The Sound of Music – Casting is announced!

The Cast of The Sound of Music, presented by The Greensboro Arts Alliance and Residency, has been announced.  The production will be July 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 in Greensboro at the Performance Tent behind Lakeview Inn.

The Cast is headlined by Marla Schaffel, who played the title role of Jane Eyre on Broadway, garnering a Tony Nomination, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League Awards for Best Actress in a musical.

MARIA: Marla Schaffel*
CAPTAIN Von Trapp: Jamie McIntyre
ABBESS: Cara Hill

NUNS (Also Laudate Dominum Chorus)

Sister Berthe:                                   Judy Breit-Meyer
Sister Margaretta:                          Krissie Ohlregge
Sister Sophia:                                   Emilie Stuart
Sister Irmgard:                                 Marie Cloutier
Sister Christina:                               Virginia Lapierre
Sister Clotilde:                                  Sonia Dunbar
Sister Gail:                                          Herself
Sister Bernadette:                           Herself
Sister Divine:                                     Diana Richardson
Sister Remarque:                             Paula Ratchford
Sister Innocente: (postulant)      Mavis Perrin
Sister Helen/Perrin/Guest          Helen Twiss/Alice Perrin/Guest
Sister Vangie                                       Vangie Kelley
Sister Jamesahgurl                           Jim Sowles

THE VILLA
Elsa:                                                         Annagret Pollard
Max:                                                        Ed Donlon
Franz:                                                     Ed Stehle
Frau Schmidt:                                     Sonia Dunbar

Rolf:                                                       David Beck*

Ursula:                                                  Diane Richardson
Herr Zeller:                                        Marc Considine
Reichmarshall Marloweger:        Bob Marlowe
Baron Elberfeld:                              Bruce Buckley
Baroness Elberfeld:                        Paula Ratchford
Admiral Von Schraber:                 John Bradshaw

VON TRAPP CHILDREN
Liesl:                                                     CJ Leede
Freiderich                                           Zachary Wright
Kurt                                                      Miles McIntyre
Louisa 13                                             Mariana Considine
Birgitta 9                                            Abegail Demers
Marta 7                                               Macy Molleur
Gretle                                                  Ruby Lapierre

TALENT SHOW PERFORMERS

Emma Locke
Diana Gann
Donlon Boy
Donlon Girl
Charlotte Lapierre
MeKenna Lapierre
McKensie McIntyre
Sylvie Miller

Perrin boy and Mavis band
Gala Morse
Emily Cochran

*Members of Actors Equity

The Greensboro Historical society publishes it’s 37th annual newsletter

The Greensboro Historical Society’s 37th annual Newsletter has been distributed, and the offerings for this summer are varied and interesting.  Among the scheduled programs are lectures on The Greensboro Fire Department – the first hundred years (July 9),  The very First Vermonters – The Early Abenaki (August 13), and a two part seminar Vermont in the Civil War (July 16 and 23).   As always there will be the fun Ice Cream Social and Games (Aug 4) and the Annual Book Sale (September 1).   More information on these events can be found on the Greensboro Association Calendar.  In addition (and farther afield) the GHS is publicising the Vermont history Expo in Tunbridge, which celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War (June 16 & 17), as well as a fascinating Barn Raising at the Old Stone House in Brownington on June 9.

This year the GHS exhibition has two themes.   The first “The Hill Legacy” shows life in early Greensboro through an extensive collection of artefacts and items from the Hill Family.   The second “Scenes of Childhood” features a selection of the murals of long time Greensboro summer resident Anne Waterman Mattill which speak to childhood and summers in Greensboro.   These murals were drawn from a collection which Anne created over 25 years in the Children’s Library in Concord Massachusetts – a series which was an institution for library goers and generations of parents in Concord.   A contest will run during the summer with questionnaires (both adult and children) to be filled in at the Society while viewing the exhibitions.   The Historical Society is located at 29 Breezy Avenue, next to The Willey’s Store and across the street from The Miller’s Thumb.  Further information on the exhibition and it’s hours may be found on the GHS website at www.greensborohistoricalsociety.org.

For copies of the newsletter, which also features long time Greensboro resident Madeline Gebbie and comments on the Hazen Road Dispatch, become a member of the GHS.  Dues per family are $20 and go to support the programs and facilities of this volunteer run organisation.

Summer Children’s programming in Greensboro

Looking for something to do with the children this summer in Greensboro? Check out the following organizations, who are all offering programs. There are storyhours, weekly camp programs, golf and tennis lessons, art programs, music, swimming and others.

