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Weathersfield News January 28, 2015 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photosbynanci@comcast.net Wow, did you get out on Sunday? What a gorgeous day. Some might say it was a Chamber of Commerce type day. I'm just back from an hour long snow-shoe in my neighbors' field. The snow we got on Saturday covered the icy patches and the wind blew deep drifts on the edge of the fields making for great snow-shoeing. I'm sitting down with a cup of tea in front of the woodstove reflecting on this last week of January. Can it already be, I mean didn't we just ring in the New Year? And speaking of New Year, when is it acceptable to stop saying "Happy New Year"? Do we keep saying it to people we're seeing for the first time since January 1 or what? What would they do on Downton Abbey? (Hooked, again. Love this British Sunday night soap opera.) Also as January comes to a close, check your wood piles. Folklore dictates that you are half-way through your wood pile in early ...

Glenn Selwitz and Alicia Jenks, owners of Green Dragon Farm Driving home from a show at the Skunk Hollow Tavern in Hartland, Alicia Jenks and Glenn Selwitz followed a fire truck from Exit 8 off I91 along Route 131 in Weathersfield. "Alicia's grip on the steering wheel tightened and we knew, we just knew" said Glenn Selwitz. What they "knew", and within minutes found out was true, was that their beloved farmhouse was on fire on that below zero evening of Jan. 2. Selwitz begged the fire fighters to let him break in the back to rescue his two cats but the fire was too intense. "I still have my cows" said Jenks "Thank God." The fire destroyed most of the 150-year-old Weathersfield farmhouse that he and Jenks lived in while operating Green Dragon Farm. It also took most all their belongings including a collection of guitars and other instruments Selwitz had. Gary Skillings of Relic Revue Still in shock from the fire, Selwitz received ...

"It was a dark and stormy night; NO, NO too creepy" shouts E.B. Janet (portrayed by Anne Marie Scheffler in the Mills Entertainment production of " SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody ".) The Lebanon Opera House was filled with women on a "Ladies Night Out" to witness this hugely funny parody of "The Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy by E.L. James. At times sexy and quite explicit, the dialogue came rapidly (no pun intended) and the physical comedy reminded me of Lucille Ball. E.B. Janet (Ann Mare Scheffler) has the weekend off from husband and kids and decides to write a novel, a mommy porn novel. She creates Tasha Woods (Andrea Muller) a very naive college student who replaces her roommate on an interview with billionaire Hugh Hanson (Ken Allen Neely.) The audience experienced the "page by page" development of each character as E.B. sipped wine and typed on her keyboard at the side of the stage. As the play progressed, local...

Jan 22, 2015 Manchester, VT Vermont's own Anais Mitchell performed at the Billsville House Concert Series last night in Manchester VT. On the eve of touring with Ani DiFranco ,  Mitchell sang, told stories and mingled with the sold-out audience. Doug Hacker, organizer of the concerts (along with his wife and two teenage sons) said it was their 70th show in the series. Mitchell surprised the crowd by taking requests which included one from Hacker for "Flowers." Mitchell said she doesn't usually perform this song live but gave it a whorl for Hacker. Next up for Billsville  Small Houses on February 27. Photos from the show:  http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/AnaisMitchell/Billsville-Manchester-VT-2015/ Videos from this show and othe Anais performances:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKa6O-DUsAoCfLeYhAzj8tBLwKhipmbx8

REMINDER! GREEN DRAGON FARM FUND RAISER- Jan. 24th Where:  Weathersfield Center Meeting House on Weathersfield Center Road When:   Saturday, January 24th, starting at 1:00 PM What:  Bring some snacks or a pot luck to share. Cost:  While the event has no admission charge, its purpose is to raise funds for Glenn and Alicia and a donation box will be on hand. Alicia Jenks and Glenn Selwitz lost almost everything when their old farmhouse on the corner of South Mountain Road and Rt.131 in Weathersfield burned down two weeks ago. Glen's musician friends are hosting a musical fund raiser and pot luck to raise money to help them get back on their feet. Music- including acoustic, classic rock and bluegrass- will be from THE WILD LIFERS, RELIC REVIEW, MOXLEY UNION, DAVEY DAVIS, THE FOUR HOARSEMENN, and BILL BRINK. Davey Davis If you are unable to be there Saturday, Alicia's Hartland school friends have set up a fund for them: Alicia Jenks Fund,  ...

Weathersfield News January 21, 2015 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photosbynanci@comcast.net Green Dragon Farm Fundraiser - Saturday Jan. 24 Weathersfield Center Meeting House on Weathersfield Center Road 1 p.m. The Weathersfield Community will be coming together to help our neighbors Alicia Jenks and Glenn Selwitz who lost almost everything when their old farmhouse on the corner of  South Mountain Road  and Rt.131  in Weathersfield burned down three weeks ago.  Glen's musician friends are hosting a musical fund raiser and pot luck to raise money to help them get back on their feet.  Music- including acoustic, classic rock and bluegrass- will be performed by The Wild Lifers, Relic Review, Moxley Union, Davey Davis, The Four Hoarsemenn,  and Bill Brink. The event is free but donations will be accepted to help out Glenn and Alicia. If you are unable attend, Alicia's Hartland Elementary school friends have set up a fund for them: Alicia Jenks Fund...

