Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Bridge, September 4, 2019
The Bridge, September 4, 2019
Norwich
Bicentennial
Members of the Norwich University Corps of Cadets march in the 2017 Labor Day Parade in Northfield. Photo by Mark Collier/Norwich University.
A
nyone who is expecting guests for the weekend of million went to renovate Kreitzberg Library; install a 78-step
September 19–22 had better pull out the air mattresses Bicentennial Staircase near the Sullivan Museum and History
Pg. 11 Local Bow Maker because lodging in Central Vermont is sold out. Hotels Center to commemorate key donors, trustees, and students; and
Channels Good Vibrations
from Montpelier to Berlin to the Mad River Valley will be full of to re-landscape the upper parade ground.
Norwich University alumni from around the world, all coming to The campaign was designed to bolster Norwich’s position
celebrate the 200th birthday of the nation’s only private military in the increasingly competitive student marketplace and to
Pg. 12–13 Does Practice college. provide a solid foundation for the school’s next president, said
Make Music Perfect?
University officials expect more than 6,000 visitors for the Diane Scolaro, associate vice president for alumni relations and
annual Homecoming Weekend activities, nearly three times the bicentennial celebrations. Dr. Richard Schneider, who took over
usual alumni turnout and doubling the population of Northfield as president in 1992 and helped grow the school’s endowment
(listed at 6,207 in the 2010 U.S. Census). Class participation is from $8 million to about $220 million, is stepping down this
U.S. Postage PAID
expected to span at least 80 years, officials said, with many World year. After a nationwide search, Norwich’s 24th president is
War II-era alumni waiting for the bicentennial to attend what expected to be named in January, Scolaro said.
might be their final Homecoming. “That has all been made possible primarily by our alumni,”
The bicentennial celebration has been five years in the making she said of the recent growth spurt. “Homecoming is a chance
and coincides with the school’s Forging the Future fundraising to recognize and honor our donors, and it’s a chance to showcase
drive that has netted more than $100 million for new construction, our students and our academics. After all the planning, this is our
renovation, academic programs, and investments to increase big wahoo!”
financial aid for students. No Room at the Inns
Alumni who haven’t visited campus for awhile might not
recognize the place. The university has spent about $66 million Homecoming Weekend at Norwich always fills area hotel
in the past five years on construction and renovation projects that rooms, but this year’s events have extended the reach. Capitol
impacted about 40 percent of the campus. Plaza in Montpelier and the Comfort Inn & Suites at Maplewood
The centerpiece is the $24-million Mack Hall, opened in in Berlin are booked, as are most accommodations in the Mad
September 2018, which houses a performing arts center and the River Valley, including all of the properties at Sugarbush Resort.
university’s growing business and management, computer science, Rooms were also blocked out at hotels in Waterbury, Barre, and
and cybersecurity academic programs. Another $25 million went Stowe. A quick scan of the internet shows a few rooms available
Montpelier, VT 05601
to renovations of Webb, Dewey, and Ainsworth halls and $8.5 that weekend in Burlington, at about $400 a night.
“We’ve been sold out for two years,” said Fred Bashara, a
P.O. Box 1143
Continued on Page 15
The Bridge
O
Layout: Sarah Davin, Marichel Vaught
ut on Wrightsville for couple hours and up into the marshy shallows of Sales Representatives: Rick McMahan
the North Branch inlet, where Joe Pye Weed brightens the edges. A group Distribution: Sarah Davin, Lora Stridsberg, Carl Etnier
Board Members: Phil Dodd, Donny Osman, Jake Brown, Josh Fitzhugh, Larry Floersch, J. Gregory Gerdel,
of young common mergansers shakes their wings and heads, diving, Irene Racz, Jen Roberts, Mason Singer
preening, and making some little chortling noises to one another, with no regard Editorial: 223-5112, ext. 14 • mdunphy@montpelierbridge.com
Location: The Bridge office is located at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, Stone Science Hall.
for human traffic. A couple of osprey pass overhead and a few mallards are doing Subscriptions: You can receive The Bridge by mail for $40 a year. Make out your check to The Bridge, and
flight runs back and forth. We drift along until a bank of clouds turns a summer mail to The Bridge, PO Box 1143, Montpelier VT 05601.
montpelierbridge.com • facebook.com/thebridgenewspapervt
afternoon into autumn, and we hurry back to the landing and our warm car. Twitter: @montpbridge • Instagram: @montpelierbridge
PAGE 4 • SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 T HE BRID GE
O The Stafford Hill Solar Farm in Rutland. Photo courtesy of Green Mountain Power.
ne of the major problems faced
by electric utilities is periods of
peak demand. Peaks can occur
on days when it is hazy, hot, and humid,
for example. On such days, as customers
arrive home from work and crank up air
conditioners, cook dinner, wash and dry
loads of clothing, or take showers, the
demand for electricity spikes.
