Weathersfield Weekly Blog Jan. 26

Weathersfield VT

January 25, 2017

It's the last week of January, already. Where does the time go? If it's going to be cold, at least let's have some snow to play in. These rain, sleet, and freezing rain storms are getting a bit old. Let's all get up and do a snow dance. Ground hog day is fast approaching. Will he see his shadow? If we're going to have more winter, let's have more snow.

Last Friday we drove to New London, CT to the Garde Arts Center to see Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt.

If you read my concert preview last week, you'll know that I really enjoy seeing these two in concert with theirs band but when they tour as a duo, there is something really special about these shows.

On Saturday night they performed a SOLD OUT show at the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon NH. The show was a benefit for Rusty Berrings Skate Park in Lebanon.

The audience got a nice surprise on Saturday when Sharon, Vermont resident Jim Rooney got on stage to play a couple of songs with Lyle and John. If you don't know who Jim Rooney is, click on the link above and check him out.

On Sunday, I reported on the Ascutney Outdoors Community Meeting held at Story Memorial Hall in West Windsor. Please see my previous blog post for that report.

Sunday afternoon, before football, I photographed a Sip and Paint class at the Maple Kitchen at Holiday Inn Club Vacations Mount Ascutney Resort.

The next Sip and Paint at the Maple Kitchen is scheduled for Sunday, January 19 3:30-6:30 p.m. where folks will be painting a covered bridge.

Weathersfield select board news: At the select board meeting on Jan. 16 town manager Ed Morris requested that the board raise the town employees wages by 3 % with a few exceptions. Morris also suggested the board use the $30,000 in a reserve fund to reduce taxes by one penny. The board was not in favor of this suggestion. If all articles pass at the March Town meeting the town tax rate would be $0.6962, which translates to a $134 increase on a home valued at $200,000. The board voted to accept the General Fund budget. The board also voted to hold a hearing on the John Woods Fire Report prior to the Town Budget meeting. More information about the select board and the town, contact Town Manager, Ed Morris, at 802-674-2626 or townmanager@weathersfield.org.

Weathersfield School news: The school extends thanks to Ethan McNaughton and the Springfield Rotary for their offer to buy new books for each classroom at WS, and their willingness to come in to read excerpts from each new book before they present them to the students and the teachers. For more information about this program, the school and events, call 802-674-5400.

Get Out and About

Inn at Weathersfield Live Music Fridays in Perkinsville 7-9 p.m. Jan. 27: Dave Clark, Feb. 3: Steve Ellis.

Windsor Station Live Music in Windsor Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Jan 26 7:30-9:30 p.m. Brian Warren and Friends; Jan 27 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Trichomes; Jan 28 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Riddim Vigil.

Weatherize Upper Valley Kick-Off Event in Ascutney 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday Jan. 28 at the Weathersfield School 135 Schoolhouse Rd. Learn about cost, benefits, incentives; meet your volunteer team and partner contractors. Hosted by Vital Communities.

Winterize Your Body Through Food Cooking Class in Perkinsville Jan. 28 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with Ayurvedia instructor Lini Mazumdar of Anjali Farms in Londonderry, VT at the Inn at Weathersfield's Hidden Kitchen. Call 802-263-9217 to reserve your space, this will sell out.

Breakfast for Dinner in Ascutney Saturday, Feb. 4 5-7 p.m. Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a Breakfast for Dinner at Martin Memorial Hall. Dinner includes scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage gravy on biscuits, bacon, home fries, fresh fruit salad and dessert. Adults $10, children 5-12 $5 and under 5 are free.

Weathersfield Planning Commission Public Hearings on the Town Plan are scheduled for Monday, Feb. 6 and Monday, Feb 20 at 7 p.m. For more information contact Hal Wilkins, Land Use Administrator at 802-674-2626.

Annual High School Fair in Ascutney Tuesday Feb. 14 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Weathersfield School AP Room. This event is open to the public.

Weathersfield School Concerts and Programs in Ascutney 6-7 p.m. Feb. 15 K-4 Winter Concert; Feb 16 5-8 Winter Concert; (Feb 17 Snow date for either Winter Concert); May 9 K-4 Spring Concert; May 10 5-8 Spring Concert; May 26 8:15-9:15 a.m. Memorial Day Ceremony for K-8.

1879 Schoolhouse Volunteer Work Day in Perkinsville Saturday, Feb. 18. No special skills needed. Call Matt Keniston at 802-263-5300 to sign up or get more information.

