music and revelry in Calais. Above right, poet Joy Seadeek. Photos by Tara Gita. THE BRIDGE SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 • PAGE 9 Youth Vending Day a Hit at Capital City Farmers Market by Nat Frothingham E ach year the Capital City Farmers Market features young people during its youth vending day in late August. August 28 proved to be a hit both with participating youth and their customers. This year the farmers market partnered with Michael Wilson, an educator with the UVM extension service, to make the event even larger. The market’s youth vending day complemented the UVM extension service gardening program Wilson leads. According to Wilson, as many as 25 young people in Washington County registered for the gardening program this year. The kids brought the plants they grew in the program to three exhibits. One of these exhibits was at the Capital City Farmers Market youth day in July. Youthful entrepreneurs who participated in the youth vending day on August 28 offered items including cookies, muffins, chocolate cake and other baking products; painted rocks to be used as doorstops and paper weights; homemade pesto; homemade dog biscuits; photographs; earrings, bracelets and other jewelry; hula hoops; God’s eyes; and painted checkerboards on slate. Wilson’s daughter, Keira, with the help of other family members made fruit kabobs (fruit pieces on a long wooden stick), which sold out. Wilson appreciated the involvement of parents and school teachers. “There was a nice buzz to the market,” he observed. Next year, the Capital City Farmers Market and the 4-H program plan to continue their collaboration in working with kids. One idea under discussion is to offer a workshop for youth market entrepreneurs on how to set up their tables and market their products. Clockwise from top right: Solvieg (left) and Maia George sell their handpainted rocks, Agafia Andreyev and one of her photographs, Lila Humphries-Lepage models the earrings she makes, Bella Parento (with her paintings) and Lily Fournier (with ferns for her floral arrangemants), Anters Shonholm shows one of his God’s Eye decorations. George photo and Parento/Fournier photo by Carolyn Grodinsky; all other photos by Nat Frothingham. T.W. WOOD GALLERY PRESENTS The Shadow in the Main Gallery until October 24th Our new museum shop: The Wood Shop Hours: Tues–Sun, Noon–4 pm 828-8743 twwoodgallery.org PAGE 10 • SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 THE BRIDGE REVIEW: Back from the Land by Andy Leader by Nat Frothingham F rom his country home with a view of Hunger Mountain not far from Montpelier, poet Andy Leader writes about things small enough to hold within the cup of his hand and large enough to terrify and confound, like the “baffling immensity of life and death.” Leader writes about the mouse that appeared almost from nowhere one day when he was opening a bulkhead door to fetch a tiller for his garden. He writes also about the suddenness of change, as when a neighbor who is here today is gone tomorrow and laid to rest. And there’ve been more than a few Celebratory memorial gatherings lately In pleasant wood churches, or outdoors, Fact is, you blink twice and something’s gone. In his slender book, Back from the Land, there are 18 poems. In a voice that is quiet, gentle and disarmingly confidential, Leader invites us into his meditations. He makes us wonder about Hunger Mountain. Is it possible that climbers of as low a mountain as Hunger Mountain might have lost their way and died of hunger? In his poem, “A Bend in the Road,” we learn that Leader is himself the subject. “Who,” he asks as the poem opens, “is standing at the bend in the road/ With a paper face/A face faded from recognition?” After a few more lines we find out it is the poet himself who is fading. Reaching toward something forgotten A face, a certain angle of bearing, The reaching, the fading, The bend in the road. The cover on Leader’s book shows us a woman in front of a weathered wooden building (perhaps a barn) holding a goose. At her side is a little boy with shaggy hair wearing a red shirt. It’s a beguiling photograph. The woman in the photo is Leader’s wife, Janet and the little boy at her side is their son, Nick. As you look at the book, you ask yourself, “Who is this woman? Who is this child? Where was this photograph taken?” One compelling dimension of Andy Leader’s book that is hard to miss is the woman in the photograph, Andy’s wife, Janet. He dedicates his book to her. At least four of the 18 poems of unmistakably tender love are written to her. In the final poem—and it’s the poem that’s the title of his book—Leader meditates about the lives of a local couple, young once, outsiders once, hippies once, in part at least rejected by some of their neighbors in their adopted