The Greensboro Association Swimming Lessons
https://greensboroassociation.org/2012-swim-program/

Wonder and Wisdom
https://wonderwisdom.org/programs/summer-journeys/

The Greensboro Historical Society summer exhibition
“Scenes of Childhood”
www.greensborohistoricalsociety.org

Craftsbury Outdoor Center
https://www.craftsbury.com/index.php?flash=no

The Art House
https://www.vermontarthouse.com/Classes-for-Children.html

Circus Smirkus
https://www.smirkus.org/

The Greensboro Free Library
https://www.greensborofreelibrary.org/googlecalendar.html

Mountain View Country Club
https://mvccvt.com/calendars

Craftsbury Chamber Players
https://www.craftsburychamberplayers.org/concerts

Greensboro Association sponsors Swimming Lessons at Public Beach

The highly successful swim program at Caspian Lake returns!   There will be two consecutive one-week sessions for children of all abilities July 9 – 20 at the Caspian Lake Public Beach taught by American Red Cross Certified Water Safety Instructors.  Classes will be held at 10:00-10:45 am and 11:00-11:45am.  Pupils must be at least 4 years old and live or rent in Greensboro, Craftsbury or Stannard.

Please call Lorelei Wheeler at 533-2384 to pre-register for swim lessons this summer or pick up forms after June 17th at the Greensboro Free Library.   The Willey’s Store of the Greensboro Post Office.  Please remember this program operates solely through an appropriation from the Association and depends on donations.

 

The Miller’s Thumb Gallery opens in alliance with Caspian Arts

By Judy Dales

As summer approaches, our small village braces itself for the frenetic pace of the summer months and the ratcheting up of all activities–recreational, communal, social and familial. We look forward to the return of our summer residents, resumption of the many diverse summer events, and the reopening of The Miller’s Thumb Gallery. Having worked in the Thumb for the past two summers, it occurred to me that now might be the opportune moment to shed a little light on the history and current happenings at The Thumb.

As you know, The Miller’s Thumb stood empty for a a while until several of our summer residents bought it. They had no concrete plans for the building, but aimed to save it from crumbling into oblivion and hoped to discover a viable purpose for the revered historic building.

In the spring of 2011, as major renovations to the building’s exterior were reaching completion, a group of local artists and gallery owners (called The Kingdom Craft Alliance  or KCA) were searching for exhibition space as they formulated plans for a display of local art that was part of the state-wide initiative, State of Craft. When The Miller’s Thumb was offered as a place for their exhibit, KCA members jumped at it and quickly laid down plans for a cooperative gallery exhibit where artists could display and sell their work.

The show opened on the 4th of July weekend, 2010 and the response was amazing. People flocked to the building, some merely curious and others drawn by the shopping opportunities, but everyone was thrilled that the beautiful old building had found a new purpose in life. KCA decided to continue the show throughout the summer and artist volunteers took turns supervising the gallery. The exhibit was not only an artistic success, but a financial one as well, which highlighted in a unique way the need for such an attraction in the center of the village.

The exhibition also provided a much needed retail outlet for local artists, but when the owners proposed a continuation of the cooperative arrangement for the following summer, KCA declined. An on-going cooperative gallery presented greater challenges than the group’s leadership felt they could handle. Never the less, the building’s owners were so pleased with the successes of the previous summer that brought just the kind of attention and positive vibe that they had wished for, that they sought a way to continue the gallery model. Eve Passeltiner, one of the KCA artists, was hired as the gallery director for the summer of 2011, and crafts and artworks from all over the state of Vermont were offered for sale.

This is where things got confusing!  Although KCA members were all invited to participate in the gallery in the summer of  2011, they would no longer run it, which left the organization in a bit of a dilemma: the gallery was their original reason for existence, and without that responsibility, they found themselves rather at loose ends. So during the winter 2010-11, they rolled up their collective sleeves and decided what, if any, purpose they could serve now.

It was agreed that all who had participated in the first-year venture had enjoyed working together and meeting on a regular basis. The name of the organization was changed to Caspian Arts and it was decided that the group would provide networking, educational and marketing opportunities for local artists. In their first year, a brochure listing the location of CA artist’s studios was produced and distributed throughout the area, a website (www.caspianartsvt.com) is in the works, and plans for an ambitious summer event are underway. There will be a Caspian Arts Studio Tour (10-5) and Raffle Party (5:30-7) on Tuesday, July 31. This is an opportunity to visit with artists and see creativity in action. Visitors will collect tickets at each studio visited and the tickets will be entered into a raffle of artworks donated by participating Caspian Arts members. This is a unique opportunity to own art created by local artists!

The Miller’s Thumb Gallery and Caspian Arts are now two separate entities, but their histories are firmly intertwined. Hopefully this little history lesson will help clear up any confusion about who’s doing what and also serve to remind everyone that both entities need support. It is a joy to see The Miller’s Thumb bustling with activity once again, but in order to thrive, it needs not just tourist dollars, but local support as well.  Caspian Arts members appreciate the opportunity to educate the community about art in general, and the art they produce, in  particular. Buying art from Greensboro artists is not only a way to “buy local” but is also a way to support your friends and neighbors whose creativity enriches us all.

 

 

40th Anniversary Celebration of Barr Hill Preserve

The 40th Anniversary of the Barr Hill Nature Preserve is being celebrated on July 22.   The Preserve was established in December 2011, and is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy of Vermont.

