| VOLUME 27 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | December 14, 2023 |
ArtBits always features a calendar of the goings on of Franklin County artists. Check out these events around Franklin County. Each issue includes the entire text of our weekly newspaper column. STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T MISS
Franklin County's arts and music gatherings bring new opportunities, gossip, "show-and-tell" and occasional workshops. There are also booked and acoustic Open Mic Nights that feature music, readings, and more from the best new artists in Vermont.
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ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Recreation Department presents a special Polar Express evening at the Welden Theater on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Children are encouraged to wear pajamas and will be treated to hot cocoa and cookies. This is a Rec Event, so all tickets must be purchased through the Rec Department website. Click here , click on Programs and find the Polar Express in the "Events" column for tickets and more info. FILM
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence Gallery features Twisted Perception Metal Works on Facebook and in the gallery. A.I.R. offers paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 40 Franklin County and surrounding area artists. It is owned and operated by the artists and sponsors. The gallery on South Main Street is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info. ART ON THE WALLS
JEFFERSONVILLE--How much snow is on the ground at your home? Bryan Memorial Gallery features Melanie Levitt's painting Three Trees on Facebook and in the Gems collection in the gallery.
The Bryan Gallery is open Wednesday - Sunday from 11 - 4 or by appointment. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star Brewing Company holds the weekly Maker's Market in the Taproom on Sunday from 1 - 3 p.m. The pop-up booths host local crafters and makers every Sunday afternoon. Find them on Facebook for more info. ART FOR SALE
MORRISVILLE--River Arts hosts the in-person, December "Paint & Sip: Starry Skies" with Yvette "Evie" Mason on Friday at 6 p.m. Explore mixing, blending, lifting, blotting, painting background and shadows, and drying and paint from a photo or follow along with the instructor. All necessary supplies will be provided. ART YOU CREATE
The cost is $55. Click here to enroll and for more info.
SWANTON--The Swanton Library will make Felted Snowman Ornaments on Saturday at 11 a.m. Local creative Dot will show all the secrets of needle felting. Click here to register or for more info.
HIGHGATE--The Highgate Library and Community Center offers Curbside Craft: Snowflake on Wednesday at 10 a.m. The blue snowflake will use a few unusual crafting items. Email Adah for more info.
MILTON--Social Sundays continue at the Milton Artists' Guild Art Center with free weekly art classes for families at MAG on Sunday at 1 p.m. Each week offers a different project. Stay for 30 minutes or the whole two hours. Click here for more info. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
ST. ALBANS--Awaken Yoga and Creative Arts Studio host Santa Baby Beginner's Burlesque Chair Dance on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. This form of burlesque is "fun, easy to access and makes you feel sexy, joyful and carefree." The cost is $20. Find them on Facebook for tickets and more info.
MORRISVILLE--River Arts has two workshops this week.
The Mindful Art Series features Creative Flow in watercolor this evening at 5:30 - 8 p.m. Creative flow in watercolor is all about letting go of control and allowing the paint to flow freely on the paper, what my mom, Mary D. Harper, called "smushing." Tuition is $30. Click here to register and for more info.
The Open Studio Figure Drawing Marathon offers a two-day session on Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Bring your charcoal, graphite, conte crayons, paints and/or clay. The Drawing Marathon will feature nude and clothed models. Saturday morning will follow the traditional session with a nude model for a series of short poses culminating in a 45 minute pose. After lunch the afternoon session will be one 3 hour long pose with a clothed/costumed model. Sunday offers two 3 hour long sessions, with a nude model in the morning and a clothed/costumed model in the afternoon and will close with a wine reception. River Arts limits nude sessions to ages 16 and older. The cost is $60 for one day or $100 for both with pre-registration preferred. Click here to register and for more info.
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations both increased last week. The virus is still here. COVID NEWS
The weeks after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's mean more Vermonters require medical help for COVID infections. As of November 29, there were 47 hospitalizations statewide, up from 36 the prior week. That includes eight new admissions in Franklin County, a decrease from 21 the prior week. There were six more COVID-related deaths reported statewide in the week ending November 25 for a pandemic total of 1,067 in Vermont.
Vaccines are available for COVID, the Flu, and RSV, the three main viruses that cause people to end up in a hospital in the Fall and Winter respiratory virus season. According to the state COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Dashboard just 12% of Franklin County residents have received the new COVID vaccine, trailed only by Essex and Orange Counties. That compares to about 17% of Vermonters who have had the latest COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID vaccines are 100% free to everyone 6 months and older living in the United States, regardless of immigration or insurance status. The free shots are available via health insurance, Medicare, and through federally qualified health centers, pharmacies participating in the federal Bridge Program, or district health department offices. Free masks are also available at many of the same locations. Pharmacies in Vermont may now give COVID-19 shots to kids ages 3 and older. Click here for more info.
The Vermont Center for Independent Living has COVID-19 and flu vaccines and some RSV vaccine as drive-through or in-home vaccination for anyone who has difficulty getting to or using a community vaccination location, including children. Click here for more info.
Every U.S. household may order four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to home. The state and many municipalities also still have home antigen tests, available in libraries and town halls or food pantries. Click here for more info.