community. Now, they are old. And Leader makes us ask if their lives are definitive, or in his words, The last, or just the latest, wave Of the back from the land movement A ripple on some other wave Whose ever-changing tangents Roll from somewhere deeper than we know, Rising to infinity, and back again. Cover and text design for Back from the Land were by Kate Mueller of Montpelier. The book was produced by Pendragon Productions, also in Montpelier. To purchase a copy or copies, please phone Andy Leader at 223-7796 or contact him via e-mail at andyjanetl@aol.com. Queen Set starting at $ 499 Cash & Carry MATTRESS LAN ND D Waterbury-Stowe Rd. Waterbury 244-1116 46 N. Main St. Barre 479-0671 Tell them you saw it in The Bridge! THE BRIDGE SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 • PAGE 11 Mentoring Fosters Positive Relationships by Wendy Farber E very child benefits from the consistent love, support and positive guidance of an adult mentor. These benefits include staying in school, getting along better with family and friends and making healthy life choices. A good mentor isn’t concerned with whether his/her mentee has cleaned up their room or gotten all their chores done that day. A mentor’s role is to focus on encouraging the development of positive attitudes, varied interests and good relationships with friends and family. Girls/Boyz First Mentoring has been involved in children’s lives in central Vermont for the past 13 years. Originally founded by Woman Centered, a now-defunct nonprofit, the program is now sponsored by Community Connections and Central Vermont New Directions Coalition Girls/Boyz First carefully screens and trains all mentors. Mentors must provide personal references, undergo background, fingerprint and driver’s record checks, and be sincere in their commitment to the program. The initial time commitment is a weekly get-together over the course of a year; however, most pairs continue in the program for a longer time. Currently, 45 mentoring pairs participate in the program. Girls/Boyz First Mentoring has very few admission criteria for the youth that they serve. It doesn’t matter if the children are from upper, lower or middle class families; are the youngest, oldest or middle child; have one or two parents living at home with them; or are A+ or academically challenged students. What does matter is a desire on the part of a child to share their life with a caring, supportive adult and to join the program on their own accord. Children may enter the program when they are between the ages of 9 and 14. They must live in Montpelier, Worcester, Middlesex, East Montpelier, Berlin or Calais (the towns served by the Washington Central Supervisory Union). Both mentors and mentees in the program have the opportunity to experience a rich and rewarding relationship with someone who they might not otherwise have known. Eleven-year-old Selma Hadsic from Middlesex sums up her first year in the mentoring program: “My mentor is a fantastic and impressive friend. We meet once a week. Sometimes we play badminton, go swimming, make pizza, watch movies, go sledding, play games, visit the library and walk in Hubbard Park or window shop in town. Last winter, we watched the Olympics together. For the first time, I went to the public library, learned new recipes and learned how to ski. I want to get to know the outside world better and with my mentor, I have. With a mentor, you can have fun and do things that you have never done before!” For more information about Girls/Boyz First Mentoring, go to communityconnections.us or contact Wendy Farber, coordinator, at 229-4798 or wlsubaru@aol.com. Observations of Girls/Boyz First Mentors I just met my mentee yesterday. From the start, this program is very well run … doing a great job “matching” and helping mentee, mentor, parents and family feel totally comfortable in the process. I had a terrific first meeting with my mentee. We drew pictures and chatted for about 30 minutes, then turned to each other and said, “This will work!” I look forward to getting to know her and spending more time together. —Gale Rome, East Montpelier I hope that I have helped my mentee see that there are many doors that can open for her in her life. I want her to learn that things can be done differently than maybe she does them at home. Together, we look at ways to eat healthy food and maintain a neat and clean appearance. We create many things that bring happiness to each other that don’t cost much money. My mentee has come a long way since we first met. She trusts me and knows that I follow through on my word. She is comfortable knowing that she can achieve what she sets her mind to and knows that she can adapt herself to any task. She calls me to be sure that we have a new plan for meeting soon. I am rewarded knowing that