| VOLUME 26 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | December 8, 2022 |
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.
... FROM THE ARTBITS DESK ...
E-Mail Delivery
Sign up to receive the free weekly ArtBits
newsletter by e-mail
or by RSS feed.
The First Baptist Church of St. Albans hosts the Carol Ann Jones Quartet in their annual Holiday Concert on Saturday (changed from the Saint Albans Museum). HOLIDAY MUSIC
On Sunday, the Meeting House on the Green hosts a Holiday Song and Celebration with candlelight, carols, cocoa, and cookies; the Opera House at Enosburg Falls presents the Enosburg Town Band Community Concert and Sing Along; and Towne Meeting performs a Happy Holidays Concert in the Old Base Chapel.
Click here for more info.
Governor Phil Scott launched the final $40 million Community Recovery and Revitalization Program to support capital investment projects. CRRP grants are available to for-profit, nonprofit, and municipal applicants for projects that assist industries most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic such as arts and entertainment, hospitality, agriculture, and educational services. Click here for details of the program, webinar recordings, and the application. PANDEMIC NEWS
CDC director Rochelle Walensky and others report that increasing levels of COVID-19, flu and, respiratory syncytial virus are creating a "tridemic," leading experts urge people to wear masks indoors and on public transit.
The Vermont Department of Health reported November 30 that hospitalizations fell to 38 from 41 last week, as overall COVID-19 cases fell again to 273 from 293. COVID-19 infections remain at a "Low" level for the fifth week
Vermont's new overall COVID-19 cases rose to 335 statewide last week, up from 299 the week before. Franklin County's case load stood at 49 cases in the 14 days ending Saturday. Eleven Vermonters died in November for a pandemic total of 770. Franklin County has lost 71 residents to the disease to date, but none in November.
Because Vermont relies on self reporting, the number of actual cases is higher than the Department of Health finds. You can report self-test results by following instructions on your test kit to automatically provide your results to your local health department or with the Vermont COVID-19 Self-Test Result Reporting Form. If you test positive, stay home and isolate for five days or longer. You can leave your home on day six if your symptoms have improved and you have had no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers.
Take an at-home test if you begin having symptoms like fever, sore throat, runny nose, or loss of taste or smell, or at least five days after you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, or if you plan a get together with people who are at risk of severe disease or may not be up to date on their vaccines. COVID.gov has links for at-home tests at retailers and pharmacies, insurance reimbursement for at-home tests, and the 20,000 no-cost antigen and PCR COVID-19 test sites nationwide. Most major chains including Walgreens and Price Chopper locally should have free N95 masks.
People keep getting sick, mostly because they aren't taking precautions. Only 68% of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19, and just half of those have gotten their first boost. Only about 30% of adults and eligible children have received a flu vaccine.
Whether you have contracted and recovered from this coronavirus or haven't yet received a booster or even if you have done it all, immunity has waned for many of us. That lowered resistance leads to infections and increased transmission of the virus. To date, 16% of eligible Vermonters over the age of 12 have gotten the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine. That's compared to just 4% nationally. Here's my own advice. Get the COVID shot(s), get the booster(s), and take precautions, particularly if you are inside with other people--that still means wearing a mask indoors.
No vaccine is 100% foolproof. Wash your hands. Keep wearing an N95 mask where you can't control the airflow around you until we reach the same herd immunity we have for smallpox and once had but lost for measles because so many parents refused to vaccinate their kids. Bonus: it will also help protect you from pollen, summer colds, and the winter flu.
Call 855.722.7878 or visit healthvermont.gov for more info about the first or second dose and for booster shots of the vaccine. You can also walk-in at Costco, CVS, Hannaford, Price Chopper/Market 32, Rite Aid, Shaw's, Walgreens, or Walmart, or get an appointment with CVS, Kinney Drugs, Walgreens, or UVMMC Outpatient Pharmacies. Providers and pharmacies must give vaccines at no cost to the patient.
