Weathersfield Weekly Blog, April 3

The sap continues to run. Let's hope it's a good year for our maple syrup producers. I know it's Spring but there is still a good amount of snow around.

News You Can Use

The 8th Annual Weathersfield Town Challenge, a benefit for the Weathersfield Proctor Library, was held this past weekend. About 120 people attended (the most to attend the event so far) and almost $1500 was raised by the teams and through donations at the door.

The event MC was Ginger Wimberg, who also crafted most of the trivia questions. Ten teams competed and the three final teams were: The School Board (Sean Whalen, Susan Hingdinger, Kristen Bruso), The Library (Rika Henderson, Glenna Coleman, Rick Bates, Barbara Putnam), and The Select Board (Kelly Murphy, Dan Boyer, Dave Fuller). Congratulations go out to the winning team, the Weathersfield School Board.

Other highlights at the challenge were: John Arrison and his Victrola, the team with the “Most Spirit” went the Veterans Memorial Committee with table décor of red, white and blue and a slide show in background and the “Most Sponsorship” team, the team that raised the most money, the went to the Weathersfield Proctor Library team.

Weathersfield School news: Weathersfield School Drama club announced their production of Frozen has been changed. The final dress rehearsal for the musical Frozen will be on Friday, May 17 2:30-5 p.m. in the gym. The performance will be on Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. in the gym, with student’s performance on Monday, May 20 at 1 p.m. For more information school news, please call the school at 674-5400.

Get Out and About Events

Raffle Tickets on Sale to Help Baby Ellie in Ascutney Saturday, April 6 8-11 a.m. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Station on Saturday. Proceeds go to help baby Ellie Rosen and her family while Ellie fights a rare form of brain cancer. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Ten great prizes are being raffled off. For more info call Lisa at 802-291-1475 or Jess at 802-291-3652.

Life in a Small Vermont Village-Greenbush presented by Barbara Williams Shepherd in Ascutney Sunday, April 14, 2 pm. Martin Memorial Hall, Rte. 5, Ascutney, Vermont. The Weathersfield Historical Society is hosting a talk by Barbara Williams Shepherd. Join them for a trip to small Vermont village life in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Barbara, author of two biographies of Greenbush residents, Ann Williams and Ed Williams, now lives in Derby, but she grew up in Greenbush, just north of Downers Four Corners (Weathersfield), Vermont. Barbara is a lively and entertaining presenter and through her research over the years has accumulated loads of interesting stories about village life.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Perkinsville Saturday, April 13 10 am-noon. The Weathersfield Proctor Library, Town of Weathersfield and the Parks and Recreation are hosting their 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Hoisington Field in Perkinsville. All welcome, bring a basket to collect your Easter eggs.

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in Ascutney, Wednesdays through April 17. Patti Arrison will lead group discussion Wednesday’s March 20-April 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m. More information about the Friends of Weathersfield Proctor Library or the library contact Mark at 802-674-2863.
Mushroom Workshop in Hartland. Reservations are open for three one-day shiitake log inoculation workshops on April 6, 13, and 28. Each workshop includes hands-on learning, preparing and inoculating logs, and wood-fired pizza from the outdoor oven. Each participant takes home a log that will fruit in the 2019 season. These are free workshops, but space is limited so sign up soon. This outdoor activity incorporates science, agriculture, tool skills, new people, and FOOD. Request more information or reserve a space call Sandy Gmur at 831-750-7115.

VAULT’s Creative Papers Art Camp in Springfield. April 15-17 1-3:30 p.m. at Springfield Parks & Rec on 139 Main Street in Springfield for children age 8 and up. Experiment with making decorative papers, to jazz up a gift, make cards, a diary, photo album, or journal. Bring a collection of at least six photos on one topic (such as family, pets or travel photos) to be a starting point for one album. Please register at Gallery at the VAULT on 68 Main St., (open Monday 11:30 to 2:30 and Wednesday through Saturday from 11 to 5). Older students and parents are invited to join in. There is a $20 suggested donation. www.galleryvault.org 802-885-7111

Music and Performances

Briggs Opera House in White River Junction. May 4 Gumbo Grits and Gavy Celebrating Pete Seeger’s 100th Birthday 7:30 p.m. More info at Kirschner Concerts.

Inn at Weathersfield Live Music Fridays in Perkinsville 7-9 p.m. Closed March 31-May 2-Mud Season Break.

The Engine Room in White River Junction. April 4 Comedy Night featuring Kyle Gadapee 8 p.m.; April 12 Fairies and Rainbows 9 p.m..

Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon NH. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. April 4 Fly Fishing Film Tour-7p.m.; April 12 A Sick Day for Amos McGee-10 a.m.; April 18 Martin Barre Celebrates 50 Years of Jethro Tull; April 19 Get The Led Out; May 17 Dan Zanes and Claudia Eliaza-10 a.m.; May 17 April Verch Band-On Location; May 18 Who’s Bad; June 13 David Crosby and Sky Trails Band; June 16 Keb’ Mo’; June 20 Anoushka Shankar; June 23 Whose Live Anyway? Oct. 5 Graham Nash.

Skinny Pancake in Hanover NH. April 6 Fu’Chunk 8 p.m.; April 11 Out in the Valley Queer Happy Hour 6 p.m.; April 20 Matt Seiple 7 p.m.; May 4 Shokazoba Funk 8:30 p.m.; May 10 Abigail Lapell 7 p.m.

Taverne On The Square in Claremont. April 12 Jason Cann 7 p.m.; April 25 The Turbos 7 p.m.; May 10 Dirty Looks 8 p.m..

Windsor Station in Windsor. April 5 The Party Crashers 9:30 p.m.; April 6 Unbalanced 9:30 p.m.; April 12 Turner Around 9:30 p.m.; April 13 Moxley Union 9:30 p.m.; April 19 The Crop Dusters 9:30 p.m.

Weathersfield School Performances in Ascutney. April 9 Weathersfield K-8 Spring Concert 6-7:30 p.m. (Snow date Wednesday, April 10); Frozen, the play on Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. in the gym, with the school production for students on Monday, May 20 1 p.m., May 24 Memorial Day Assembly 8:15-9 a.m.

Ongoing Events

1879 Perkinsville Schoolhouse Committee Seeks Volunteers. The 1879 Perkinsville Schoolhouse Committee needs willing hands to help with the ongoing task of renovating the 1879 Perkinsville District 1 school. No special skills are needed, and food will be provided. The next scheduled work dates are: April 13, and May 11 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.. Please contact Matt Keniston at 802-263-5300 or norclime@tds.net to sign up.

AARP Tax-Aide Program in Ascutney Tuesdays at 9 a.m. at Martin Memorial Hall 5259 Route 5 call 802-885-3933 for more information. Taxes are due April 15.

Food Assistance:
Ascutney Union Church Food Cupboard in Ascutney 5243 Route 5 Saturdays 9-10 a.m. call 802-674-2484.

Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville The 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month from 1-3 p.m. WFS is located in the 1879 Schoolhouse at 1862 Route 106 in Perkinsville. Donations of nonperishable food are always welcomed and may be dropped off at the facility during open hours or placed in the collection box at Martin Memorial Hall. For more information, call 802-263-5584 or email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com.

Rachel’s Kitchen in Windsor. Free breakfast 7-10 a.m. Mon-Fri at the Rachel Harlow Church 165 Main Street Windsor.

Windsor Community Dinners in Windsor. Wednesdays 5-6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall 4 Court Street, Windsor.

Veggie Van Go in Windsor. Free fresh produce provided by the Vermont Food Bank. 2nd Tuesday of the month 10-11 a.m. Mt. Ascutney Hospital 289 County Road, Windsor.

Hartland Food Shelf in Hartland. 4 Corners UU Church Fridays 8-10 a.m.

Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf in Reading. Mondays 2-4 p.m. and Thursday 4-6 p.m. Stone School 3456 Tyson Rd, Reading.

Weathersfield Walking Program in Ascutney is offered Monday-Friday, 7:35-7:50 a.m. Weathersfield School teachers and staff walk outside with any student who wants to participate. If the weather is bad or the temperature is too cold, then students and staff walk in the gym. Exercise and enjoy the outdoors.

Low cost spay/neuter clinics in Springfield. Springfield Humane Society is hosting low cost spay/neuter clinics in 2019: April 30, May 28, June 18, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept.24, Oct. 29, and Nov. 26 at the Springfield Humane Society, on Route 143. Cost is $50 for female cat and $40 for male cat. Weathersfield residents may be reimbursed up to $50 for the surgery with a limit of three pets per year. Get your SNAP form from the town office. Please call Springfield Humane Society for an appointment at 802-885-3997.

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

Twin State Depression Support Group in Weathersfield. Free peer-led Depression Support Groups to all, the 3rd Wednesday of each month, 6:30 pm, 5259 Route 5, Ascutney, VT (Martin Memorial Hall - downstairs) and the 4th Wednesday of each month, 6:30 pm, 7 Morgan Street, Springfield, VT (Turning Point) Both venues are accessible. TwinStateDepressionSupportGroup.org or on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TwinStateDSG/. More information call 802-795-0098

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