Ongoing Events

Shakespeare's Richard III in Ascutney Wednesdays Jan 18-Feb.22 at 630 p.m. at the Weathersfield Proctor Library. A group discussion led by Patti Arrison.

Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville every Thursday from 2-3 p.m. Route 106 at the old Perkinsville Elementary School.

Valley Court Diversion Programs: Volunteers are needed in Weathersfield/Springfield areas to work with low level offenders in the community. The group meets once a month at the Springfield Police Department, your commitment will require about three hours a month. Training is provided. For more information please visit our website at vcdp.org or call Maureen at 281-5213.

Senior Exercise Program in Ascutney: Free. Sponsored by RSPV. Wednesdays 10-11 a.m. in basement of Martin Memorial Hall, Route 5, Ascutney. Classes are led by Geraldine Rudenfeldt. If interested call 674-5254 for more information.

Need to Find a Business in Weathersfield: weathersfielddirectory.org.

Have anything you want included in this news and events column? Email Nancy at photosbynanci@comcast.net two weeks prior to your event.

Visit Photos By Nanci using a Q reader app!

Ascutney Outdoors Board of Directors Holds A Community Meeting

Story memorial Hall

West Windsor, VT

Sunday, January 22, 2017

On Sunday, Ascutney Outdoors (AO) a non-profit organization formed in 2015, held a meeting at Story Memorial Hall in West Windsor for the community to ask questions about what AO has accomplished regarding Mount Ascutney and what they have planned for the future of the ski area. About 85 concerned citizens attended.

Board chairman Steve Crihfield, who taught his three sons to ski on Mount Ascutney, recapped the stones met in 2016. A warming hut was built and opened, they received their Act 250 permits for the hut and for lights at the rope tow for night skiing "Anyone there for the holiday New Years weekend, it (skiing) was fantastic" and they purchased the burned out base lodge from MFW Associates.


During a recent outdoor planning meeting at the base lodge, Crihfield said the board collectively decided "we really can't do anything until we take that (the base lodge) down." The demolition will start Feb. 6 following asbestos remediation beginning on Monday, Jan 23. "It's really a new chapter(for us)" He went on to tell the crowd that no taxpayer money was used. AO worked closely with Orange Lakes-Holiday Inn Club Vacations Mount Ascutney Resort, who provided a "very generous donation", a grant from the Regional Planning Commission, and contributions from individuals.

The board plans to enhance all the outdoor activities around Mount Ascutney including alpine skiing, mountain biking, and hiking. Following the demolition of the base lodge they plan to put up a "base camp" on the west side of the old lodge. The board is seeking funding from various foundations who are interested in Mount Ascutney because of the variety of outdoor activities offered. "Once we own something, we have to operate it" said Crihfield, "we don't want to repeat what's happened four times before, we don't want to get ahead of ourselves." The board is planning for long term sustainability.


Ted Siegler spoke to the crowd about the lodge and the warming hut. "That warming hut is on conservation easement land and that is not where you want to have a warming hut. Ok. Because it's on conservation easement land, anytime you want to make any change to it, you gotta go Upper Valley Land Trust, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and ask for their permission to improve it. The burned out base lodge property is private property owned by Ascutney Outdoors and doesn't have any of those restrictions."


Siegler went on to explain "The reason not to have whatever that building is not on conservation easement land, yes it's allowed on the conservation easement but as Jim (Lyall) knows and some of the other people on the Conservation Commission (know), that conservation easement is incredibly restrictive. We're in the process with some pretty heated negotiations with Upper Valley Land Trust right now about the language for what the management plan is going to be. It's just the wrong place to have a building that you want to run for a long term period without having all this oversight from an outside group."


Lee Alexander was called on and voiced her opinion about the proposed base camp to be sighted on the old bas lodge property, "To me you have to have a spark, you have to have a base. And if you're gonna have outside events coming in, why not go with a big enough building that's gonna have some future to it. So I'm all for it."


"I started skiing at Ascutney 60 years" said Connie Moser "And probably will not be able to continue to ski there but in the spirit of John Howland, who was one of the movers and shakers that looked at that mountain and saw opportunity for this community, I think that the people who are really engaged in this process are sort of combing into the spirit of John and are looking at what is and seeing what could be. And yes I want skiing to be a part of it but I hear about these other opportunities, we can't go back to the way it was, as much as we'd like to. But I think that we can move forward and have something that is going to bring vitality back to this community, to the mountain and a lot of joy to life. And so I really hope that we work together to make that happen."