ENOSBURG FALLS--The Enosburg Actions PTO Craft Fair comes to Enosburg Elementary School on Saturday at 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. They will have crafters and homemade items plus a special guest. It is their last craft fair till spring. Find them on Facebook for more info. ART and GOODIES FOR SALE
ST. ALBANS--The Collins Perley Annual Holiday Craft Show fills the complex with holiday gift tins, paintings, painted sap buckets and more on Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
FAIRFAX--Fairfax Parks and Recreation hosts a Hand-Me-Down Holiday event at the Community Center on Sunday at 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. This new town event will "help clean out those play rooms, and help others bring home some great old-new presents." Find them on Facebook or Email with questions.
ONLINE--The 33rd Womens Festival of Crafts has gone virtual to allow shopping directly with about 100 artisans online through December 16. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
MORRISVILLE--River Arts hosts the in-person, December "Sip N' Slurry: Holiday Mugs and Bells" with Chiara Keeling as the pottery twist on a Paint n' Sip on Friday at 6 p.m. Craft functional and sculptural mugs while learning hand building techniques. ART YOU CREATE
The cost is $45. Click here to enroll and for more info.
SHELDON--The Abbey has Flowers By Jenny to make a holiday centerpiece and bring home a little holiday cheer in the Farm Room for holiday fun this evening at 6 p.m.
The cost is $25 per person. Call 802.868.7226 to reserve a spot.
JEFFERSONVILLE--Tis the Season for Giving...at the Bryan Memorial Gallery which is hosting the Giving Tree through December 20. They "ask that you spread a little extra holiday cheer for those in need by bringing new unwrapped toys and/or a variety of non-perishables to the Gallery." All new unwrapped toys will be donated to Toys for Kids of Vermont. All non-perishables will be donated to the Cambridge Community Food Shelf. As a thank you, they offer 10% off purchases during your visit (including artwork). GIVING TREE
The Gallery is open Thursday-Sunday 11 - 4 or by appointment. Click here for more info.
ONLINE--The Abenaki Arts & Education Center welcomes writer Joe Bruchac for a free discussion about his new book A Year of Moons: Stories from the Adirondack Foothills on Zoom on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. The collection of essays reflects on the rhythms of the land, the lunar cycles of the year, the plants and animals that surround us, and the connections that link humans, animals and the land. HUMANITIES
Advanced registration is required for this Zoom session. Click here for more info and to register.
ONLINE--The Vermont Humanities Council hosts Suspicious Minds: Conspiracy Theory Explained with cultural critic Mark Dery on the Vermont Humanities Zoom channel on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The discussion will dig into the history, causes, and proliferation of conspiracy theories. Mr. Dery will explore their appeal, social media's role in spreading them, and the threat they pose to democracy and to the very notions of objective fact and nonpartisan truth. Click here for the Zoom link and more info.
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild will host a Paint and Sip: Holiday Ornaments with Linda Oakes Carvalho at MAG this evening at 6 p.m. Supplies are included. BYOB. The cost is $40 for members or $45 for non-members. Click here for more info and to reserve a space. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
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 event offers a different project. Stay for 30 minutes or the whole two hours. Admission is free but registration is required. Click here for free tickets and more info.
Here's my own plan with over one million U.S. deaths and as our precautions wane. I got the COVID and Flu shots, and the booster, and I take precautions because no vaccine is 100% foolproof. I wash my hands. I double mask with a genuine N95 mask (not a bandana and not a "chin strap") and 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. ON STAGE LIVE
Thursday-Saturday, December 8-10
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap starts off another weekend of music with the Shane Murley Band tonight at 6 p.m. two shows Friday night, She Was Right at 5 p.m., and then Nighthawk for late night music starting at 9 p.m., plus two more shows live on Saturday night with Mitch & Devon at 5 p.m., and Mirage starting at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
Friday, December 9
SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series continues in the Pub on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Martin family and the Depot host a Karaoke Night fundraiser for Smiles for Simon on Friday night at 7 p.m. The event will raise money for an autism service dog for 12-year old Simon. A silent auction and a 50/50 raffle will also be held. Light snacks will be provided and there is a cash bar available. Click here for more info about the program. The cover charge is $10 at the door.
