Showing posts with label Vermont. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vermont. Show all posts
Monday, January 17, 2022
Monday, April 12, 2021
“Remembering Robert Frost” | Zoom April 25th | St. Johnsbury Athenæum | National Poetry Month
St. Johnsbury, VT — For the sixth year, the Northeast Storytellers host a special event to commemorate Robert Frost, longtime poet laureate of Vermont. This year the event will be hosted in conjunction with the St. Johnsbury Athenæum via Zoom on Sunday, April 25th from 4:00-5:15 pm. The “Remembering Robert Frost” gathering is dedicated to the memory, poetic works, and legacy of the famed Vermont resident.
Brief presentations will be made by notable poets in the region, including former Vermont poet laureate, Chard deNiord, and current president of the Poetry Society of Vermont, George Longenecker. Director of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire Zoom events, Jimmy Pappas, will also make a presentation. Depending on remaining time, other event attendees will be invited to share readings, reflections, history, anecdotes, and experiences they’ve had with Robert Frost, his works, and his legacy.
This event is free and open to the public and all are welcome to attend online. Please see the related event listing in the adult events at the Athenæum website to register and receive the Zoom meeting code. With any questions regarding participating in the reading, please contact Brooke Quillen via brookequillen@yahoo.com or 802.751.5432.
One of the most popular and critically acclaimed American poets of the twentieth century, Robert Lee Frost – who was born March 26, 1874, and died January 29, 1963 – received four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960 for his poetic works. Frost is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life in New England in the early twentieth century. Although he never graduated from a university, he received 44 honorary degrees during his lifetime.
Robert Frost was named poet laureate of Vermont in 1961 after living, writing, and teaching in the Green Mountain State for many years. The Robert Frost Farm in Ripton, where he lived and wrote in the summer and fall months from 1939 until his death, is a National Historic Landmark. He wrote "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening", one of his most popular poems, in June 1922 at his home in Shaftsbury, Vermont — which now operates as the Robert Frost Stone House Museum. The poet was laid to rest in the Old Bennington Cemetery in Bennington, Vermont. His gravestone carries the inscription: "I HAD A LOVER'S QUARREL WITH THE WORLD."
Other noted works by Robert Frost include “The Death of a Hired Man", "Mending Wall", and "The Road Not Taken". At 87 he recited his poem “The Gift Outright” from memory at the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy, when faint ink from his typewriter made the poem he'd written for the occasion unreadable.
The Northeast Storytellers — a group of writers, readers, and appreciators of prose and verse — met regularly the second Tuesday of every month from 2-3:30 pm for a Poetry Tea Party at the St. Johnsbury House in downtown St. Johnsbury, Vermont as part of a program offered through the Good Living Senior Center. The group organizes events during National Poetry Month each April, participating in poetry readings and other activities throughout the year.
National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 and is held every April throughout the country. It is the largest literary celebration in the world — with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital role in our lives.
The St. Johnsbury Athenæum is a non-profit public library and art gallery located at 1171 Main Street in St. Johnsbury. It was founded as a cultural center by the Fairbanks family whose scale manufacturing company contributed to the growth of the town. Constructed in the French Second Empire style in 1871, the library was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. A small art gallery was added in 1873, and the collection of paintings and sculptures now numbers over one hundred. Most are originals with some copies of masterpieces by Old Master artists such as Van Dyck, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Fra Angelico. Dominating the gallery is the magnificent "Domes of the Yosemite" framed oil painting by Albert Bierstadt (recently back from major refurbishment).
The Athenæum hosts a number of artistic, cultural, and educational events for the public throughout the year.
###
LIVE LINK FOR THIS RELEASE: (click here)
CONTACTS:
Brooke Quillen
Phone: 802-751-5432
E-mail: brookequillen@yahoo.com
Adele West-Fisher
Phone: 802-745-1392
E-mail: awestfisher@stjathenaeum.org
SEE ALSO:
http://www.stjathenaeum.org/ St. Johnsbury Athenæum
http://www.poetrysocietyofvermont.org/ Poetry Society of Vermont
http://www.robertfrostsociety.org/ The Robert Frost Society
http://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home National Poetry Month
http://www.stjgoodliving.org/ Good Living Senior Center
Zoom Open Mic | St. Johnsbury Athenæum | 4.16.21 @ 6pm | National Poetry Month
For National Poetry Month this year, the St. Johnsbury Athenæum — in collaboration with the Northeast Storytellers — hosts an online open mic. This Zoom event starts at 6pm on Friday, April 16, 2021 and runs over an hour.