Some health plans will also offer partial coverage of COVID-19 treatments such as Paxlovid but that will be plan dependent. As always, check with your insurer for specific information on your plan.
The Health Department still recommends following best practices. Call 855.722.7878 or visit healthvermont.gov for more info about the first or second dose and for booster shots of the vaccine.
My own plan remains unchanged, especially since our precautions have waned and the new COVID variant dodges our current immunity. I got the COVID and Flu shots, and the boosters, and I still take precautions because neither vaccine nor "natural immunity" is 100% foolproof. I wash my hands. I double mask with a genuine N95 mask (not a bandana and not a "chin strap") plus a surgical mask where ever I can't control the airflow. It isn't much of a burden and it mostly protects me from all the people without masks I see in stores and concerts.
Thursday, December 14 ON STAGE LIVE
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro Annual Holiday Show stars Rebecca Padula and Claire Innes for Christmas classics and carols this evening at 5 - 7 p.m. Click here for more info.
SOUTH BURLINGTON--Higher Ground hosts the 11th annual Home for the Holidays Concert with Troy Millette & the Fire Below, the Craigs, the Owl Stars, and Chris & Erica this evening at 6:30 p.m. as a benefit for Northwestern Counseling & Support Services and CHILL Foundation. Doors at 6. Admission is $15 in advance or $18 day of show.
Thursday-Saturday, December 14-16
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap starts off another weekend of music with Whiskey on the Windowsill tonight at 5:30 p.m. and King Me on Friday at 5 p.m. They usually have late night music on Friday starting at 9 p.m. plus two more shows live on Saturday night but the schedule was not available at press time. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
Friday, December 15
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents the Nobby Reed Project for a night of live music in The Room on Friday at 6 p.m. Great music and no cover charge. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Cooie Sings a mix of traditional tunes, popular songs, and originals in the lounge at Off The Rails at One Federal on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series often has live performances on Friday about 6:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday-Sunday, December 15-16
COLCHESTER--Live Music in December fills the Spanked Puppy with music this weekend. Jerborn and Axe kick it off on Friday at 6 p.m. followed by Dave Miller on Saturday at 5 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. This week Cooper, Bob Recupero, returns on Friday and Roger Giroux wraps it all up on Saturday. Music starts about 6:30 p.m. Call 802.524.1405 or find them on Facebook for more info. Click here to book a reservation or to visit the art on the walls.
Saturday, December 16
ST. ALBANS--The Taphouse at Mill River hosts the Smokey Newhouse Project in the lounge on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. SNP is at the Taphouse every third Saturday evening. Find them on Facebook for more info.
BURLINGTON--Foam Brewers presents their third annual Holiday Extravaganza on Saturday at 5 p.m. The small, independent craft brewery has live music most days. Jazz Thursdays feature some of the Queen City's best jazz musicians. Times vary. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The First Congregational Church hosts a free Open Mic and Coffeehouse on Sunday at 7 - 9 p.m. There will be music, spoken word, story telling, skits to sing along, listen, and enjoy plus refreshments and snacks. There is a grand piano in the performance space and The church will be open for practice this evening at 6:30 - 8 p.m. Call Greg Beeman (802.324.0308) or find them on Facebook for more info.
Next Week
PLAN AHEAD--Jason Corbiere will be at the Depot with Dave Keller, Ira Friedman, and Rob Mehan for Blue Christmas on Thursday, December 21 and at Nectar's for the Great Blue Christmas Blowout Bash with Jimmy Branca, Chicago Tom Buckley, Dave Mitchell, Missisquoi Slim, and an array of Vermont's Blues who's whos on Saturday, December 23.
HIGHGATE--The Highgate Library and Community Center hosts their Adult Virtual Book Club with Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt online on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The book explores friendship, reckoning, and hope between a widow and a giant Pacific octopus. Email Adah to register and for more info. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
ST. ALBANS--The Eloquent Page has two events this week.
Doris Sumner will sign her memoir, Life at Camp, at the Eloquent Page on Sunday at 12 noon - 1 p.m. The Milton resident served 36 years and retired as Vermont National Guard Equal Opportunity and Diversity Manager. "I do love the military," she said. She says the Guard needs more women. Find them on Facebook for more info.
The Holiday Book Hunt from the Eloquent Page has taken over Downtown St. Albans. Search a dozen locations for wrapped books, find the letter on each book, and claim a prize at the Eloquent Page. The contest runs through the end of the month. Find them on Facebook for the list of stores and for more info.
SWANTON--Swanton Library hosts the monthly book club, But I Progress, on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The readings focus on writers who "identify as women, with particular attention to Women of Color and nonbinary women, who are under represented in literature. Today women's works are priced lower, more seldom purchased, and not receiving proper credit." There will be snacks, reviews, discussion, ideas, and good conversation. Click here for more info.
ArtBits features a quick weekly peek at library events in and around Franklin County. That popular feature has a page of its own at the Franklin County Bookshelf here on the AAC site at AllArtsCouncil.org/books. We also take an occasional peek at the bookshelf or night stand of the folks you know in and around Franklin County. Those reviews can be found on the ArtBits Bookshelf.
Good News!There are so many events around the region that we miss some of them.Be sure to check these calendars for what's happening near you ... |
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Music!Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County |
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Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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