Skiing on Mount Ascutney dates back to the 1930s. In 1946 a ski lift was in place thanks to the hard work of Catharine "Kip" Cushman, Bob Bishop, Dick Springer, Bob Ely, Robert Hammond, and Dr. Peter Patch. Over the years, ownership of the resort and ski area has changed hands many times.



In June of 1993, Steve and Susan Plausteniner purchased Ascutney at auction for $1.1 million. But by 2008, Dan Purjes's MFW Associates began foreclosure proceedings sighting $1.86 million in debt. In 2010, The Plausteiners sold their shares in Ascutney to Purjes who attempted to liquidate the ski area that summer unsuccessfully. The ski area was reported auctioned to MFW Associates for $1.5 million in early November 2013.



In October of 2014 the Town of West Windsor voted to purchase 469 acres of Ascutney as well as the land around the base lodge. On Jan. 8, 2015 the base lodge was destroyed by fire. And has remained as a burned out shell since.

Ascutney Outdoors, a non-profit group, formed in 2015 acquired the bulk of the ski area property with the help of Upper Valley Land Trust that holds a conservation easement on this property.

On Dec. 18, 2016 the lodge was purchased from MFW Associates by Ascutney Outdoors. AO will oversee the asbestos remediation and demolition of the building which begins on Jan. 23 with the building's demolition on Feb. 6.



Community Q and A
Hosted by Ascutney Outdoors
Story Memorial Hall
West Windsor, VT January 22, 2017
Copyright ©2017 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
www.photosbynanci.com

For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/
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Weathersfield Weekly Blog Jan 18

Weathersfield VT

January 18, 2017

We're three weeks into 2017 and we're ready to inaugurate a new President and Vice President and usher in a new cabinet. This change of political power will certainly come with a change of philosophy. I for one am very interested to see how this presidency will play out. It could be quite earth shaking or it could be status quo. Let's try to enter these next few months with open minds. Remember, we're all in this together.

Weathersfield select board news: The select board met for a special meeting on Thursday, Jan 12 to continue their budget discussions and to set agenda items for future meetings. More information about the select board and the town, contact Town Manager, Ed Morris, at 802-674-2626 or townmanager@weathersfield.org.

Weathersfield School news: The annual High School Fair is scheduled for Feb. 14 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the AP Room. This event is open to the public. For more information about this program, the school and events, call 802-674-5400.

Weathersfield Proctor Library news: The Trustees will hold their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7p.m.. The Friends of Weathersfield Proctor Library will be holding their meeting to discuss their bylaws on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. For more information about the library, programs or events, contact Library Director, Mark Richardson at 802-674-2863.

Fire Commission news: Town manager Ed Morris presented the draft language for an article to be placed on the upcoming Town Meeting warrant that would ask the voters to authorize the Select Board to move forward with establishing a fire district. Many questions came up from both Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department and West Weathersfield Fire Department. TM Morris stated that this article would only authorize the Select Board to move forward with the idea, but that it in no way guaranteed that the fire district would be established. In the end the vote was unanimous to place the article on the March ballot.

Another busy week for our fire fighters.
A Chimney fire in Perkinsville on Sunday.

And an oil spill at Jiffy Mart on Tuesday.

Get Out and About

Inn at Weathersfield Live Music Fridays in Perkinsville 7-9 p.m. Jan. 20: Chris Kleeman, Jan. 27: Dave Clark, Feb. 3: Steve Ellis.

Windsor Station Live Music in Windsor Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Jan 19 7:30-10:30 p.m. Down Cellar; Jan 20 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. TOAST; Jan 21 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Stone Cold Roosters; Jan 24 6-9 p.m. Richie Hackett; Jan 26 7:30-9:30 p.m. Brian Warren and Friends; Jan 27 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Trichomes; Jan 28 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Riddim Vigil.

Weathersfield School Concerts and Programs in Ascutney 6-7 p.m. Feb. 15 K-4 Winter Concert; Feb 16 5-8 Winter Concert; (Feb 17 Snow date for either Winter Concert); May 9 K-4 Spring Concert; May 10 5-8 Spring Concert; May 26 8:15-9:15 a.m. Memorial Day Ceremony for K-8.

Lebanon Opera House Shows in Lebanon NH: Thursday, Jan. 19 10 a.m. Moon Mouse; Saturday Jan 21 7:30 p.m. An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt (Sold Out).

Weathersfield's Got Talent in Ascutney Friday, Jan. 20 6 p.m. at the Weathersfield Elementary School. Come experience some of the awesome talent of our friends and neighbors.