The reading slate is pretty full already, with a burgeoning waiting list. To register to view the event, or to add your name to the growing waiting list for readers, please visit the event page at the Athenæum website. Separate registration links should be provided for participants and attendees.
The Athenaeum staff will start admitting people into Zoom fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled start time. During the event, each reader will have 3-4 minutes. Material may be original or created by someone else (with proper attribution).
Together we can make this year's open mic a big success!
Saturday, February 13, 2021
VALENTINE’S DAY POETRY READING FROM ST. JOHNSBURY ATHENÆUM
Love-Themed Event via Zoom on February 14, 2021 @ 4pm
St. Johnsbury, VT — For the sixth time, the Northeast Storytellers host a special event in honor of the patron saint for lovers via Zoom on Sunday, February 14, 2021 from 4-5:15 pm. In association with the St. Johnsbury Athenæum, group members and guests will participate online via Zoom, sharing love-themed readings. An award for the best love poem reading will be presented, if possible, as determined by audience appreciation.
Readers this year include: Geof Hewitt, Jimmy Pappas, Marta Finch, Marshall Witten, Judy Janoo, S. J. Cahill, James Frase-White, and Jim Barrett. Rachel Hadas and Shalom Gorewitz will participate from New York City.
This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend online. Please see the related event page in the adult events listings at the Athenæum website to register for the Zoom meeting. To participate in the reading, please contact Brooke Quillen (brookequillen@yahoo.com or 802.751.5432) to see if any slots may have opened up.
The Athenaeum hosts a number of artistic, cultural, and educational events for the public throughout the year.
CONTACT:
Adele West-Fisher
Phone: 802-745-1392
E-mail: awestfisher@stjathenaeum.org
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Honorable Mention, J. Richard Barry Memorial Award: "Lazy Man's Guide to Sugarin'"
“Sugarin' is a time-honored past-time in Vermont. This poem captures that past-time in an inventive form with both humor and an excellent list or a "guide" for the "lazyman." It is often difficult to write humorous poems, or poems that can inventively touch on something that is overwritten and clichéd. This poem receives an honorable mention due to succeeding on both counts: it reinvents the typical maple sugaring poem in an engaging poetic form, with italicized asides, and provides some levity and poet-humor. Who needs all the fancy contraptions when you can make due with what you've got? Congratulations to this poet for evoking our Vermont time-honored past-time, maple sugarin'.”
Sarah Audsley, Judge
Monday, May 04, 2020
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
VALENTINE’S DAY READING AT ST. JOHNSBURY ATHENÆUM
Love-Themed Event February 14, 2020 in Art Gallery @ 3pm
St. Johnsbury, VT — For the sixth year running, the Northeast Storytellers host a special event in honor of the patron saint for lovers at the St. Johnsbury Athenæum in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. This year the event will be held on Valentine’s Day: Friday, February 14, 2020 from 3-4:30 pm. In association with the St. Johnsbury Athenæum, group members and guests will appear in the world-famous Gallery sharing their love-themed readings. An award for the best love poetry or prose reading (or recitation) will be presented, as determined by audience appreciation.
 |
| St. Johnsbury Athenaeum |
The Northeast Storytellers — a group of writers, readers, and appreciators of verse and prose — meet regularly the second Tuesday of every month from 2-3:30 pm for a Poetry Tea Party offered through the Good Living Senior Center in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The public is welcome to attend, if only to listen, and new members are always encouraged to join. The group organizes events during National Poetry Month every April — ranging from workshops to commemorations to open houses — and it participates in other activities throughout the year. Many members also join the Poetry Society of Vermont, actively engaging in programs they offer.
The St. Johnsbury Athenæum is a non-profit public library and art gallery located at 1171 Main Street in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. It was founded as a cultural center by the Fairbanks family whose scale manufacturing company contributed to the growth of the town. The Athenaeum hosts a number of artistic, cultural, and educational events for the public throughout the year.
Constructed in the French Second Empire style in 1871, the St. Johnsbury Athenæum was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. A small art gallery was added in 1873, and the collection of paintings and sculptures now numbers over one hundred. Most are originals with some copies of masterpieces by Old Master artists such as Van Dyck, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Fra Angelico. Dominating the gallery is the magnificent "Domes of the Yosemite" framed oil painting by Albert Bierstadt, which is recently back from a major refurbishment.
Also called Saint Valentine's Day, the annual Valentine’s Day celebration honoring Love began in the 14th century — when the tradition of courtly love flourished. The day evolved in 18th-century Victorian England into an occasion to express love with flowers, chocolate, or greeting cards known as "Valentines". As in previous years, the prize for the audience-favorite reading or recitation at this event is selected in this spirit.