Hartland VT January 17, 2015 Hartland Community Arts is hosting a Country Dance Series at Damon Hall. The first was held Saturday Jan. 17. About 85 community folks showed up to dance the night away. Adam Boyce and Sue Hunt provided the music. Adam Boyce learned about dancing and fiddling from his mentor, the late Harold Luce of Chelsea, a legendary traditional “Yankee” fiddler from central Vermont. Like his mentor did, Adam fiddles and calls simultaneously the style of square dancing that was popular from the 1930’s through the 1950’s at barns and dance halls all over New England. Besides the old “singing squares,” Adam does other formations, including Portland Fancy and the Virginia Reel. Also interspersed throughout the evening are polkas, foxtrots, schottisches, and slow waltzes. All dances are taught, as needed, and all ages and abilities are welcome. Two more dances are planned for Feb. 21, and Mar. 21 7:30 Suggested donation: $7/person, $12/couple, k...

SPANK!, The Fifty Shades Parody (loosely based on the popular "mommy porn" books by E L James) returns Firday night to Lebanon Opera House. Need a girls night out, a break from the family, want to split your sides laughing, you need to get a ticket ! Back by popular demand! SPANK!, The Fifty Shades Parody  is the whip-smart comedy that takes on the naughty fun of the best-selling book and highly-anticipated movie, and brings it to outrageous life! Featuring musical numbers, steamy performances highlighting the famous hunk and his grey tie, and lots of hilarious surprises, SPANK! is bound to have you begging for more. Stay to meet the cast and pose for a photo with Mr. Dangerous himself after the show. It’s a riotous night of fun that will leave your Inner Goddess breathless. Don’t miss your chance for the ultimate “girls’ night out!” Artist Website: www.spankshow.com More images from the 2013 show and the Meet and Greet: SPANK! SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody A Kirschner ...

GREEN DRAGON FARM FUND RAISER- Jan. 24th Where: Weathersfield Center Meeting House on Weathersfield Center Road When: Saturday, January 24th, starting at 1:00 PM What: Bring some snacks or a pot luck to share. Cost: While the event has no admission charge, its purpose is to raise funds for Glenn and Alicia and a donation box will be on hand. Alicia Jenks and Glenn Selwitz lost almost everything when their old farmhouse on the corner of South Mountain Road and Rt.131 in Weathersfield burned down two weeks ago. Glen's musician friends are hosting a musical fund raiser and pot luck to raise money to help them get back on their feet. Music- including acoustic, classic rock and bluegrass- will be from THE WILD LIFERS, RELIC REVIEW, MOXLEY UNION, DAVEY DAVIS, THE FOUR HOARSEMENN, and BILL BRINK. Davey Davis If you are unable to be there Saturday, Alicia's Hartland school friends have set up a fund for them: Alicia Jenks Fund,  ℅ Mascoma Bank,  PO ...

Weathersfield News January 14, 2015 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy photosbynanci@comcast.net Weather Weirdness, yup that's the term for me. "Global Warming" just doesn't fit for most New Englanders and "Climate Change" sounds way too scientific. Weather Weirdness is the phrase for me. Think about it, weirdness covers it all: deep snow for Thanksgiving, rain and temps in the 40s for Christmas, temps 20 below one day and 20 above the next. As a New Englander, weather is a big part of my life. When I get out of bed in the morning, before I even reach for coffee, I check the weather outside. In the summer, I look to the sky for rain to water my garden and hope we don't get hail to crush it. As the season turns to fall, I watch the forecast and hope frost will hold off until all the fruits and veggies are harvested. Weather is part of our lives and it's getting down right weird. I'm not going to point fingers as to how or why its becoming wei...

Jake Haehnel Hartland Community Connections (HCC) hosted its 7th annual Emerging Artists Showcase Saturday night at Damon Hall. Nine talented young people performed on piano, guitar, acted out skits, read poetry and generally entertained the over 85 people who packed the hall. Parker Eastman Evan Cary The showcase allows young local talent to perform on a stage with professional sound (Doug Linnell) and lighting (Bruce McCumber) before a large audience. Nolan Murray of SafeArts said before the show "I'm so nervous." SafeArts Nichole Hastings Molly Zegans Hartland's Jake Haehnel closed the show with some of his original music and then the audience retired downstairs for a community dinner of soup (donated by The Windsor Station), salads and desserts made by members of the HCC board members. 7th Annual Emerging Artists Showcase Hartland Community Connections Damon Hall Hartland VT January 10, 2015 Copyright ©2015 Nancy ...