French Wine Dinner in Perkinsville Jan. 21 6 p.m. The Inn at Weathersfield is hosting a French Wine Dinner, contact the Inn for more details at 802-263-9127

Weatherize Upper Valley Kick-Off Event in Ascutney 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday Jan. 28 at the Weathersfield School 135 Schoolhouse Rd. Learn about cost, benefits, incentives; meet your volunteer team and partner contractors. Hosted by Vital Communities.

Winterize Your Body Through Food Cooking Class in Perkinsville Jan. 28 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with Ayurvedia instructor Lini Mazumdar of Anjali Farms in Londonderry, VT at the Inn at Weathersfield's Hidden Kitchen. Call 802-263-9217 to reserve your space, this will sell out.

Breakfast for Dinner in Ascutney Saturday, Feb. 4 5-7 p.m. Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department
is hosting a Breakfast for Dinner at Martin Memorial Hall. Dinner includes scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage gravy on biscuits, bacon, home fries, fresh fruit salad and dessert. Adults $10, children 5-12 $5 and under 5 are free.

Weathersfield Planning Commission Public Hearings on the Town Plan are scheduled for Monday, Feb. 6 and Monday, Feb 20 at 7 p.m. For more information contact Hal Wilkins, Land Use Administrator at 802-674-2626.

Ongoing Events

Shakespeare's Richard III in Ascutney Wednesdays Jan 18-Feb.22 at 630 p.m. at the Weathersfield Proctor Library. A group discussion led by Patti Arrison.

Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville every Thursday from 2-3 p.m. Route 106 at the old Perkinsville Elementary School.

Valley Court Diversion Programs: Volunteers are needed in Weathersfield/Springfield areas to work with low level offenders in the community. The group meets once a month at the Springfield Police Department, your commitment will require about three hours a month. Training is provided. For more information please visit our website at vcdp.org or call Maureen at 281-5213.

Senior Exercise Program in Ascutney: Free. Sponsored by RSPV. Wednesdays 10-11 a.m. in basement of Martin Memorial Hall, Route 5, Ascutney. Classes are led by Geraldine Rudenfeldt. If interested call 674-5254 for more information.

Need to Find a Business in Weathersfield: weathersfielddirectory.org.

Have anything you want included in this news and events column? Email Nancy at photosbynanci@comcast.net two weeks prior to your event.

Visit Photos By Nanci using a Q reader app!

Gas Leak at Jiffy Mart, Fire Fighters Respond

Perkinsville, VT
January 17, 2017

Fire fighters from West Weathersfield Fire Department and the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department Chief responded to a gas leak on Tuesday afternoon.

The call went out at 1:40 p.m. that a gas leak occurred at the Jiffy Mart located at the intersection of routes 131 and 106 at Downer's Four Corners.

According to West Weathersfield Fire Lieutenant Mike Barrup 3-5 gallons of oil were spilled in the store's parking lot. The spill remained unreported and cars drove through the oil tracking oil in a widespread area of the parking lot and onto route 106.

Hazmat pads and drying agent were applied by the fire fighters to contain the spill. A store employee, who refused to give their name said they will be reviewing store surveillance video to determine who caused the spill.

Weathersfield Police Chief William Daniels arrived on scene and will continue investigating the cause spill.

The hazardous materials from the clean up were placed in a 55 gallon drum and will be disposed of by Jiffy Mart.

Chimney Fire Quarry RD Perkinsville

Perkinsville, VT

January 15, 2017

Fire fighters from West Weathersfield Fire Department and Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department responded to an active chimney fire in Perkinsville on Sunday, Jan. 15 at 12:45 p.m.

The house at 162 Quarry RD belongs to Lisa and Ray Stapleton. Stapleton is a former West Weathersfield Fire Department Chief and remains active in the department. Ascutney Ladder 1 and aluminum ladders added the fire fighters in roof access.

Quick response by the home owner and fire departments resulted in little damage to the house. No injuries were reported.

Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt Return to Our Region for shows in Lebanon NH and Rutland VT

Concert Preview

Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt

Lebanon Opera House Lebanon NH January 21

Paramount Theater Rutland VT January 27

Award-winning musicians Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt are making stops in our area over the next couple of weeks. They'll be in Lebanon, NH on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Lebanon Opera House and in Rutland, VT on Friday, Jan. 27 at the Paramount Theater. The Lebanon show is sold-out but there are still tickets available for the Paramount show.