Monday, March 18, 2019
Northeast Storytellers Host Fifth-Annual “Remembering Robert Frost” April 9 @ St. Johnsbury House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
2019 NATIONAL POETRY MONTH EVENTS IN NORTHEAST KINGDOM
St. Johnsbury, VT - March 17, 2019 — For the fifth year running the Northeast Storytellers host a Robert Frost remembrance on Tuesday, April 9th from 2-3:30 pm in place of the regular monthly Poetry Tea Party. The “Remembering Robert Frost” special gathering will be dedicated to the memory, poetic works, and legacy of the famed longtime Vermont resident and poet laureate.
The memorial event will take place at the St. Johnsbury House located at 1207 Main Street in St. Johnsbury as part of a Good Living Senior Center program. Members of the public, residents of the St. Johnsbury House, and Northeast Storytellers will share readings, reflections, history, anecdotes, and experiences they’ve had with Robert Frost, his works, and his legacy. Everyone is invited to participate. The event is hosted by the Northeast Storytellers, and refreshments will be served.
One of the most popular and critically acclaimed American poets of the twentieth century, Robert Lee Frost – who was born March 26, 1874, and died January 29, 1963 – received four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. And he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960 for his poetic works. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life in New England in the early twentieth century. Frost never graduated from a university, but he received 44 honorary degrees during his lifetime.
Robert Frost was named poet laureate of Vermont in 1961 after living, writing, and teaching in the Green Mountain State for many years. The Robert Frost Farm in Ripton, where he lived and wrote in the summer and fall months from 1939 until his death, is a National Historic Landmark. He wrote "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening", one of his most popular poems, in June 1922 at his home in Shaftsbury — which now operates as the Robert Frost Stone House Museum. The poet was laid to rest in the Old Bennington Cemetery in Bennington. His gravestone carries the inscription: "I HAD A LOVER'S QUARREL WITH THE WORLD."
Other noted works by Robert Frost include “The Death of a Hired Man", "Mending Wall", and "The Road Not Taken". At 87 he recited his poem “The Gift Outright” from memory at the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy, when faint ink from his typewriter made the poem he'd written for the occasion unreadable.
The Northeast Storytellers — a group of writers, readers, and appreciators of prose and verse — meet regularly the second Tuesday of every month from 2-3:30 pm for a Poetry Tea Party at the St. Johnsbury House as a part of programs offered through the Good Living Senior Center. The public is welcome to attend if only to listen, and new members are always encouraged to join. The group organizes events during National Poetry Month every April, participating in other activities throughout the year.
National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 and is held every April throughout the country. It is the largest literary celebration in the world — with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital role in our lives.
Formerly a noted hotel, the elegantly refurbished St. Johnsbury House is now a residential facility for those 55 and over — conveniently located on Main Street close to the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum and Fairbanks Museum. The Good Living Senior Center programs and activities, managed by Vanna Guldenschuh, enrich the lives of folks over 50 from around the Northeast Kingdom. They offer public lunches Monday through Friday in the former hotel dining room.
All Northeast Storyteller events are free and open to the public. Everybody is welcome to attend and participation is strongly encouraged. For more information, please email brookequillen@yahoo.com or call 802.751.5432.
###
Contact: Brooke Quillen
Phone: 802-751-5432
E-mail: brookequillen@yahoo.com
SEE ALSO:
http://www.robertfrostsociety.org/ The Robert Frost Society
http://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home National Poetry Month
http://www.stjgoodliving.org/ Good Living Senior Center
2019 NATIONAL POETRY MONTH EVENTS IN NORTHEAST KINGDOM
St. Johnsbury, VT - March 17, 2019 — For the fifth year running the Northeast Storytellers host a Robert Frost remembrance on Tuesday, April 9th from 2-3:30 pm in place of the regular monthly Poetry Tea Party. The “Remembering Robert Frost” special gathering will be dedicated to the memory, poetic works, and legacy of the famed longtime Vermont resident and poet laureate.
The memorial event will take place at the St. Johnsbury House located at 1207 Main Street in St. Johnsbury as part of a Good Living Senior Center program. Members of the public, residents of the St. Johnsbury House, and Northeast Storytellers will share readings, reflections, history, anecdotes, and experiences they’ve had with Robert Frost, his works, and his legacy. Everyone is invited to participate. The event is hosted by the Northeast Storytellers, and refreshments will be served.
One of the most popular and critically acclaimed American poets of the twentieth century, Robert Lee Frost – who was born March 26, 1874, and died January 29, 1963 – received four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. And he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960 for his poetic works. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life in New England in the early twentieth century. Frost never graduated from a university, but he received 44 honorary degrees during his lifetime.