she enjoys our time together. Mentoring is a great program. It gives children many opportunities to go places and do things that may not be possible in their current home setting. I try to bring out the very best in what my mentee says and does and let her know that she is important to me. I try and help her to express her own individualism and her great need to achieve. I am happy that I can be a small part in her life to help make a difference. —Helen Elder, East Montpelier E very time I get together with my mentee feels like a new one. We started off by taking walks and using the climbing wall and jungle gym on the playground at his school. I feel refreshed in my experience with him. My mentee is now able to handle transitions set before him. He is naturally entertaining to be with. Playing card games with my mentee and just riding in the car promote so much delightful personal commentary from him. This is what I believe to be so equally beneficial to both of us. Our activities together like canoeing, basketball, soccer and baseball all generate this same enthusiasm in him. I am glad to be a part of his expanding belief and imagination building. I look forward to spending more time with him. I hope life’s experiences will open ever greater imagination- and knowledge-based possibilities for him. —Nekoma Cheyenne, Worcester I have been a mentor for two years and consider it to be the most valuable use of my time since I retired from teaching. Mentoring is much more than a match with a child and an activity that takes a couple of hours a week. It began that way, but for me it has turned into a relationship with a young girl that I believe will last a lifetime. We have come to know each other’s families. We have shared many hours together doing things we both enjoy, indoors and out. It has provided me an opportunity to share some of my hobbies and to learn some of hers. Mentoring has gotten me back into school to attend concerts, plays and sporting events. It has given me a window into the world that kids are navigating these days, with the joys and serious concerns that they face. It has broadened my friendships by getting to know other mentors and mentees. Building a relationship of friendship and trust takes time. Week after week, that relationship has grown stronger as we have come to know, understand and care about each other. Like any rewarding task, mentoring takes commitment, time and patience. For me, it has been very fulfilling to know that I have had a positive impact on one young girl’s life. And, selfishly, it’s been lots of fun! —Wendy Dale, Montpelier Gale Rome with her mentee, Faith Pearson. Photo by Wendy Farber. Tell them you saw it in The Bridge! PAGE 12 • SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 THE BRIDGE Upcoming Events SPOTLIGHT: FESTIVAL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Flying Pig Footrace A 5K for adults and a 1-mile race for children to benefit Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. Children’s race, 9:30 a.m. Adult race, 10:30 a.m. Downtown Northfield. Applications available at www.nsbvt.com or at any Northfield Savings Bank branch. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Hike with the Green Mountain Club, Montpelier Section Difficult 10-mile hike on Mount Carrigain in the White Mountains. Great views. Joint event with Northeast Kingdom section. Contact leader Michael Chernick, 223-0918 or chernick5@comcast.net, for meeting time and place in either Montpelier or St. Johnsbury. New World Festival Photo by Robert Eddy Celebrating northern New England’s Celtic and French Canadian heritage with traditional music and dance. Six performance stages, children’s activities, food, crafts and more. Noon–midnight. Main Street, Randolph. $30 adults in advance, $35 adults at gate, $20 adults after 6 p.m., $10 students age 13–18, $5 children age 2–12. Tickets at www.chandler-arts.org. Visit www.newworldfestival.com for festival information. New World Festival It’s here again: Randolph’s 12-hour, LaborDay-weekend celebration of Celtic and French Canadian music and dance. Now in its 18th year, the festival offers six intimate, acoustically excellent stages showcasing traditional—and not-so-traditional—musicians. The Press Gang, The John Whelan Band and Paddy Keenan rock high-energy Irish tunes. Norouet, Claude Méthé, Dent-deLion, Les Poules à Colin and Raz-de-Marée (Tidal Wave) bring some Québecois fire. And then there’s Nightingale, Atlantic Crossing, Skellig and Scottish heartthrobs Cantrip (the band’s Dan Houghton is pictured above); contradancing with callers Nils Fredland and Adina Gordon and Morris dancing with the Midnight Capers (left); No Strings Marionnette performances and other kids’ activities, food and vendors . . . phew, we’re getting happily overloaded just