Vermont Stone Cross Co. Open Studio Weekend Spring 2013

It's a family affair...The Hamblins of Hartland are very "crafty" people.  Mom makes "Green Mountain Treats" for cats and dogs, Dad makes furniture and collectibles from recycle barn boards and Kenny Hamblin IV is the creator of Vermont Stone Crosses.  Stone masons by trade the Hamblin men now focus their talents on stone and wood crafts for the home.

On Saturday, Kenny the III and Kenny the IV opened their studio Vermont Stone Cross Co. to visitors as part of the statewide "Open Studio Weekend"; held twice a year in the spring and fall. The younger Hamblin creates carved stone trays, oil lamps, table lamps, and now stone crosses. Like the great stone carvers before him (Michelangelo) Hamblin says the stone tells him what it should be made into. He examines its shape, color and texture then begins to reshape the stone. He creations are unique and very affordable.

More studio images: Vermont Cross Co. Pics

Open Studio Weekend
Kenny Hamblin IV, Vermont Stone Cross Co.
Hartland VT May 25, 2013
Copyright ©2013 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
www.photosbynanci.com
For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/
Image Galleries: http://thevermontstandard.smugmug.com/

*****************************
Follow Photos By Nanci at:
photosbynanci.com
Photos by Nanci Blog
SmugMug Galleries
YouTube
Twitter

Facebook

Zack's Place Players Present "The Zackleton Expedition"

Zack's Place Players presented their Spring Musical for one night only Wednesday May 22 at the Yoh Auditorium at the Woodstock Union High School.

The Zackleton Expedition was written and directed by Woodstock' Jim Sadwith. The tale was based on the real life expedition of Ernest Shackleton, relative of Charles Shackleton of Shackleton Thomas in Bridgewater. The musical had many guest performers who along with the Zack Place Players have been rehearsing since February.

Set and Costume design was by Holly Levinson and props organized by Fiona Davis.

The hour long play was well received by the full house and left the audience with many memories of a great adventure both in real life (Ernest Shackleton's voyage in 1914) and the one created at Zack's Place.

More performance images: Zackleton Pics

*****************************
Follow Photos By Nanci at:
photosbynanci.com
Photos by Nanci Blog
SmugMug Galleries
YouTube
Twitter
Facebook

Way to go Harry!!!

From: http://www.mister-baseball.com/swiss-player-throws-ceremonial-pitch-prior-kansas-city-royals-game/

In January 2013, Kevin Seitzer of the Kansas City Royals coaching staff visited Switzerland on invitation from Embrach Mustangs head coach Chris Byrnes. The Swiss Baseball Federation had the great pleasure to enjoy a full day of hitting clinics from the 2x MLB AllStar who played 12 years in the Big Leagues and posted a career batting average of .295.

Three months later, Josh Crouse and Harry Wischnewski – both playing club ball with the Embrach Mustangs – followed their own invitation to visit Kevin Seitzer and the Kansas City Royals baseball community. Driven by a superb baseball column by Lee Judge from the Kansas City Star, the two players became big Royals fans in the past years and enjoyed many outstanding comments and tidbits on pro ball.

Crouse and Wischnewski had the amazing opportunity to work out daily at Mac-N-Seitz (www.mac-n-seitz.com), an incredible baseball facility in Kansas City owned and operated by Kevin Seitzer andMike McFarlane, both combining 25 years of Big League experience. Mac-N-Seitz serves as the official winter home of the Kansas City Royals and every offseason in November Royals Leftfielder and 2x GoldGlove winner Alex Gordon works out at Mac-N-Seitz. Both Crouse andWischnewski were boosting their practice for the 2013 baseball season in Switzerland, especially Wischnewski who is an outfielder for the Swiss National Baseball Team, competing in this year`s Qualifier European Championship hosted in Zurich, Switzerland.

On April 30th, just one day after arriving in Kansas City, Harry Wischnewski had the great honor to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Royals opened a 3-game home stand against the Tampa Bay Rays. He took the mound just 12 minutes beforeJames Shields would start the game against his former team, with which he played his first six years in the Majors before being traded to Kansas City this offseason in a blockbuster deal. Representing the whole Swiss baseball community, Wischnewski enjoyed the moment even more when he fired a strike to teammate Josh Crouse.

The two players and friends had the chance to talk with players, coaches as well as media representatives during the four games at Kauffman Stadium and shared many stories from Swiss Baseball.

Lebanon Opera House Gets SPANK!

Monday night about 800 Upper Valley women (and a few men) were in the Lebanon Opera House to witness SPANK!, The Fifty Shades Parody (loosely based on the popular "mommy porn" books by E L James.)

This hilarious new musical brings the naughty fun of the best-selling books to life and will have your inner goddess laughing out loud!