Robert Frost was named poet laureate of Vermont in 1961 after living, writing, and teaching in the Green Mountain State for many years. The Robert Frost Farm in Ripton, where he lived and wrote in the summer and fall months from 1939 until his death, is a National Historic Landmark. He wrote "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening", one of his most popular poems, in June 1922 at his home in Shaftsbury — which now operates as the Robert Frost Stone House Museum. The poet was laid to rest in the Old Bennington Cemetery in Bennington. His gravestone carries the inscription: "I HAD A LOVER'S QUARREL WITH THE WORLD."
Other noted works by Robert Frost include “The Death of a Hired Man", "Mending Wall", and "The Road Not Taken". At 87 he recited his poem “The Gift Outright” from memory at the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy, when faint ink from his typewriter made the poem he'd written for the occasion unreadable.
The Northeast Storytellers — a group of writers, readers, and appreciators of prose and verse — meet regularly the second Tuesday of every month from 2-3:30 pm for a Poetry Tea Party at the St. Johnsbury House as a part of programs offered through the Good Living Senior Center. The public is welcome to attend if only to listen, and new members are always encouraged to join. The group organizes events during National Poetry Month every April, participating in other activities throughout the year.
National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 and is held every April throughout the country. It is the largest literary celebration in the world — with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital role in our lives.
Formerly a noted hotel, the elegantly refurbished St. Johnsbury House is now a residential facility for those 55 and over — conveniently located on Main Street close to the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum and Fairbanks Museum. The Good Living Senior Center programs and activities, managed by Vanna Guldenschuh, enrich the lives of folks over 50 from around the Northeast Kingdom. They offer public lunches Monday through Friday in the former hotel dining room.
All Northeast Storyteller events are free and open to the public. Everybody is welcome to attend and participation is strongly encouraged. For more information, please email brookequillen@yahoo.com or call 802.751.5432.
###
Contact: Brooke Quillen
Phone: 802-751-5432
E-mail: brookequillen@yahoo.com
SEE ALSO:
http://www.robertfrostsociety.org/ The Robert Frost Society
http://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home National Poetry Month
http://www.stjgoodliving.org/ Good Living Senior Center
Sunday, February 17, 2019
PoemTown Randolph, Vermont: Activities and Events
The work of 70 Vermont poets will be displayed in businesses and organizations throughout the town of Randolph during the month of April 2019. The town also offers an exciting schedule of activities for National Poetry Month:
All events are free (except for food and drink at the Black Krim). Please contact Becky McMeekin of PoemTown Randolph for more on these activities and events.
*nearly 200 poems were submitted for consideration.
- PoemTown kick-off — Monday, April 1, 2019 Montpelier poet Kerrin McCadden at the Black Krim with dinner at 6pm followed by a reading: 7pm
- Reading — Wednesday, April 10, 2019 Three published poets read at Kimball Public Library (Corey Cook, Anne Shivas, Carol Potter) with light refreshments: 7pm
- Open mic — Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Kimball Public Library: 7pm
- Farmer poets read — Saturday, April 20, 2019 Silloway Maple sugar house in Randolph Center (Taylor Katz, Carl Russell, Caitlin Gildrien) with sugar on snow and light refreshments: 7pm
- Grand Finale with Los Lorcas — Thursday, April 25, 2019 In the spirit of Federico Garcia Lorca — gifted musician, legendary poet/playwright and ebullient performer — poets Partridge Boswell and Peter Money, along with guitarist Nat Williams, fuse poetry and music in a passionate and surprising mash-up: 7pm
All events are free (except for food and drink at the Black Krim). Please contact Becky McMeekin of PoemTown Randolph for more on these activities and events.
*nearly 200 poems were submitted for consideration.
 |
| Downtown Randolph, Vermont |
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Poets! Storytellers! Lovers of Love! Take Heart!
A VALENTINE POETRY READING AT ST. JOHNSBURY ATHENÆUM
Love-Themed Event to be Held February 9, 2019 in Art Gallery @ 1pm
St. Johnsbury, VT — For the fifth year running, the Northeast Storytellers host a special event in honor of the patron saint for lovers in St. Johnsbury, Vermont on Saturday, February 9, 2019 from 1-2:15 pm. In association with the St. Johnsbury Athenæum, group members and guests will appear in the world-famous Gallery sharing their love-themed readings. An award for the best love poem reading will be presented, as determined by audience appreciation.
Also called Saint Valentine's Day, this annual celebration honoring Love began in the 14th century — when the tradition of courtly love flourished. The day evolved in 18th-century Victorian England into an occasion to express love with flowers, chocolate, or greeting cards known as "Valentines". Valentine's Day falls on the following Thursday this year.