When a peak occurs, the electric utility
may be forced to look to the larger regional
grid to purchase additional electricity to
meet the demand. If the weather conditions
that caused the peak are widespread, idle
generators may be required to start up to
meet the demand. This can be expensive,
and, if those power plants use coal or oil,
the electricity generated may be “dirty” in
terms of carbon emissions.
Green Mountain Power is the world’s Home battery systems that are eligible charger during a peak, we are reducing the Any energy drawn from a system to meet a
first utility company to be certified as for the program include SolarEdge peak demand by six kilowatts.” peak will be replaced as quickly as possible
a B Corporation, which means that, in StorEdge compatible systems (e.g., LG), Electric vehicle charging stations that after the peak has passed, and GMP will
addition to traditional business practices, it Sonnen batteries, Sunverge batteries, currently are eligible for the program are make adjustments when possible to avoid
must meet certain standards of social and Tesla Powerwall 2.0 systems, and Pika ChargePoint, FLO, and JuiceNet systems. completely discharging a battery for the
environmental performance. Energy systems. The battery system must Electric vehicle owners will see a credit of purpose of achieving grid benefits during
Therefore, to help combat peaks, save be used for home back-up power only, $10 per month for enrolling their device. or prior to a pending weather event that
its customers money, and cut carbon and some fees, such as integration and Similar to car chargers, electric hot water could create outages.
emissions, GMP started a pilot program in communication fees, may apply. heaters can be enrolled in the program. While it cannot guarantee that a battery
February called “Bring Your Own Device,” Customers who enroll a battery backup During a peak, GMP will take control system will be charged to a minimum level
or BYOD. The program is based on using system for 10 years can opt for an upfront of the heater, preheat water before the at all times, GMP will work to minimize
stored energy and on controlling electrical payment of $850 per kilowatt of storage anticipated peak, then prevent the heater these impacts to make sure customers have
devices during a peak to reduce the need enrolled up to a maximum of 10 kW. from coming on during the peak. A Wi-Fi backup power.
to draw on the power grid. According to Alternatively, they can opt for a monthly capable control device may need to be Green Mountain Power also points
GMP, peaks can happen about five to eight credit on their bill for that period. Battery added to the unit (only Rheem brand out that if you are planning to purchase
times a month and they can last an average systems located in areas of the state where heaters currently come with the controls a battery backup system or an electric
of three to six hours. extra storage is needed most can get an extra already installed). Customers will receive vehicle, you can act now and reserve a space
Green Mountain Power customers payment of $150 per kilowatt enrolled. a $5 per month credit for enrolling their in the pilot program.
who have home battery backup systems, According to Josh Castonguay, GMP vice device. (Washington Electric Co-op has “When deployed all together, using this
high-speed electric vehicle chargers, and president and chief innovation officer, a similar program for electric hot water BYOD network is like taking about 12,000
electric hot water heaters can sign up to Green Mountain Power’s BYOD program heaters.) homes off the grid at one time,” said
allow GMP to draw from or control their offers the biggest upfront payment from a Note that the program relies on Wi-Fi Castonguay. “We know our customers care
devices when there are peak demands. In utility in the nation for enrolling a home for communications with all these systems, about the environment and make smart
exchange, customers see a reduction in battery system. and a major requirement of the program is choices about energy every day. Our stored
their electric bills. Owners of electric vehicles can enroll that customers must have and maintain an energy network is a great tool to help reduce
When there is a peak, GMP will draw their high-speed chargers and allow GMP internet connection. If the internet becomes demand during peak energy use, and the
on all the enrolled systems in the BYOD to control when the charger operates. disconnected, GMP will alert a customer added benefit is it cuts carbon emissions
program and add that energy to its own “A typical home charger uses about six so the internet can be reconnected within and costs for customers while helping to
utility-scale energy stores in Rutland and kilowatts when it is charging a vehicle,” 30 days. keep them safe and comfortable.”
Panton to help meet the demand. said Castonguay. “If we can turn off that According to GMP, enrolled customers According to Castonguay there are
will be notified at least four hours in 40 systems registered in the program.
advance of an anticipated peak via their Enrollment in the BYOD program is open
smartphone or by other electronic methods. through the end of September.
