| VOLUME 28 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | December 19, 2024 |
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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ENOSBURG--The Opera House at Enosburg Falls hosts a special screening of Christmas Cowboy with Eliana Ghen, Armando Gutierrez, and Courtney Gains on Friday at 7 p.m. with the red carpet at 6. The new holiday story of a savvy real estate developer returning to her small hometown includes a scene filmed at the Opera House; other Vermont locations include Colchester and Jericho. Many familiar local faces in the cast mean friends or neighbors will be on the big screen. The trailer is on YouTube. FILM
Admission is by suggested donation of $10 per ticket (max 5 tickets per family). There are no online ticket sales for this event. Call the Opera House (802.933.6171) or email for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence collection spotlight is on Vermont Life photographer David Juaire. The art and fine craft cooperative features paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 38 Franklin County and surrounding area artists. It is owned and operated by the artists and sponsors. The gallery on South Main Street is open Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info. ART ON THE WALLS
The Rai$e the Roof fundraiser continues. Click here to make a donation.
JEFFERSONVILLE--Bryan Memorial Gallery features Majestic Mount Mansfield a new oil by Tom Waters. It is in the Legacy collection and on Facebook .
The gallery has exhibits of the landscape painters of New England. The main showcase in Jeffersonville is open Wednesday-Sunday 11 - 4 and the Stowe Gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 - 6. Appointments are available. Call ahead (802.644.5100) to schedule or click here for more info.
MONTGOMERY--The Montgomery Center for the Arts has an online survey. They seek your opinions about the MCA, events that interest you, the social impact of the arts, and more. The MCA is an open, community centered space that invites you to share your vision on the walls of the Gallery. Click here to take the survey.
ALBURGH--Kraemer & Kin family brewery has the Vermont Holiday Market alongside multiple farmers' markets from Burlington, Capitol City, the Champlain Islands, and Shelburne on Saturday at 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. ART FOR SALE
MISSISQUOI MUD SEASON HANDMADE MARKET (February 15)--The National Arts Honor Society will hold th Handmade Market in April to raise funds for their spring art field trip. Spaces are open to artists, makers and vintage sellers. Adults and Students are encouraged to share and sell their handmade work. Email Lindsay DiDio or click here for more info. CALL FOR ARTISTS
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
About 20 percent of Vermonters have gotten the updated COVID-19 vaccine and 29 percent have gotten a flu shot, according to the Vermont Department of Health dashboard. Franklin County residents have even lower rates of protection although now 15% have the updated COVID-19 vaccine and 25 percent have gotten a flu shot. COVID NEWS
COVID-19 is still here whether Vermonters get the shot or not. Variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continue to emerge. KP.3 and MC.16 remain the dominant circulating variant although XEC specimens are still high. The current vaccine formula protects against serious outcomes of all current variants of the virus.
Cases had been falling in April and May and were as low as 31 per week at the beginning of May, before rising at the end of summer through the early part of the fall. There was another uptick in COVID hospitalizations and deaths. Respiratory illnesses surge as we spend more time indoors for the winter. 110 cases were reported in the week ending December 7, up from 67 the week before. In total, 1,234 pandemic deaths have been reported as of December 7, meaning COVID claimed another four Vermonters in the past week.
Vermont's wastewater monitoring has shown shows that the levels of the virus ticked up slightly in South Burlington and dropped slightly in Montpelier and Essex Junction. According to the Vermont Department of Health, wastewater data shows some of the COVID-19 in the community "because an infected person sheds into the water no matter if they're sick or not." Obviously those of us on septic systems (mound systems, tanks, or cesspools) are not included in the data so the actual numbers are higher.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends multiple vaccines, including the new COVID-19 vaccine and an updated flu shot. Medicare continues to cover vaccines without cost sharing. Most adults with health insurance and all children can continue to get the vaccine without cost-sharing. Vermont's universal vaccine program covers the cost of the COVID-19 vaccines at all primary care offices for adults without health insurance or whose insurance does not cover all costs. We can still order four free COVID-19 tests at COVIDTests.gov. The tests available for order are rapid antigen, at-home tests requiring no lab drop-off. Many COVID-19 tests have longer shelf life and extended expiration dates.