This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend and participate, and tasty refreshments will be served. To participate in the reading, please show up a little before the event for sign-up. For more information contact Brooke Quillen via brookequillen@yahoo.com or 802.751.5432.
The Northeast Storytellers — a group of writers, readers, and appreciators of prose and verse — meet regularly the second Tuesday of every month from 2-3:30 pm for a Poetry Tea Party through the Good Living Senior Center in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The public is welcome to attend, if only to listen, and new members are always encouraged to join. The group organizes events during National Poetry Month every April — ranging from workshops to commemorations to open houses — and it participates in other activities throughout the year.
The St. Johnsbury Athenæum is a non-profit public library and art gallery located at 1171 Main Street in St. Johnsbury. It was founded as a cultural center by the Fairbanks family whose scale manufacturing company contributed to the growth of the town. Constructed in the French Second Empire style in 1871, the Athenæum was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. A small art gallery was added in 1873, and the collection of paintings and sculptures now numbers over one hundred. Most are originals with some copies of masterpieces by Old Master artists such as Van Dyck, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Fra Angelico. Dominating the gallery is the magnificent "Domes of the Yosemite" framed oil painting by Albert Bierstadt (recently back from major refurbishment).
The Athenaeum hosts a number of artistic, cultural, and educational events for the public throughout the year.
###
LIVE LINK FOR THIS RELEASE: (click here)
CONTACTS:
Brooke Quillen
Phone: 802-751-5432
E-mail: brookequillen@yahoo.com
Adele West-Fisher
Phone: 802-745-1392
E-mail: awestfisher@stjathenaeum.org
SEE ALSO:
http://www.stjathenaeum.org/ St. Johnsbury Athenaeum
http://www.stjgoodliving.org/ Good Living Senior Center
http://www.poetrysocietyofvermont.org/ Poetry Society of Vermont
https://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home National Poetry Month
Love-Themed Event to be Held February 9, 2019 in Art Gallery @ 1pm
St. Johnsbury, VT — For the fifth year running, the Northeast Storytellers host a special event in honor of the patron saint for lovers in St. Johnsbury, Vermont on Saturday, February 9, 2019 from 1-2:15 pm. In association with the St. Johnsbury Athenæum, group members and guests will appear in the world-famous Gallery sharing their love-themed readings. An award for the best love poem reading will be presented, as determined by audience appreciation.
Also called Saint Valentine's Day, this annual celebration honoring Love began in the 14th century — when the tradition of courtly love flourished. The day evolved in 18th-century Victorian England into an occasion to express love with flowers, chocolate, or greeting cards known as "Valentines". Valentine's Day falls on the following Thursday this year.
This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend and participate, and tasty refreshments will be served. To participate in the reading, please show up a little before the event for sign-up. For more information contact Brooke Quillen via brookequillen@yahoo.com or 802.751.5432.
The Northeast Storytellers — a group of writers, readers, and appreciators of prose and verse — meet regularly the second Tuesday of every month from 2-3:30 pm for a Poetry Tea Party through the Good Living Senior Center in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The public is welcome to attend, if only to listen, and new members are always encouraged to join. The group organizes events during National Poetry Month every April — ranging from workshops to commemorations to open houses — and it participates in other activities throughout the year.
The St. Johnsbury Athenæum is a non-profit public library and art gallery located at 1171 Main Street in St. Johnsbury. It was founded as a cultural center by the Fairbanks family whose scale manufacturing company contributed to the growth of the town. Constructed in the French Second Empire style in 1871, the Athenæum was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. A small art gallery was added in 1873, and the collection of paintings and sculptures now numbers over one hundred. Most are originals with some copies of masterpieces by Old Master artists such as Van Dyck, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Fra Angelico. Dominating the gallery is the magnificent "Domes of the Yosemite" framed oil painting by Albert Bierstadt (recently back from major refurbishment).
The Athenaeum hosts a number of artistic, cultural, and educational events for the public throughout the year.
###
LIVE LINK FOR THIS RELEASE: (click here)
CONTACTS:
Brooke Quillen
Phone: 802-751-5432
E-mail: brookequillen@yahoo.com
Adele West-Fisher
Phone: 802-745-1392
E-mail: awestfisher@stjathenaeum.org
SEE ALSO:
http://www.stjathenaeum.org/ St. Johnsbury Athenaeum
http://www.stjgoodliving.org/ Good Living Senior Center
http://www.poetrysocietyofvermont.org/ Poetry Society of Vermont
https://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home National Poetry Month
Monday, October 08, 2018
Teig Saying "Goodbye"
"It's an owl!" said my friend, the driver.
