Photos by Nanci Blog

Weathersfield News December 24, 2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photosbynanci@comcast.net Ah, the last few days of 2014. Time to take a look back at the year that was. My year was filled with music and adventures. It started with Trombone Shorty and ended Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. With about fifty bands and artists in between. My favorite shows would have to be Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt in Burlington VT and Concord NH and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in Albany NY and Mohegan Sun ( Uncasville CT. ) I celebrated my birthday in April by diving in the beautiful waters off the coast of Little Cayman in the British West Indies and traveled to Ireland in November to explore this magical Emerald Isle. I covered 38 assignments for the Vermont Standard and 17 shows for the Lebanon Opera House. I saw only three Boston Red Sox games, (it didn't help that they stunk this year) and had the pleasure of shooting three weddings. The world around ...

In April of 2013 the Capursos of Hartland purchased the Windsor Station Restaurant and Barroom and began renovations. After years of successfully running, owning and outgrowing their beloved Stella's in Hartland Jon and Stacy moved south on Rte 5 to 29 Depot Street in Windsor. Since their opening, the couple has seen a huge increase in loyal diners up and down the I91 corridor. "This is one difficult reservation to get on a weekend and it doesn't matter what time of year either" one loyal diner said while forking into her Chicken and Vodka Sauce. Jon's kitchen, influenced by Italian roots and time spent cooking in the Caribbean, features locally grown food; Windsor Station is a member of the Vermont Fresh Network, and the Capursos tap farms in Hartland, Windsor and Weathersfield for some of their meat and produce. Farm collaborations won’t end there: Front-of-house manager Stacy Capurso has put together a menu of “farm-to-bar” cocktails, some of them drawing on ...

OK, so you didn't get that box of Peanut Brittle you've been craving. Never fear you can make your own . It's Easy!! Gather: 1 cup white sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1 cup salted peanuts 1 teaspoon butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon baking soda 1. Butter a cookie sheet 2. Combine sugar and corn syrup in a 2 quart glass bowl and microwave on high for 4 minutes 3. Stir in peanuts and microwave on high 3 1/2 minute more. 4. Stir in butter and vanilla and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. 5. Stir in baking soda until light and foamy. 6. Pour onto cookie sheet and spread thin. 7. Cool completely and break into pieces and serve. Soak bowl and utensils in really hot water to remove the "candy."

Something to Enjoy While Waiting on Santa Claus

A little something to enjoy this Christmas Eve Day!

Weathersfield News December 24, 2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photosbynanci@comcast.net As I write this, I'm waiting to celebrate the Winter Solstice, December 21, the shortest day of the year. The Solstice is an important astronomical occurrence and celebrates the subsequent “return” of the Sun in a variety of different ways. I thought I'd do a little research to see just how people "honor" the return of the sun through festivals of light. Many cultures and many people around the world celebrate but in very different ways. Here are a few samples I found: Soyal is the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona . Ceremonies and rituals include purification, dancing, and sometimes gift-giving. The Persian festival Yalda , or Shab-e Yalda is a celebration of the winter solstice in Iran that started in ancient times. It marks the last day of the Persian month of Azar. Yalda is viewed traditionally as the victory of lig...

Carols, Cookies, Cocoa and Santa. The Reading Public Library hosted an evening of caroling, a story, cookies and a visit from Santa on Friday night. Folks gathered at the library then made their way through town singing carols for the neighbors. Some special neighbors received poinsettias from the group. About 25 voices filled the night air. More images from this festive evening:  http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/December-2014/Reading-VT-Caroling/ Reading Caroling, Cookies and Santa Reading Public Library Reading VT December 19, 2014 Copyright ©2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy www.photosbynanci.com For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/ Image Galleries http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard

Lynnfield-MA Today Marie Alice (Devine) Nutile would have been 88 years old. My plan was to take her to Davio's Lynnfield to lunch then hangout with her and talk about my trip to Ireland . Unfortunately, she died on December 4 around 11 a.m., a mere two weeks ago. She grew up in Everett and Wakefield , worked at a bank on Newbury Street in Boston and moved to Lynnfield when she married my Dad, Vincent D. Nutile. They built a house on Pine Hill Rd with these crazy half circle stairs leading to the front door. I met someone later in my life who had been friends with folks on the street and what he remembered about the house were these stairs. Vinnie and Marie, as most people knew them by, had three children: me, my brother Paul and my sister Christina. We all attended the schools in Lynnfield and my mother always pushed us to learn as much as we could no matter the subject. She always said "Keep learning, any education is knowledge you'll keep for life....