Hugh Hanson (Drew Moerlein, from Bow NH) is the rich, rich , rich, very twisted hunk and Tasha Woode (Michelle Vezilj ) is the naive (read VIRGIN) character you becomes involved with Hugh Hanson after a college newspaper article interview. These wacky characters are created "on stage" by E.B. Janet (Suzanne Sole) whose hubby is away for the weekend. E.B. is well equipped with chardonnay and one "hot" keyboard.

This new imagining of the characters comes to life with sharp-witted comedy, musical numbers, sexy striptease performances from the leading hunk, plus lots of surprises!

Many in the audience could be heard during the intermission saying their stomachs and cheeks (on their faces!!) hurt so much from laughing. As the audience exited the theater after the show many of the "Ladies Night Out" groups were giggling and looking for place to enjoy a few cocktails. Others lined up to have the photos taken with the three stars of the show.

Another very entertaining show at the Lebanon Opera House.
More images from the show and the Meet and Greet: SPANK!


SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody
A Kirschner Concerts Production
Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon May 6, 2013
Copyright ©2013 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
www.photosbynanci.com
For the Lebanon Opera House
More images: http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/LebanonOperaHouseShows

*****************************
Follow Photos By Nanci at:
photosbynanci.com
Photos by Nanci Blog
SmugMug Galleries
YouTube
Twitter
Facebook

Norman Williams Public Library Gala, Best of the 12!

On a beautiful Sunday evening supporters of the Norman Williams Public Library gathered first at the library for cocktails then at the Woodstock Inn for dinner. The event was the library's 12th annual Gala. Last year this event raised between $35,000-$40, 000. According to Board of Trustee President Jack McGuire this year's event was the best attended event so far with 210 confirmed tickets sold. McGuire also explained that the Library "Wish List" brought in over $10,000 last year. McGuire attributed the success of the event to the new Library Executive Director Jennifer Belton and also to the event's guest speaker Lynne Olson. 

The Gala Committee Members: Paula Audley, Gail Stickney,
Mary Costella nd Library Executive Director Jennifer Belton.

Joan McGee was recognized as an exceptional volunteer
for her work cataloging the library's collection of books.

Before guest speaker Lynne Olson began writing books full time, she worked more than ten years as a journalist, including stints as Moscow correspondent for the Associated Press and White House correspondent for the Baltimore Sun. She has written six books of history, including the national bestseller "Citizens of London." Her latest book, "Those Angry Days: Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and America's Fight for World War II," tells the story of the brutal, no-holds-barred debate that raged in America over what its role should be in the Second World War.

Olson said she jumped at the chance to attend this event for two reasons, one she and her husband Stan Cloud have many ex-patriot friends from Washington D.C. now living in Woodstock and two "it honors and raises money for a wonderful library." She spoke of the time when she was a little girl living in a house with nine children and her only real escape to peace and quiet was her local library. She also spoke about how library have been invaluable for her research on her six books. She said libraries are the true archivists of history they hold a wealth of journals that have been kept and preserved through time.

Olson has won the Christopher Award and has been shortlisted for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in history. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, Stan Cloud. Visit Lynne Olson at http://lynneolson.com for more information about he books.

More event images: NWPL Gala

12th Annual Norman Williams Public Library Gala
NWPL and The Woodstock Inn
Woodstock VT April 28, 2013
Copyright ©2013 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
www.photosbynanci.com
For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/
Image Galleries: http://thevermontstandard.smugmug.com/

***************************** 
Follow Photos By Nanci at:
photosbynanci.com 
Photos by Nanci Blog
SmugMug Galleries
YouTube
Twitter 
Facebook

Bridgewater Grange Honors Ed Earle, Citizen of The Year

April was National Grange Month and the Bridgewater Grange #284, in Bridgewater VT celebrated by hosting an Open House on Thursday April 25, 2013. At this meeting they also took the time to honor Ed Earle, friend, neighbor, volunteer fire fighter and all around good guy as "Citizen of The Year."

Audrey and Wilbur Putnam escort Ed Earle to the altar.

Earle, 52, grew up on a dairy farm with 100 head of milking cows. He started working on the farm when he was two years old. Earle has always been there when you needed him. He served as Town Constable for 12 years, volunteered with the Fire Department for 28 years and has been a correctional supervisor in Windsor for 21 years. 

When Grange Master Alice Paglia's cows get loose she knows who to call and Earle hops on his four-wheeler and rounds them up.

Ed Earle and Alice Paglia.

Following the meeting, a pot luck was enjoyed by the attendees.

Audrey Putnam slices her maple frosted cake.

More images from the event: Ed Earle

Bridgewater Grange
Ed Earle, Citizen of the Year
National Grange Month
Bridgewater VT April 25, 2013
Copyright ©2013 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
http://www.photosbynanci.com
For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/
Image Galleries: http://thevermontstandard.smugmug.com/

*****************************
Follow Photos By Nanci at:
photosbynanci.com
Photos by Nanci Blog
SmugMug Galleries
YouTube
Twitter
Facebook