"It's a hawk!" I said, unable to see its head.While driving to Cabot last night, we encountered a bird in the middle of Danville Hill Road. My friend had only just warned me that he simply could not stand the thought of killing a living creature with his car, that he even swerves for insects.
Stopping immediately, headlights on, I was expecting whatever it was to move off quickly when we pulled up. But it sat there. Finally, it turned its big head as if looking straight into my eyes.
"It's an owl," I agreed.
Neither of us had ever seen one before, at least not in the middle of a dirt road. Up high up in a tree, maybe, but not on the ground."It's caught something," I said.
As we pulled the car around the bird, it finally lifted off, relaxing its grip as it did. A single poplar tree leaf fluttered to the dirt.There began a discussion in the car of what an impressive moment that had been, one that others assign great meaning to — since the time of the Greeks and Romans.
The owl was carrying a message.
Could it be my friend Teig Hogan saying "goodbye"? They'd just gathered down in Virginia for an informal memorial the day before. I'd sent best regards along with a link to some images of him, hoping to participate remotely.I knew he didn't have long, but I'd missed that last call — phone upstairs when I was downstairs kind of a thing. Of course, I wish I'd called him back.
Goodbye, Teig. We'll play more trivia when I get there.
October 8, 2018
Saturday, June 16, 2018
Somebody's Rock Pile
 |
| From a 6'x6' clearing |
The area's known as a major rock depository, from when glaciers melted — dumping enormous quantities of rock from Canada right where future farmers would be sure to encounter it.**
Whenever I turn a space for any reason in the yard, it turns into an excavation project pretty quickly. We're used to that up here. But the rocks I discover are usually fairly large and not all that numerous.
 |
| Failed arrowheads? |
When I started in on this last section, I noticed something quite different: the shovel would not even enter the turf before meeting rocks. What I've apparently discovered is somebody else's rock pile. Perhaps the same area I chose to farm on was somebody else's choice years ago. What I've stumbled upon is where all those rocks from the rocky field ended up.
It's a relatively flat area, low enough to capture rainwater, just up from the Passumpsic River — located at a corner of two roads that most likely were Indian trails before they became major thoroughfares.
I'm finding rocks that might make good tools — not projectiles or arrowheads (unless failed ones), but other tools that might be involved in agrarian pursuits. Tools designed for cutting, scraping, clearing, etc.***
Problem is, I'm not an expert on these things and my "confirmation bias" might get in the way. Next step is to show curious items to people who might know how to interpret them better.
*each part of which is about 6'x6'.
**Vermont itself is known as such a rocky place that much of the outward migration in the mid- to late-1800s was about finding rock-free places to farm out west.
***most of the resources I've found so far emphasize projectiles (more sexy?) and don't have much on other types of tools native peoples might have used.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Friday, April 13, 2018
Friday, March 16, 2018
Northeast Storytellers Host “Remembering Robert Frost” | April 10, 2018 | St. Johnsbury VT
For the fourth year running, the Northeast Storytellers host a Robert Frost remembrance on Tuesday, April 10th from 2-3:30 pm in place of the regular monthly Poetry Tea Party. The “Remembering Robert Frost” special gathering will be dedicated to the memory, poetic works, and legacy of the longtime Vermont resident and poet laureate.
The memorial event will take place at the St. Johnsbury House located at 1207 Main Street in St. Johnsbury as part of a Good Living Senior Center program. Members of the public, residents of the St. Johnsbury House, and Northeast Storytellers and will share readings, reflections, history, anecdotes, and experiences they’ve had with Robert Frost, his works, and his legacy. The event is hosted by the Northeast Storytellers, and refreshments will be served.
WHO: Northeast Storytellers
WHAT: Robert Frost memorial event
WHERE: St. Johnsbury House located at 1207 Main Street in St. Johnsbury, Vermont
WHEN: April 10, 2018 from 2-3:30pm
HOW: Free. Everybody participates. Wonderful refreshments.
CONTACT: Brooke Quillen
PHONE: 802-751-5432
EMAIL: brookequillen@yahoo.com
SEE: related release and flier.
Help us spread the word!!
The memorial event will take place at the St. Johnsbury House located at 1207 Main Street in St. Johnsbury as part of a Good Living Senior Center program. Members of the public, residents of the St. Johnsbury House, and Northeast Storytellers and will share readings, reflections, history, anecdotes, and experiences they’ve had with Robert Frost, his works, and his legacy. The event is hosted by the Northeast Storytellers, and refreshments will be served.
WHO: Northeast Storytellers
WHAT: Robert Frost memorial event
WHERE: St. Johnsbury House located at 1207 Main Street in St. Johnsbury, Vermont
WHEN: April 10, 2018 from 2-3:30pm
HOW: Free. Everybody participates. Wonderful refreshments.