writing about it. If traditional music and dance is your thing, don’t miss this festival. Sunday, September 5, noon–midnight. Downtown Randolph. $30 adults in advance, $35 adults at gate, $20 adults after 6 p.m., $10 students age 13–18, $5 children age 2–12. Tickets at www.chandler arts.org. Visit www.newworldfestival.com for festival information. Submit your event! ★ E-mail only, please. Send listings to artsup@sover.net. All listings are published free of charge. ★ We publish every first and third Thursday. Our deadline for the next issue, September 16, is 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 9. The September 2 calendar will cover three weeks: events happening September 17–October 8 (more if space allows). ★ Montpelier events have priority, then central Vermont events. In the case of classes and workshops, we give priority to new listings and one-time workshops. ★ Listings may be edited for length, style and clarity. ★ Photos (at a resolution of at least 300 dpi) are welcome for potential use in calendar spotlights. Live Music BLACK DOOR BAR & BISTRO 44 Main Street, Montpelier. All shows at 9:30 p.m. unless noted. Minimal cover. 223-7070 or www.blackdoorvt.com. Friday, September 3 Michael Chorney Sextet (with Robinson Morse, PJ Davidian, Brian Boyes, Polly Vanderputten and Sonia Hsie) LANGDON STREET CAFE 4 Langdon Street, Montpelier. Most shows by donation. 223-8667 or www.langdonstreetcafe.com. Friday, September 3 Merrily James (acoustic), 8 p.m. Katie Trautz and the Tall Boys (old-time), 9 p.m. Girls, Guns, & Glory (country), 11 p.m. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Jewish High Holiday Services: Rosh Hashanah Community service accessible for all levels of observance. 7 p.m. Vermont College chapel, Montpelier. By donation. www.bethjacobvt.org. The Interstate System Through a Small Town Middlesex native David Newhall speaks about the effects of Interstate 89 on the town of Middlesex—following its construction in 1955–1958—emphasizing homes and property removed. Middlesex Historical Society meeting follows. 7 p.m. Middlesex Town Hall. Free. Patty, 272-8074. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Jewish High Holiday Services: Rosh Hashanah Community service and tashlich accessible for all levels of observance. Community service, 9:30 a.m., Vermont College chapel, Montpelier. Tashlich, 4 p.m., North Branch Park, Elm Street, Montpelier. By donation. www.bethjacobvt.org. Business Building Blocks: Publicity Learn how to get your business known so customers will come to you. Facilitated by Margaret Ferguson, business counselor. Part of a weekly series through November 11. 6–8:30 p.m. Central Vermont Community Action conference room, 195 Route 302, Berlin. Free, but registration is required: call 476-8493 or 800-843-8397. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Jewish High Holiday Services: Rosh Hashanah Traditional service and family service accessible for all levels of observance. Traditional service, 9 a.m, Vermont College chapel, Montpelier. Family service, 9:30 a.m., Unitarian Church, Montpelier. By donation. www.bethjacobvt.org. Teen Jazz Auditions Touring company open to experienced dancers in grades 9–12.Commitment includes weekly jazz class plus two additional technique classes. Directed by Hanna Satterlee. 3:30–5:30. Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio, Langdon Street, Montpelier. Free. 229-4676 or www.cdandfs.com. Saturday, September 4 Sara Grace and the Suits (soul), 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 7 Tommy Alexander (acoustic), 7:30 p.m. Grimis (folk), 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 8 We Are the Willows (acoustic), 8 p.m. Thursday, September 9 Casimir’s Effect (jazz), 9 p.m. Friday, September 10 The Dirty Watts, Pig Whistle, and Villanelles (rock), 10 p.m. Saturday, September 11 Gillian Grassie (acoustic), 7 p.m. Zack Dupont (acoustic), 8 p.m. Bill Burrell and the Sod Busters (soul), 9:30 p.m. Sunday, September 12 Brendan Hogan (acoustic), 3 p.m. Monday, September 13 Open mic, 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 14 Information Overload with Jen Dole (trivia), 7 p.m. Comedy open mic, 9 p.m. Thursday, September 16 Grace, Bernardo, Odigie (soul), 8:30 p.m. Friday, September 17 Langdon Street Festival, Part 1 Saturday, September 18 Langdon Street Festival, Part 2 MAIN STREET BAR & GRILL 118 Main Street, Montpelier. All shows 7–10 p.m. unless noted. 225-3304. Tuesday, September 7 Abby Jenne (rock guitar) Tuesday, September 14 Peter Mayhew (guitar) POSITIVE PIE 2 22 State Street, Montpelier. www.positivepie.com. Saturday, September 4 Strength in Numbers (neo-soul funk), 10:30 p.m. • 18+, $5 Saturday, September 18 Stone Bullet (rock), 10:30 p.m. • 21+, $5
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