The tour, billed as "An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt," is more like a musical meet and greet. An up close and personal visit with two extremely talented singer-songwriters. The first time I saw Lovett and Hiatt together they were with Guy Clark and Joe Ely at the State Theater in Cleveland, Ohio in 2007. That was an amazing show for a music lover like me. They've since toured on and off together and I've had the pleasure of seeing them sixteen times-it just doesn't get old, trust me.

If you've ever wondered what it might be like to sit in a living room with two Grammy nominees, this is the show for you. The two are so comfortable together, they don't prepare a set list. They take turns playing songs from their huge repertoires and singing harmonies or playing guitars on each others songs. The set list evolves as the evening goes on. Songs are chosen by what comes up in their on-stage conversation. As a member of their audience, you feel like you are getting to know them better through their songs and stories. They play off each other and their banter at times is very humorous.

In previous shows, the two reminisced about their early careers, with Lovett remembering the first time he saw Hiatt in Ry Cooder's band January 31, 1981. They take time to explain what motivates them to write a song. For example at one show I saw, Lovett explained where his song "Record Lady" came from. He told the audience, and Hiatt, that he as a young man he bought a lot of records at "Budget Records" because he had a crush on a girl who worked there. "My record collection lasted a lot longer than my relationship with her would have." That got a laugh from the audience as well as Hiatt.


The sold-out Lebanon Opera House show is a fundraiser for The Revitalization of the Rusty Berrings Skate Park, located on Glen Road in West Lebanon, NH at the Riverside Community Park. 

It is free to the public and serves young people throughout our region. Music promoter Buddy Kirschner of Norwich, VT explained in an email that the park has been named in memory of Tyler S. Kirschner, his son who used Rusty Berrings as his skate nickname and used to skate board at the park. Funds raised will restore and enhance the facility by building safer and more permanent concrete ramps. The project has raised more than $175,000 toward their goal of $350,000 needed to complete the project in October 2017. All proceeds from the Jan. 21 Lovett and Hiatt show will go to this project; organizers are hoping to raise more then $10,000 from this performance.

 More photos of the Rusty Berrings Skate Park Project: Click Here

"When Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt share the same stage and play each others songs - it is a rare and wonderful show to be apart of. That is why I am honored to promote these shows, hopefully helping to provide folks with an opportunity to have this memorable experience" said Kirschner.

Lovett has released 14 albums. He has four Grammy Awards, he was given the Americana Music Association’s inaugural Trailblazer Award, and was recently named the Texas State Musician. Lovett has acted in a number of films, including Robert Altman's films: The Player (1992), Short Cuts (1993), Prêt-à-Porter (1994),"Bastard Out Of Carolina" (1996), Cookie's Fortune (1999), and composed the soundtrack for Dr. T & the Women (2000). More recently, he has acted in The New Guy (2002) and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007). His television acting forays include Mad About You, Brothers & Sisters, The Bridge, Castle, Dharma & Greg and a soon to air episode of "Life in Pieces" where he'll appear as a Wedding Planner.

Hiatt has released studio 22 albums, 2 compilations and 1 live album. He has received 11 Grammy nominations. He was awarded the Nashville Music Awards Songwriter/Artist of the Year in 2000 and the Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting in 2008. Hiatt's songs have been covered by artists including Bonnie Raitt, Ronnie Milsap, Dr. Feelgood, Iggy Pop, Three Dog Night, and the Neville Brothers.

People ask me why I go to back-to-back shows by the same artist or artists, like Lovett and Hiatt, or see them multiple times in one tour, I can only reply because each night is different-you never know what you'll get. Both are extremely talented on their own or with bands behind them, but something special happens when they take the stage together.

More images from Lovett and Hiatt Oct. 22, 2013 at the Paramount in Rutland and other shows: Click Here

Weathersfield Weekly Blog Jan. 11

Weathersfield VT

January 11, 2017

We're almost two weeks in 2017, how are you doing? I'd say so far things are great but with a winter mix hitting us recently, a full moon Thursday and Friday the 13th hitting us in one week, I think I'll hold off judgment. I didn't make any New Year's resolutions so I cant' say that I've broken any, so that's a good thing. I am in a heated (but totally civil) FitBit challenge with a few friends for most steps during the week and most steps on the weekend. We're competitive but also encouraging and if it keeps us off the couch-YEAH for us. If you have Monday off for Martin Luther King Day, I hope you enjoy it. Stay warm, stay dry until next week.

