| VOLUME 29 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | January 30, 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.
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence collection spotlight is on potter and next week's feature artist Marissa Mcfadden. 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 Snow In Town in oil, a colorful take on the cold days, by George Van Hook. It is in the Stowe gallery and on Facebook .
The gallery has exhibits of the landscape painters of New England. The Stowe Gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 - 5. The main showcase in Jeffersonville will reopen in March. Appointments are available. Call ahead (802.644.5100) to schedule or click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Awaken Yoga & Creative Arts Studio and Kreations by Katherine have two paint parties scheduled this weekend. The Northern Lights Paint Night is a magical scene on Friday at 5:30 p.m. The event includes a black light bulb to take home. Click here for Northern Lights tickets. The Winter Deer Paint Party is a peaceful winter scene on Saturday at 12 noon. Click here for Winter Deer tickets. ART YOU CREATE
Each event includes all painting supplies and instruction as well as snacks. Responsible BYOB is permitted. The cost is $40 each.
ESSEX--The Champlain Valley Exposition hosts the 8th annual Winter Renaissance Faire with performance troupes, singers, musicians, and dancers, medieval living history, 85 artisans and craft vendors, all indoors on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Find them on Facebook for tickets and more info. FESTIVALS AND SHOWS
ST. ALBANS and ONLINE--The Saint Albans Museum SAM Talks hosts A History of the Concept of Race with William Edelglass from the Vermont Humanities Speakers Bureau as a virtual lunchtime talk today at 12 noon. This event takes place online. Email or click here to register for the link to the stream and for more info. HUMANITIES
JEFFERSONVILLE--Vermont Humanities travels through Canada with four books that make manifest Canada's cultural diversity, starting with the memoir Klee Wyck by Emily Carr at Varnum Memorial Library on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Canadian artist tells of her experiences among First Nations people and cultures through short sketches. Click here for more info.
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild has two workshops this week. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Carolyn Kittell leads a class in Needle Felting at MAG on Saturday at 1 p.m. The class is for anyone interested in creating with wool. The cost is $35 and all materials are included. Click here for more info.
Social Sundays continue 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.
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council will hold a Board Meeting and Updates in person at the Swanton Free Public Library on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Find the SAC on Facebook for the agenda and more info. IN THE SAC
New findings suggest that long-COVID infection increases the number of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome cases. New incidence cases of ME/CFS were 15 times higher than pre-pandemic levels. Click here for more info. COVID NEWS
About 23 percent of Vermonters have gotten the updated COVID-19 vaccine (not much change from last week) and 33 percent have gotten a flu shot, according to the Vermont Department of Health dashboard. Franklin County residents have even lower rates of protection: still just 17% have the updated COVID-19 vaccine and 28 percent have gotten a flu shot (unchanged from last week).
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. The current vaccine formula protects against serious outcomes of all current variants of the virus.
181 cases were reported in the week ending January 18, up from 163 the week before. In total, 1,243 pandemic deaths have been reported as of January 18, meaning COVID claimed yet another Vermonter in the past week.
Vermont's wastewater monitoring has shown shows that the levels of the virus have eased at all three test stations, down from the spikes last week. 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 30 ON STAGE LIVE
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro often has live music for Acoustic Thursday on Thursday evenings at 5 - 7 p.m. Click here for more info.
Friday, January 31
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents the Smokey Newfield Project for a night of live music to end January in style on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series has live performances every Friday about 6:30 p.m. The series continues with Mr. C in the Pub this week. Reservations are suggested. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH HERO--Tim Fitzgerald plays the Friday Night Wine Down 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.
ST. ALBANS--DJ Lady Livy hosts Karaoke on the Depot stage on Friday night at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday-Sunday, January 31-February 2
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap has two shows Friday night, the Natural Selection at 5 p.m., followed by Better Angels for late night music starting at 9 p.m., plus two more shows live on Saturday night with the Duncan Macleod Trio at 5 p.m., and Nickle & Dime 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 Shane Murley plays Friday. TBA 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 Roger Giroux on Friday and Arthur James live on Saturday night to make the "jump from January to February." 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, February 1
ENOSBURG--The Rail Trail Pub hosts Nathan Michaud for a night of classic rock on Saturday at 7 p.m. There will be music from Pink Floyd, Cream, CCR, The Allman Brothers, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and more. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Sunday, February 2
KEY COLONY BEACH, FL--The KCB Community Association Concerts in Sunset Park series continues with Summer Sounds favorite John Bartus live in the new tiki in Sunset Park on Sunday at 4 p.m. Free. Click here for more info.
MONTGOMERY--Celebration of Expressive Arts offers a special dinner concert with singer/songwriter Myra Flynn on Sunday. Dinner starts at 5 p.m. and the concert at 7. Her latest album, Shadow Work, was released in 2023. Her podcast with Vermont Public Radio is Homegoings. Admission to the three-course dinner and show is $55. Advanced ticket purchase required. Click here for tickets or find them on Facebook for more info.
Wednesday, February 5
ST. ALBANS--The Saint Albans Recreation Department hosts the 2025 Son Shindig on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The "enchanting evening of Hearts & Love for sons and their escort" will include refreshments, music and dancing in the grand "Ball Room" of City Hall as a fund raiser for the Rec Department. The resident price is $63 per couple, $29 for each additional son; the nonresident price is $83 per couple and $39 for each additional son. There are NO online or facebook tickets for sale. Click here to register and be added to the guest list and for more info. Check in at the desk on arrival.
Plan ahead. The 2025 Daughter Gala is the following evening, Thursday, February 6. Click here for more info.
ENOSBURG--The Rail Trail Pub hosts Open Mic Night on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Join Nathan Michaud to sing, dance, recite poetry, play music, do stand-up comedy, or pretty much anything that needs a mic and a stage. Find them on Facebook for more info.
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. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
ST. ALBANS--The Eloquent Page Fantasy Book Club meets to discuss The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The New York Times bestseller tells of the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place. 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 © 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. |