Weathersfield News December 17, 2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photosbynanci@comcast.net What a crazy week this past one was. It started on Monday night with the open registration for the 24th running of the Covered Bridge Half Marathon. All 3000 spots were spoken for in 24 minutes. Wednesday I met my friend Grace in Claremont for Sushi. She's getting me to explore more interesting rolls each time we meet. The "Spicy Pink Lady" served at Kouzoku on Washington Street was amazing. Next up Wassail Weekend. It started for me at the Yoh players production of The Snow Queen (there are some seriously talented actors at the Woodstock Union High School ) and ended Sunday with a day filled with Holiday crafts and song. For Town News its Budget Time. The Town and School are winding up their proposed budgets for Town Meeting. As they finalize these budgets in the next few weeks, they will be reported on here. The Select Board and Budget Committee are meeting...

December 14, 2014 Woodstock, VT Pentangle Arts Council hosted the 30th Annual Messiah Sing to close out Wassail Weekend. The Ensemble was conducted by Louis Burkot Jr.. The doors opened at 3:30 for the 4 p.m. performance and Our Lady of the Snows church quickly filled to standing room only. More Messiah Sing images:  http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/December-2014/30th-Annual-Messiah-Sing/ 30th Annual Messiah Sing Presented by Pentangle Arts Woodstock Wassail Weekend Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church Woodstock, VT December 14, 2014 Copyright ©2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy www.photosbynanci.com For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/ Image Galleries http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard

December 14, 2014 Hartland VT Hartland Community Arts presented their Hartland Holiday Concert on Saturday and Sunday. This year's concert was dedicated to the memory of Linda Moyer who sang with the chorus for many years. The performance featured the Town Chorus, the newly revived Youth Chorus and the Flute Choir. About 80 people attended the Sunday performance, even Emma-the Mascot for the Chorus. More concert images:  http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/December-2014/Hartland-Holiday-Concert/ Hartland Holiday Concert Hartland Community Arts Damon Hall Hartland, VT December 14, 2014 Copyright ©2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy www.photosbynanci.com For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/ Image Galleries http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard

December 14, 2014 Brownsville, VT The Brownsville Community Church and new pastor, Rev. Christian Huebner hosted its Second Annual Community Sing-A-Long on Sunday. About 50 people attended. The event was organized by Linda Ley and Jennifer Aldrich. The Sing-A-Long was produced by Diane Hall the Choir Director for the Community Church and by Ginger Armstrong the Music Teacher at Albert Bridge School. More Sing-A-Long images:  http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/December-2014/Holiday-Sing-A-Long/ Holiday Sing A Long Brownsville Community Church West Windsor, VT December 14, 2014 Copyright ©2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy www.photosbynanci.com For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/ Image Galleries http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard

December 14, 2014 Woodstock VT The Annual Wassail Weekend Craft Fair saw artisans from near and far. There were knit goods, artisan body products, homemade jellies and jams, jewelry, stuffed animals, pottery and lots more. The fair ran both Saturday and Sunday at the Masonic Hall in Woodstock VT. Many shoppers were checking off their Holiday lists. More images from the Fair:  http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/December-2014/Holiday-Craft-Fair/ Holiday Craft Fair Woodstock Wassail Weekend Masonic Hall Woodstock, VT December 14, 2014 Copyright ©2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy www.photosbynanci.com For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/ Image Galleries http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard

December 12, 2014 Yoh Theater, Woodstock VT The Yoh Players performed Hans Christian Anderson's fairy Tale "The Snow Queen" for Woodstock's Wassail Weekend. The play is a coming-of-age story of two friends Kai and Gerda who find themselves involved with the alluring Snow Queen. When Kai is kidnapped, young Gerda sets out to find and rescue him. With the help of some magical creatures, Gerda makes her way to the Snow Queen's castle and must break the icy spell cast over Kai. Their adventures were told in seven stories over two acts. More images from the performance:  http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/Yoh-Theatre/The-Snow-Queen/ The Snow Queen Performed By Yoh Theatre Players Woodstock Wassail Weekend Woodstock Union High School Woodstock, VT December 12, 2014 Copyright ©2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy www.photosbynanci.com For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/ Image Galleries http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard ...

December 7, 2014 West Windsor , VT The best laid plans...The 1st Annual Brownsville 5K-9 Turkey Trot/Walk/Pie was scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 27 but Mother Nature changed that with an early winter storm. The race was postponed to Sunday December 7. Nineteen people had pre-registered online and twenty more had expressed interest according to Race Organizer Erin Montgomery Kershaw. "Leave it to a flat-lander to plan a winter run in Vermont" she said. Ten people and five dogs braved the bitter cold to run/walk this inaugural race. The course took the participants down Brook Rd to the dead end where water and pie waited to fuel them. West Windsor's own Terry Shearer finished first with an unofficial time of 25:29, Raina White, also from West Windsor finished about one minute behind him. Eric Ruffin from Claremont came in third. More images from the race:  http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/December-2014/Brownsville-Turk...

Weathersfield News December 10, 2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photosbynanci@comcast.net I just wrapped up writing my blog about our trip to Ireland . What a beautiful country, kind of like a European version of Vermont . Lots of hills, stonewalls, cows, sheep and friendly people. I really enjoyed my brief time in Galway and if I return to Ireland I'll be sure to spend a week there. Crazy week this past week. Flashed back to my high school days when I went to see the J. Geils Band open for Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band in Albany . These guys may be getting older but they sure can still rock and roll. It was fun being at a concert where I wasn't the oldest person in the crowd. The Holiday Parties are in full swing now. I attended the Standard's Correspondents Luncheon on Thursday at Suicide Six. The meal was catered by the Woodstock Inn and it was delicious. It is so nice getting to see a face to the person who's column or article I read each...

December 6, 2104 Windsor VT Neither rain nor snow could stop Windsor Troop 218 from selling Christmas Trees on Saturday. According to Troop Leader Kevin Anderson the trees were cut Saturday morning. "You can't get them any fresher than that. And we deliver." he said. The event is a major fund-raiser for the boys, who use the money for summer camp, gear and other trips. In addition to the trees, Windsor High School Project Graduation was selling hand decorated wreaths. More event images:  http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/December-2014/Troop-218-Trees/ Troup 218 Christmas Trees, Project Graduation Wreaths Masonic Hall Windsor, VT December 6, 2014 Copyright ©2014 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy www.photosbynanci.com For The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/ Image Galleries http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard

December 6, 2014 West Windsor, VT Brownsville Christmas Bazaar took place on Saturday. The West Windsor Town Hall was filled with holiday shoppers out looking for gifts and supporting their neighbors. The craft fair ran from 9 a.m-2 p.m.. The ladies of the United Methodist Women’s group hosted their annual lunch including homemade soups and sandwiches as well as freshly baked deserts. About 14 local crafts people had booths at the Christmas Bazaar. Adam Boyce provided some holiday tunes on his Liberty Pump Organ that he estimates to be about 80 years old. Funds raised at the Bazaar and other events support the Reading Food Shelf, Vermont Food Bank, Listen Center, Volunteers in Action, Windsor County Partners and other local charities. More images from the Bazaar:  http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/December-2014/Brownsville-Christmas-Bazaar/ Brownsville Christmas Bazaar Hosted by the United Methodist Women's Group West Windsor Town Hall Browns...