| VOLUME 29 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | January 23, 2025 |
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.
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council free Art Journaling Group meets in person at the Swanton Free Public Library on a new night on Monday at 5:30 p.m. IN THE SAC
Art journals, junk journals, art pages and more are on the table and make for fun for artists, writers, scrap bookers, and more. The group meets to share ideas and to take time to create. Gatherings are traditionally held at the library on the fourth Monday of every month. If you need supplies to get started, check out the library's Makerspace or click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence collection spotlight returns to VTSteelLady Rebecca Nase Chomyn whose work includes sculptures for people, wineries, galleries, and Burning Man as well as the illustrated children's book Who Paints the World. Find her working and painting at the gallery "but I'm mostly here on Fridays." 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
JEFFERSONVILLE--Bryan Memorial Gallery features Debbie Peate's surprising bird heads to "brighten up a chilly winter." They are in the Stowe Gallery and on Facebook .
The gallery has exhibits of the landscape painters of New England. The main showcase in Jeffersonville is closed until March. The Stowe Gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 - 5. Appointments are available. Call ahead (802.644.5100) to schedule or click here for more info.
NORWICH and ONLINE--Vermont Humanities continues the weekly Snapshot Series with documentary film maker Tommy Hyde screening and discussing his film Underdog at Norwich Public Library and online on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Optimistic Vermont dairy farmer Doug Butler dreams of dog mushing in Alaska. "Register for this free event" for the link to the stream. Call Vermont Humanities (802.262.2626) or click here or here to register and for more info. HUMANITIES
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild has two workshops this week. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Patrick McAllister will teach a live model figure drawing class at the MAG on Friday at 6 p.m. The cost is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Students should bring their own paper and drawing supplies. Click here for more info.
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.
About 22 percent of Vermonters have gotten the updated COVID-19 vaccine (not much change from last week) and 32 percent have gotten a flu shot, according to the Vermont Department of Health dashboard. Franklin County residents have even lower rates of protection: only 17% have the updated COVID-19 vaccine and 28 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. XEC remains the dominant circulating variant while KP.3 and MC specimens continue to increase and LB.1 was recorded growing. The current vaccine formula protects against serious outcomes of all current variants of the virus.
163 cases were reported in the week ending January 11, down from 192 the week before. In total, 1,242 pandemic deaths have been reported as of January 11, meaning COVID claimed yet another Vermonter in the past week.
Vermont's wastewater monitoring has shown shows that the levels of the virus have spiked significantly in Montpelier and are rising in the other test stations. 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 COVID-19 vaccine, an updated flu shot, and RSV protection. 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, January 23 ON STAGE LIVE
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro usually has live music for Acoustic Thursday this evening at 5 - 7 p.m. Click here for more info.
ESSEX--The Double E hosts the Vermont Blues Society Annual Meeting Concert in the Lounge on Thursday at 6 p.m. Doors at 5:30. Doug Whynott will begin the evening. Bob Stannard will come out of retirement to take the stage with those Dangerous Blues Men with special guests Gina Coleman and Stephen Kiernan. Admission is $15. Find them on Facebook for tickets and more info.
JEFFERSONVILLE--The Village Tavern presents Eric Bushey for his first solo gig of 2025 this evening at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
MORRISVILLE--Soulmate Brewing Company presents Tim Brick playing Vermont country live and acoustic on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday, January 24
COLCHESTER--Get jerborned as Jerborn and Axe rock January hard in the live and free Friday Night Live Music at the Spanked Puppy on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents Chris & Issy for a night of live music in The Room on Friday at 6 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.
SOUTH HERO--Carol Ann Jones plays a special solo show for Wine Down Friday inside the tasting room at Snow Farm Vineyard on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The Winter Wine Down Music Series continues inside the wineries with well known musicians, wine, and food every Friday through March 28. Click here for the menu and more info.
ENOSBURG--The Opera House at Enosburg Falls presents Summer Sounds favorites the Tenderbellies on Friday at 7 p.m. Doors at 6:30. The string band blends Americana, bluegrass, new grass, jazz and rock. Their latest album, One By One, was released in 2022.
Admission is $15. A crockpot dinner (by cash donation) and a cash only bar will be available. The Opera House is also accepting non-perishable food donations for the local food shelf. Click here for tickets and more info.
BURLINGTON--Nectars presents Will Evans with Troy Millette on Friday at 9 p.m. Doors at 8. Admission is $25. Click here for tickets and more info.
Friday-Sunday, January 24-26
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap starts the weekend Friday evening with Uncle Jimmy at 5 p.m. followed by the Hitmen blasting in at 9 p.m., then two more shows live on Saturday night with Charlie Rice at 5 p.m., and Jonny Mop for late night music starting at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
JERICHO--The Jericho Cafe and Tavern fills the weekend with Live Music in January. The Lloyd Tyler Band plays Friday. The John Daly Band 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 they host John Geno on Friday and Rockin' Ron Gagnon 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.
Saturday, January 25
FRANKLIN--The Dick Wright Pub presents Jim Branca Live at the Pub on Saturday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Taphouse at Mill River presents Shallow and Pedantic (Sam Averbuck and Brian Maple) live on Saturday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ESSEX--The Double E presents the Arty LaVigne Band in the Lounge on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6:30. Admission is $20-25. Click here or find them on Facebook for tickets and more info.
Sunday, January 26
KEY COLONY BEACH, FL--The KCB Community Association Concerts in Sunset Park series begins with the Brothers of Others live in the new tiki in Sunset Park on Sunday at 4 p.m. Free. Click here for more info.
Virtual music and events continue this week. ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
NW Access TV broadcast the Swanton Enhancement Project Meeting of January 9 on YouTube.
The Strings Of Andalusia Spanish Guitar Music Fest is an album from the heart of southern Spain. It blends traditional flamenco styles with modern, soulful interpretations on YouTube
Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton sang Elvis Presley's "If I Can Dream" on YouTube in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A friend of his had published a post asking "Where are the people who will stand and speak for unity and peace?"
FAIRFIELD--Franklin County Photogs with Harry Goldhagen hosts a virtual Zoom group at Bent Northrop Memorial Library on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The group meets monthly to share and learn about photography. Join the Zoom Meeting with passcode: 527511 or Click here for the Zoom link and more info. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
HIGHGATE--The Highgate Library and Community Center continues the Muffin Monday Senior Social Hour on Monday at 10 a.m. The program is a community connect to brainstorm opportunities for senior support. Each week will also include coffee and tea, as well as fresh pastries. The program will run every Monday morning and is free for anyone 55 and older. Registration is mandatory as space is limited. Call the Library (802.868.3970) to register and for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Eloquent Page Mystery Book Club returns to the woods surrounding Three Pines in the Eastern Townships for Still Life, the debut novel by Louise Penny, on Wednesday at 6 p.m. This is the beginning of the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels set in a place "so free from crime it doesn't even have its own police force." Find them on Facebook for more info.
SWANTON--The Swanton Free Public Library hosts a special Fair Play Book Discussion on Saturday at 1 p.m. Writer Eve Rodsky identifies the 100 main tasks in any domestic partnership and then divides those tasks fairly. Free copies of the book are available at the library. 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 ... |
||
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 © 2025 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. |