My own plan remains unchanged, especially since our precautions have waned and the current variants dodge all but the most up-to-date immunity. I got the COVID, Flu, and RSV 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 everywhere 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 19 ON STAGE LIVE
SOUTH HERO--Carol Ann Jones' Holiday Music Show at the Blue Paddle Bistro this evening is already sold out at 5 - 7 p.m. It is so popular that they will reprise the show on Saturday. Click here for more info.
ESSEX JUNCTION--Sparky's hosts a Blues Night with Jim Branca, this evening at 5 - 9 p.m. The Winter Blues will continue on the first and third Thursday of each month. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents St. Albans singer and ukulele player Renee Juliette for a night of Merry Melodies live in The Room this evening at 6 p.m. Ms. Juliette Renee donates half her tips to local animal rescues. This show will benefit the Franklin County Cat Crusaders. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Thursday-Saturday, December 19-21
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap starts a weekend of music with Mitch Terriciano tonight at 6 p.m. Jerborn and Steve rocking happy hour on Friday at 5 p.m., plus two more shows live on Saturday night with WD-40 at 5 p.m., and MGB at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
Friday, December 20
COLCHESTER--The Duo and Maggie play the live and free Friday Night Live Music at the Spanked Puppy on Friday at 6 p.m. Neil Wright, John Seiden and Maggie Bromsey have fun with classic rock. 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.
WESTFORD--The Fairfax, Fletcher, Westford Band plays a Holiday Concert in Westford Common Hall on Friday at 7 p.m. Click here for more info.
Friday-Sunday, December 20-22
ST. ALBANS--The Taphouse at Mill River has shows on Friday and Saturday nights in December. Tyler Smith plays Friday at 6:30 p.m. and the Smokey Newfield Project is live on Saturday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
JERICHO--The Jericho Cafe and Tavern fills the weekend with Live Music in December. The Pet Project plays Friday. The world famous tbd performs live on Saturday night. Music starts at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. This week, Will Austin returns for another solo show on Friday and Roger Giroux plays live on Saturday night. 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.
MORRISVILLE--Moog's Place presents the John Lackard Blues Band on Friday at 8 p.m. and Dead Sessions Lite for a Winter Solstice Celebration on Saturday at 9 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Saturday, December 21
ST. ALBANS--Northwest Winter Farmers Market has moved indoors with live music, handmade crafts, locally grown food, prepared foods, free kids activities at St. Lukes Episcopal Church on Saturday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro hosts Summer Sounds favorite Carol Ann Jones' Holiday Music Show Saturday at 5 - 7 p.m. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star hosts a night with Summer Sounds favorites IncaHoots live in The Room on Saturday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ALBURGH--Kraemer & Kin family brewery has live music at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday night. Click here for more info.
Sunday, December 22
BURLINGTON--Foam Brewers presents Giovanina Bucci for an intimate set on Sunday afternoon at 1 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.
Virtual music and events continue this week. ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
The Carol Ann Jones Quartet performed a Christmas Concert at the First Baptist Church in St. Albans on December 7, on NWAccess TV, and on YouTube. The Quartet includes Ms. Jones, Will Patton, Gary Spaulding, and Brian Maple.
NWAccess TV broadcast the St. Albans Tractor Parade with tractors and other big trucks from around Franklin County lighting up downtown and on YouTube
Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton sang Christmas on Facebook on Tuesday. Follow him on Facebook for a link to this week's offerings.
Most libraries will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day or more. Bent Northrop will be closed for the holidays on December 24 through January 1. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Free Library hosts Mornings, Muffins, and Mysteries to discuss the blackly funny Slow Horses by Nick Herron this morning at 10:30 a.m. The group reads a variety of mystery genres and meets the third Thursday of each month in the Martha Dalton Meeting Room. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Eloquent Page hosts St. Albans writer Terry Lovelette to sign his second book, Down-Back, on Sunday at 11:30 a.m - 2:30 p.m. His collection of essays and poems weaves the past and present in an "intimate, nature-fueled birdsong." 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 ... |
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Music!Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County |
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