CONTACT: Brooke Quillen
PHONE: 802-751-5432
EMAIL: brookequillen@yahoo.com
SEE: related release and flier.
Help us spread the word!!
 |
| 1959 (Library of Congress) |
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Fixing the Furnace
It all came down to a faulty switch.
The oil furnace had been lurching. Disconcerting, especially knowing it hadn't been maintained properly for years. The temperature cycle band was a good six or seven degrees, and all that surging must be inefficient.
Waking up one morning when it was at an extreme low ebb, meaning really COLD, ultimately got me to take action.
Pushing the reset button on the 1950s-looking Honeywell relay switch without result, convinced me the furnace had stopped functioning. Getting advice on what to try over the phone, as I walked to the post office to check my mail, inspired me to dive in and fix the damn thing.
When I got back to the house, it was warm. The furnace had come on again and cycled through. Should I just let it be?
And miss out on all the fun?
Online advice, purchasing parts, quizzing experts, each turn adding to things I needed to address. Replacing filters, inserting a new nozzle and electrodes — annual maintenance things clearly not done for years (even decades).
Firing it up and adjusting the fuel screw to eliminate the black smoke made me feel like a real engineer.
But, operation was intermittent. A nudge on the Honeywell switch box would get things going again, with further manipulation required to keep it on track. When it did work for hours at a time, that familiar lurching returned.
Finally, it gave out and no amount of maneuvering the switch would revive it. A friend offered advice and, serendipitously, a newer relay switch.
Now I live in a pleasantly-heated home.
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| Honeywell relay switch (R8184G) |
Monday, February 19, 2018
Fixing the Furnace Blues
The oil furnace in my 1850s Vermont farmhouse may only be a century newer than the structure itself. When it was last properly maintained by a professional is anybody's guess.
Only after I'd overreacted to a low ebb on the cycling a couple days ago, and took well-meaning advice to check the photoelectric cell and nozzle, did I find out about all the things I didn't know about repairing an old oil furnace.
I'd already done everything you're not supposed to do to the nozzle before I found out the best thing to do is to buy a new one.
Only after I'd overreacted to a low ebb on the cycling a couple days ago, and took well-meaning advice to check the photoelectric cell and nozzle, did I find out about all the things I didn't know about repairing an old oil furnace.
I'd already done everything you're not supposed to do to the nozzle before I found out the best thing to do is to buy a new one.
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| old wires=faulty connections |
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
RELEASE: Annual Valentine's Reading at St. Johnsbury Athenaeum 2.10.18 @ 1pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
St. Johnsbury, VT — For the fourth year running Northeast Storytellers host a special event in honor of the patron saint for lovers in St. Johnsbury, Vermont on Saturday, February 10, 2018 — from 1-2:30pm — in association with the St. Johnsbury Athenæum. Group members and guests will appear in the world-famous Gallery sharing their love-themed readings. An award for the best love poem reading will be presented.
Valentine's Day falls on the following Wednesday this year. Also called Saint Valentine's Day, this annual celebration honoring Love began in the 14th century — when the tradition of courtly love flourished. The day evolved in 18th-century Victorian England into an occasion to express love with flowers, chocolate, or greeting cards known as "Valentines".
This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend and participate, and delectable refreshments will be served. To participate in the reading, please show up a little before the event for sign-up. For more information please contact Brooke Quillen via brookequillen@yahoo.com or 802.751.5432.
The Northeast Storytellers — a group of writers, readers, and appreciators of prose and verse — meet regularly the second Tuesday of every month from 2-3:30pm for a Poetry Tea Party at the Good Living Senior Center in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The public is welcome to attend, if only to listen, and new members are always encouraged to join. The group organizes events during National Poetry Month every April — ranging from workshops to commemorations to open houses — and it participates in other activities throughout the year.
The St. Johnsbury Athenæum is a non-profit public library and art gallery located at 1171 Main Street in St. Johnsbury. It was founded as a culture center by the Fairbanks family whose scale manufacturing company contributed to the growth of the town. The Athenaeum hosts a number of artistic, cultural, and educational events.
Constructed in the French Second Empire style in 1871, the Athenæum was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. A small art gallery was added in 1873, and the collection of paintings and sculptures now numbers over one hundred. Most are originals with some copies of masterpieces by Old Master artists such as Van Dyck, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Fra Angelico. Dominating the gallery is the magnificent "Domes of the Yosemite" framed oil painting by Albert Bierstadt (currently out for refurbishment).