Weathersfield select board news: More information about the select board and the town, contact Town Manager, Ed Morris, at 802-674-2626 or townmanager@weathersfield.org.

Weathersfield School news: Reminder-no school on Jan 16 for Martin Luther King Day. The school concert season has been scheduled, please see below for the dates and times. For more information about these programs, the school and events, call 802-674-5400.

Weathersfield Proctor Library news: The Trustees will hold their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7p.m.. For more information about the library, programs or events, contact Library Director, Mark Richardson at 802-674-2863.

Weathersfield Planning Commission is asking for public input for the updated Town Plan. Public hearings are scheduled for Feb. 6 and Feb 20 at 7 p.m. For more information contact Hal Wilkins, Land Use Administrator at 802-674-2626. 

My weekend started with a Dance Party at the Briggs Opera House on Friday night. Yellow House Media brought Myra Flynn and her band FLYNN to the Upper Valley for a BYOB Dance Party.

Saturday I photographed a cooking class in Perkinsville at the Hidden Kitchen, at the Inn at Weathersfield. Sobremesa VT owners Caitlin and Jason Elberson showed a small group of very interested cooks how to preserve their garden vegetables using salt, a method of Fermentation.

Sunday I watched football.

Get Out and About 

Inn at Weathersfield Live Music Fridays in Perkinsville 7-9 p.m. Jan. 13: Ali T, Jan. 20: Chris Kleeman, Jan. 27: Dave Clark, Feb. 3: Steve Ellis.

Windsor Station Live Music in Windsor Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Friday Feb. 13 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Freevolt; Jan 14 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Dr. No; Jan 17 6-9 p.m. Erik Boedtker; Jan 19 7:30-10:30 p.m. Down Cellar; Jan 20 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. TOAST; Jan 21 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Stone Cold Roosters; Jan 24 6-9 p.m. Richie Hackett; Jan 26 7:30-9:30 p.m. Brian Warren and Friends; Jan 27 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Trichomes; Jan 28 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Riddim Vigil.

Weathersfield School Concerts and Programs in Ascutney 6-7 p.m. Feb. 15 K-4 Winter Concert; Feb 16 5-8 Winter Concert; (Feb 17 Snow date for either Winter Concert); May 9 K-4 Spring Concert; May 10 5-8 Spring Concert; May 26 8:15-9:15 a.m. Memorial Day Ceremony for K-8.

Lebanon Opera House Shows in Lebanon NH: Thursday, Jan. 19 10 a.m. Moon Mouse; Saturday Jan 21 7:30 p.m. An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt (Sold Out).

Weathersfield's Got Talent in Ascutney Friday, Jan. 20 6 p.m. at the Weathersfield Elementary School. Come experience some of the awesome talent of our friends and neighbors.

French Wine Dinner in Perkinsville 6 p.m. The Inn at Weathersfield is hosting a French Wine Dinner, contact the Inn for more details at 802-263-9127

Weatherize Upper Valley Kick-Off Event in Ascutney 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday Jan. 28 at the Weathersfield School 135 Schoolhouse Rd. Learn about cost, benefits, incentives; meet your volunteer team and partner contractors. Hosted by Vital Communities.

Winterize Your Body Through Food Cooking Class in Perkinsville 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with Ayurvedia instructor Lini Mazumdar of Anjali Farms in Londonderry, VT at the Inn at Weathersfield's Hidden Kitchen. Call 802-263-9217 to reserve your space, this will sell out.

Ongoing Events 

Shakespeare's Richard III in Ascutney Wednesdays Jan 18-Feb.22 at 630 p.m. at the Weathersfield Proctor Library. A group discussion led by Patti Arrison.

Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville every Thursday from 2-3 p.m. Route 106 at the old Perkinsville Elementary School.

Valley Court Diversion Programs: Volunteers are needed in Weathersfield/Springfield areas to work with low level offenders in the community. The group meets once a month at the Springfield Police Department, your commitment will require about three hours a month. Training is provided. For more information please visit our website at vcdp.org or call Maureen at 281-5213.

Senior Exercise Program in Ascutney: Free. Sponsored by RSPV. Wednesdays 10-11 a.m. in basement of Martin Memorial Hall, Route 5, Ascutney. Classes are led by Geraldine Rudenfeldt. If interested call 674-5254 for more information.

Need to Find a Business in Weathersfield: weathersfielddirectory.org.

Have anything you want included in this news and events column? Email Nancy at photosbynanci@comcast.net two weeks prior to your event.

Visit Photos By Nanci using a Q reader app!