Friday-Saturday, December 9-10
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. 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 10
ENOSBURG--The Opera House at Enosburg Falls presents a family production of A Christmas Carol, written and directed by Ernie Hemingway, on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Admission is $10 per person or $5 for those 5 and under and over 60. Tickets are on sale at the door.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents Toast for a night of live music in The Room on Saturday at 6 p.m. Eric Bresnick, guitars and vocals; Corey Many, drums and vocals; Billy Boom, bass and vocals; and new lead vocalist Amanda Judith Rock form one of Vermont's longest-lasting predominantly-cover bands. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The First Baptist Church of St. Albans hosts Summer Sounds favorite Carol Ann Jones' annual Holiday Concert with Will Patton, Dono Schabner, and Gary Spaulding, on Saturday at 7 p.m. Doors at 6:30. A broken elevator at the Saint Albans Museum meant a change of venue for the concert and sing-along. The Church is at 29 Congress Street.
Ms. Jones' quartet plans "an evening of uplifting folk music and sing-alongs." Admission is $15 in advance/$18 at the door. Tickets are available at stamuseum.org or at the door. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Sunday, December 11
ST. ALBANS--14th Star and Grazers continue the Sunday Brunch Sessions: Mad Mojo live in The Room on Sunday at 1 - 3 p.m. for high energy blues, rock and funk. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ENOSBURG--The Opera House at Enosburg Falls presents the Enosburg Town Band Community Concert and Sing Along on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Admission is free.
ST. ALBANS--Church Street Sounds of the Season presents Va-et-Vient in the First Congregational Church on Sunday at 3 p.m. Carol Reed, Suzanne Germain, and Lausanne Allen offer French music of all regions with voice, violins, guitar, flutes, pipes, percussion, and mandolins.
Concerts are usually on the second Sunday of the month. Admission is free and donations are joyfully accepted. Find them on Facebook for more info.
PLATTSBURGH--Summer Sounds favorites Towne Meeting will perform a Happy Holidays Concert in the Old Base Chapel on Sunday at 3 p.m. Plan to sing along for an enjoyable afternoon. Admission is $10 for Adults and $5 for 12 and under.
EAST FAIRFIELD--Bundle up. The Fairfield Community Center hosts a Holiday Song and Celebration at the Meeting House on the Green on Sunday at 4 p.m. The seasonal song and celebration will have candlelight, carols, cocoa, and cookies. It is free and open to the public. Call 802.827.3130 or Click here for more info.
Tuesday, December 13
SOUTH BURLINGTON--Higher Ground presents Thursday on Tuesday in the Ballroom at 7:45 p.m. Doors at 7. The celebration of Full Collapse of Cursive after 20 years of Domestica has special guest Anthony Green. Admission is $30 in advance or $35 day of show. Click here for tickets and more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Eloquent Page will hold a book release party for local writer Sara R Stewart's newest book, My Divided Heart, on Saturday at 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ms. Stewart works in the business travel industry and "writes intelligent romance novels with an erotic twist" at night. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
Find them on Facebook 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 ... |
||
Music!Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County |
||
Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
email us
|
This article may also have originally
been published in the traditional print
media. It is
Copyright © 2022 by Richard B. Harper. All rights reserved.
Archival material is provided as-is. Links are not necessarily maintained
(if a link in this article fails, try Google.com or your favorite search engine). Thanks to recent misuse of copyright material on the Internet by individuals and archival firms alike, we emphasize that your rights to this article are limited to viewing it and printing it for personal use only. You must receive explicit permission from the All Arts Council and the author before reprinting or redistributing this article in any medium. Visit our Trademarks and Copyright page for more information. |