Barr Hill, which was immortalised in Wallace Stegner’s book Crossing to Safety, was donated to the Conservancy in 1972.   As the highest point in Greensboro,  there is a stunning, nearly panoramic view that sweeps from Spruce and Signal Mountains at Groton State Park to the southern Green Mountains, Woodbury Mountain, Camel’s Hump, Elmore Mountain and Mount Mansfield.   But it is its place in picnics and walks in our collective memories which makes it so special.

 The Nature Conservancy, The Greensboro Land Trust, the Greensboro Historical Society and the Northern Rivers Land Trust are cosponsoring a celebration to which everyone is invited. Festivities will start at 4:00 p.m., followed by a guided walk over the Nature Trail and then picnics at various campfire sites. To ease traffic congestion, bus transport will be provided every 15 minutes from the Barr Hill farm.

 

Circus Smirkus announces 25th anniversary tour

Circus Smirkus  is continuing their tradition of bringing joy and magic to towns all over New England and New York in 2012!   The 2012 show theme is “Topsy Turvy Time Travel!”  where audiences will hop aboard the circus-powered Time Machine  and explore endless eons of fractured fun throughout history and beyond!  For information about Smirkus and the Big Top Tour, go to the website.

As always, the season will commence in Greensboro on July 1, 2012, with a 2:00pm and 7:00pm show – and will end its tour on August 18 and 19 with shows at 2:00pm and 7:00pm both days.   All performances are at the Circus Barn on Circus Road (off Craftsbury Road north of Greensboro).  Tickets are available online for all shows.

Click here to see the full tour schedule.

Tracking Wallace Stegner’s footprints in Vermont’s Earth

LA Times: Vermont Travel
Wallace Stegner  is known for his depictions of the American West, but he spent summers contemplating and writing in neighborly Greensboro.
By Mike Ives, Special to the Los Angeles Times
April 8, 2012
Greensboro, Vt. ——
Wallace Stegner
wrote books about the American and Canadian West, so it’s understandable that people consider the longtime California resident a Western author. Read more

Community will gather to discuss Underage Drinking Issues and Trends

The Hardwick Area Community Coalition (https://haccprevention.com/) is sponsoring a discussion on Underage Drinking Issues and Trends on March 28 at Hazen Union High School at 6pm.  The overall purpose is for the community to learn more about what our children are facing.   Topics will include the scope of the problem, what parents say about underage drinking, the number of alcohol highway deaths, statistics about teens riding with a drunken or a stoned driver and teens driving impaired, and trends in youth drinking in the U.S. and specifically in Vermont.  Other topics will include what teens drink, where they get it, drinking in the US compared to other countries, 2011 Youth Risk Behaviour Statistics, and a update on the tobacco and alcohol industry, including hot new marketing of alcohol products, internet purchasing of alcohol, and new products (alco-pops, energy drinks, 4 Loko, etc.)    The evening will end with a discussion of some possible solutions and national and local efforts.

There is a giveaway of $50.00 Gas Card Coffee & Cookies after the presentation.

Sugar on Snow Party

Come join the fun at Craftsbury Community Care Center’s annual Sugar on Snow Party on Saturday, March 31st , 2 to 4 PM. Everyone is welcome and admission is free. In addition to fabulous maple syrup over fresh snow, there will be a Chinese auction of delicious baked goods. This year’s raffle features a beautiful handcrafted walnut and cherry mirror, a framed Vermont country photograph, and a hand-quilted hen and basket of eggs made by the CCCC Knit Wits.

Ice Fisherman catches 15″ long perch on Caspian

The number of huts on the ice of Caspian Lake shows that ice fishing season is well underway.  On January 28, 2012, Chris Bissell from West Danville caught a 15″ long, 1 lb 14ounce perch at 10am in the morning.  The girth on the fish was close to 12″!  For further information, log into the Master Angler section of the Vt fishing and wildlife website.   (A picture in included for all those who might otherwise believe this is a fishy story).

Cabin Fever Follies at UCC

Shake off the yucky weather blues on February 18  at this annual mid-winter shakedown at United Church of Christ in Greensboro! Potluck dinner begins at 6pm – the show starts at 7pm and this year we’ll feature a variety of performances, from piano to theater, poetry to bluegrass. Bring a friend, and call us if you’d like to perform! (533-2223). All proceeds will fund our summer campership program.   Suggested donation is $8.  

Highland Lodge Announces It will Close

It was announced today that the Highland Lodge is closing its doors effectively immediately.   The immediate cause according to the press release is “a bad economy combined with an innkeeping format which is no longer sustainable in today’s tourism climate.”   The decision, which has been under consideration for some time, was made with great sadness by the Smith Family, who have run the inn for 57 years with 4 generations of family.

The hope is to find a buyer or buyers for the property who will preserve the character of the land and buildings and who will be both environmentally conscious and a good fit with the town of Greensboro. The Greensboro and Vermont Land Trusts and the Preservation Trust of Vermont are all being asked for their perspectives.

Further information regarding the future of the site will be announced at www.highlandlodge.com.