###
CONTACTS:
Brooke Quillen
Phone: 802-751-5432
E-mail: brookequillen@yahoo.com
Shara McCaffrey
Phone: 802.748.8291
E-mail: smccaffrey@stjathenaeum.org
SEE ALSO:
http://www.stjathenaeum.org/ St. Johnsbury Athenaeum
http://www.stjgoodliving.org/ Good Living Senior Center
http://www.poetrysocietyofvermont.org/ Poetry Society of Vermont
https://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home National Poetry Month
A VALENTINE POETRY READING AT ST. JOHNSBURY ATHENÆUM
Love-Themed Event to be Held February 10, 2018 in Art Gallery @ 1pm
Valentine's Day falls on the following Wednesday this year. Also called Saint Valentine's Day, this annual celebration honoring Love began in the 14th century — when the tradition of courtly love flourished. The day evolved in 18th-century Victorian England into an occasion to express love with flowers, chocolate, or greeting cards known as "Valentines".
This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend and participate, and delectable refreshments will be served. To participate in the reading, please show up a little before the event for sign-up. For more information please contact Brooke Quillen via brookequillen@yahoo.com or 802.751.5432.
The Northeast Storytellers — a group of writers, readers, and appreciators of prose and verse — meet regularly the second Tuesday of every month from 2-3:30pm for a Poetry Tea Party at the Good Living Senior Center in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The public is welcome to attend, if only to listen, and new members are always encouraged to join. The group organizes events during National Poetry Month every April — ranging from workshops to commemorations to open houses — and it participates in other activities throughout the year.
The St. Johnsbury Athenæum is a non-profit public library and art gallery located at 1171 Main Street in St. Johnsbury. It was founded as a culture center by the Fairbanks family whose scale manufacturing company contributed to the growth of the town. The Athenaeum hosts a number of artistic, cultural, and educational events.
Constructed in the French Second Empire style in 1871, the Athenæum was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. A small art gallery was added in 1873, and the collection of paintings and sculptures now numbers over one hundred. Most are originals with some copies of masterpieces by Old Master artists such as Van Dyck, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Fra Angelico. Dominating the gallery is the magnificent "Domes of the Yosemite" framed oil painting by Albert Bierstadt (currently out for refurbishment).
###
CONTACTS:
Brooke Quillen
Phone: 802-751-5432
E-mail: brookequillen@yahoo.com
Shara McCaffrey
Phone: 802.748.8291
E-mail: smccaffrey@stjathenaeum.org
SEE ALSO:
http://www.stjathenaeum.org/ St. Johnsbury Athenaeum
http://www.stjgoodliving.org/ Good Living Senior Center
http://www.poetrysocietyofvermont.org/ Poetry Society of Vermont
https://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home National Poetry Month
Friday, November 03, 2017
Willie Watson Folks the House
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| Higher Ground 11.2.17 |
The last time he came through town he was greener to his new life as a solo performer with Folk Singer Vol. 1 — following a breakup with Old Crow Medicine Show.
Since then he's added stage presence.
He's added schtick. He tells stories, so capably Arlo Guthrie kept coming to mind. Ketch Secor, his former bandmate, and Dave Rawlings — his producer, friend, and fellow bandmate currently — kept popping into my head, too.*His singing is better, not that it had much room to grow. I hailed him as one of the all-time folk music greats the instant he went solo, right up there with Pete Seeger and the rest.
His opening song ("Leaving Blues"?) from Folksinger Vol. 2** was a revelation. Who can render a folk song any better than that?
*and my friend from college (sorry, Larry).
**the first volume did indeed come out with "Folk singer" as two words and the second volume is titled "Folksinger" one word.
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Danny Knicely Appearing in Greensboro, Vermont - 11.18.17
The great Danny Knicely of Virginia appears with Autoharp Hall of Fame member Bryan Bowers and New England singer and multi-instrumentalist Geoff Goodhue.
With Beg, Steal or Borrow, winner 2017 Podunk Bluegrass Festival Band Competition.
"Come together for a special evening of American folk and Mountain Music."
VENUE: Highland Center for the Arts
ADMISSION: $20 in advance; $25 day of show
ADDRESS: 2875 Hardwick Street, Greensboro, VT 05841
INFO: 802-533-9075; info@highlandartsvt.org
With Beg, Steal or Borrow, winner 2017 Podunk Bluegrass Festival Band Competition.
"Come together for a special evening of American folk and Mountain Music."
VENUE: Highland Center for the Arts
ADMISSION: $20 in advance; $25 day of show
ADDRESS: 2875 Hardwick Street, Greensboro, VT 05841
INFO: 802-533-9075; info@highlandartsvt.org
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| Podunk Winners |
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