Comics create community at Brooks Library
BRATTLEBORO - The Vermont Humanities 2022–23 season of First Wednesdays lectures continues at Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St., on Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., when graphic novelist Marek Bennett presents “Drawing Community: Creating Comics from Shared Stories.”
Using examples from his work with the Vermont Reads 2022 book The Most Costly Journey (El Viaje Más Caro) and his Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby series, the cartoonist explores how the act of cartooning can help us forge connections, build empathy, and challenge set definitions of identity and belonging.
Bennett leads discovery-based Comics Workshops for all ages throughout New England and beyond. He is the recipient of the 2021 New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award for Art Education. His website is MarekBennett.com.
The program is free and open to the public and is accessible to people in wheelchairs. The Brattleboro lecture series is funded through the generous support of the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library. For more information, visit brookslibraryvt.org or call 802-254-5290.
'The Stuff of Dreams' to screened in Westminster West
WESTMINSTER - The 1977 documentary, The Stuff of Dreams, will be shown Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Westminster West.
The film, made by Alan Dater, John Scaglotti, John Carroll, and Susan Dater, is about a community production of Shakespeare's The Tempest that was performed by the Monteverdi players at Sweet Pond in Guilford. During the 1970s, visionary director John Carroll convinced people at the Packer Corners commune where he lived that they could act.
The Monteverdi Players staged lavish public outdoor theater productions. Fenwick, the sculptor, created a boat and a floating island for the production. Many local dancers, musicians, artists, and actors from the community connected to Packer Corners created the elaborate production.
In addition to showing how the production was created, the film includes interviews with Guilford neighbors about their response to the arrival of the artistic community which formed the Monteverdi Players.
Admission is by donation. After the film, Alan Dater will be on hand to talk about the film and answer any questions. Come early to enjoy popcorn, cider, and baked goods, which will be on sale. Masks are very encouraged.
Transformational forest retreat at Manitou
WILLIAMSVILLE - At the confluence of the full moon and the end of Daylight Saving Time - Nov. 6, from 2:30–5 p.m.- the Manitou Project will host a transformational energy forest retreat and fire ceremony.
According to a news release, this invitation from Manitou “to share the land as teacher will use forest mandalas as a way to explore, rediscover, affirm, and playfully transform heavy energy for release and healing. From found objects in the woods that speak to us, Mandalas we individually create form suggestive patterns that open doors for us to see life differently. It's a bridge to the sacred that shifts energy in a transformational practice, capped by a fire ceremony to celebrate release of our heavy energy and restoration of the light.”
The journey guide will be Marianna Jacobs, local energy healer with wide-ranging experience supporting the discovery of sacred space in nature. The suggested donation $25, pre-registration not required, but they ask that people do let them know if they're coming at mmayer92@gmail.com.
Local astronomer explores unusual phenomena in RFPL talk
BELLOWS FALLS - On Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m., the Rockingham Free Public Library hosts Chester architect and astronomer Claudio Véliz, who will discuss some recent, unusual observations that researchers have been unable to explain.
In 2015, data from the Kepler space telescope regarding one star, for example - in the constellation of Cygnus - was observed as being extremely abnormal. The light patterns were seen to fit no known patterns with which observers were familiar. It was initially dismissed as probably faulty data. But thorough examinations and reviews of the methodology for the observations confirmed the data was clean.
Since then, other stars, some with even more peculiar characteristics, have been detected. Astronomers are now becoming a bit concerned as to why this growing number of targets cannot be explained by known causes. Véliz will describe some very strange case studies of exoplanet detection and a handful of explanations - including the possibility for non-natural ones, which he says researchers now admit they cannot entirely dismiss.
Véliz has studied astronomy and physics at Santa Fe College, the University of Florida, and the University of Wisconsin. He's worked and lectured at New York's Hayden Planetarium, Columbia University's Department of Astronomy and Castleton University. He currently teaches astrophysics in the CALL program at Keene State College. He was co-founder and president of the Southern Vermont Astronomy Group. He also owns and operates an award-winning architecture firm in Chester.
This program is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Library at 802-463-4270, email programming@rockinghamlibrary.org or stop by the library at 65 Westminster Street.
Leland & Gray Players present 'The Addams Family'
TOWNSHEND - The Leland & Gray Players return with another hit musical, The Addams Family, on Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 10–12, with shows at 7 p.m., plus a 1 p.m. Saturday matinee.
After the sold-out run of Mamma Mia, The Players said in a news release that they “couldn't be more excited for this show - bringing back in-person shows, leaving behind the masks, and returning the spotlight to your favorite classic characters.”
The show follows the iconic Addams family and also adds in new characters like the Beinikes. Both families try to navigate love and lies while singing catchy songs like “Crazier Than You,” “Pulled,” “Full Disclosure,” and “When You're an Addams.” Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.
Wreath workshop offers early-bird discount
CHESTER - Reservations are coming in for the wreath-decorating workshops scheduled for Nov. 17–19 in Willard Hall at St. Luke's Church, 313 Main Street. Those who register and pay by Thursday, Nov. 10, may take advantage of a $5 discount on the price of $50 per wreath, the same price as last year.
At the workshops, participants choose from an array of especially collected greens, berries, nuts, and other natural materials, bows, and different embellishments they add to their pre-made evergreen wreath. Wire, glue guns, and other supplied equipment “will make the decorating easy and successful,” say organizers. Open to the public, the workshops will benefit both the church and the Chester Conservation Committee's youth environmental camp scholarships.
For additional information, registration, or flier to share, contact Lillian Willis at 802-875-1340 or lbwillisct@comcast.net, or visit stlukesipiscopalvt.org.
Chester-Andover Family Center hosts Empty Bowl dinner
CHESTER - The Chester-Andover Family Center (CAFC) will hold its fourth annual Empty Bowl Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., at the American Legion Hall, 635 VT Route 103. The soup meal is by donation and includes a handpainted ceramic bowl. All donations will support their food shelf and financial assistance programs.
Diners will also enjoy live music by guest folk singer Vinnie DiBernardo, a Silent Auction, and Raffle Baskets. New this year is a fashion show featuring locals “rocking” CAFC Thrift Shop apparel. For more information, contact the center at cafc302@gmail.com or call and leave a message at 802-875-3236.