T HE BRID GE SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 • PAGE 5
V
ermont has a suicide problem, and heard. People need to first hear that you
people don’t like to talk about it. Vermont and US Suicide Death Rates actually listened to what they said, before
Suicide is the eighth-leading (per 100,000 people): 2005-2017 they think you snap to judgment that they
cause of death in Vermont, with 112 22 might be suicidal.”
reported in 2017, according to the Centers 19.8 If the answer is yes, ask whether the
for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s 20 19.2 17.9 18.9 person has a plan and the means to do it—
roughly twice the number of people who 18.0 they’ve stockpiled pills for an overdose, for
Collective Responsibility
H
ow do we go from great to greater? How do essential questions: (1) What is it we want students to He will be returning to work with kindergarten through
we ensure ALL kids are reaching high levels know and be able to do? (2) How will we know if they fourth-grade teams of teachers throughout the school
of learning? These are the questions that have learned it? (3) What will we do if they have not year.
we, at Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools (MRPS), learned it? (4) What will we do if they already know it?
are digging into as we start the new school year. Joe This work is not new to many of the teachers at MRPS,
Cuddemi, a national consultant on the Professional however, our inservice work focused on why this work
Learning Community (PLC) ideology, helped us begin is so important and gave specific directions to teaching
the conversation on the first day of teacher inservice. Joe’s teams, many of whom are new to each other. Collective
message—we can’t do this alone. School systems that responsibility is our focus this year, and the inservice days
intentionally develop systems and practices to not only gave us a fabulous jumpstart to the work.
promote, but also to expect a collective responsibility for In addition to the work with PLCs, Union Elementary
all students learning at high levels are the movers and and Roxbury Village welcomed Christian Courtemanche,
shakers in the field of education. MRPS intends to be a math consultant, to begin a year-long study in best
right up there with the best. teaching practices around mathematics.
One systematic practice to make this happen is when Courtemanche is helping our teachers learn how to
teachers work within PLCs. PLCs work to answer four better differentiate mathematics for a variety of learners. Photos courtesy of MRPS.
Max Jennings.
T HE BRID GE SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 • PAGE 7
N
orth America is home to 4,000 treated with neonicotinoids.
bee species, but only four Conrad worries that the agricultural
species of bee are cultivated use of pesticides is too high and that
worldwide for their honey, and among not enough farmers are being educated
those four, the main species of bees kept in methods of farming that don’t rely
by beekeepers is the European honey heavily on pesticides. If farmers and
bee, Apis mellifera. gardeners do have to resort to pesticides,
The bees, as the 2016 study Modeling Conrad stresses that there are methods
the Status, Trends, and Impacts of Wild Bee and times of day that are safer for our
Abundance in the United States shows, are pollen-collecting friends. “If they have
not in great shape. The study conducted to be used...don’t use them when bees are
and led by Taylor Ricketts, professor of visiting the plant you are treating and it’s
environment and natural resources at the in bloom. Spray when it’s cold or rainy
University of Vermont and director of the out, or at night.”
Gund Institute for Environment, reveals Another view of the instability of
that bee populations have declined about Vermont’s bee population was revealed
23 percent across the nation from 2008 this summer in a study conducted by
to 2013. the Vermont Center for Ecostudies
Vermont beekeepers are also seeing (VCE). It discovered 10 new species in
losses in their honey bees. According Vermont, which, although it initially
to the preliminary results of the Honey seems exciting, it is revealing more
Bee Colony Losses 2018–2019 report by serious problems, according to Conrad.
the Honey Bee Informed Partnership, bees for the rest of its life cycle. If the “Normally, in a stable ecosystem, we a reduction in areas in which bees can
beekeepers have lost 37.7 percent of pesticide level isn’t strong enough to don’t have such big changes. To me, it’s forage, the increase in new diseases
managed bee colonies nationally from kill the bees outright, it impacts specific evidence that the ecosystem has become and parasites, and the use of pesticides
October 2018 to April 2019. neural pathways, damaging their ability destabilized because there’s so much such as neonicotinoids, Conrad worries
Ross Conrad, writer and beekeeper of to process information and forage for change happening.” that bees’ ability to live relatively
Dancing Bee Gardens, sees similar trends nectar. This is underscored by a December independently may soon be something
in Vermont: “The average losses of bees According to the Task Force on study conducted by the Vermont Center of the past.
have been 30, 40, and 50 percent every Systemic Pesticides, formed in 2009 by for Ecostudies and the Gund Institute “It’s almost getting to the point
year for about a decade now throughout a group of European scientists, “These that found four of 17 of Vermont’s where [bees] are like chickens,” Conrad
the country,” he notes, “and in Vermont systemic insecticides have become the bumblebee species have disappeared in reflected, “It’s hard for them to survive
it’s been as high as that, too.” most widely used group of insecticides the past 100 years. without human interventions. It’s
As a result, beekeepers have learned to globally, with a market share now Ironically, this human-caused extremely sad, but that seems to be the
become good at splitting the surviving estimated at around 40 percent of the destabilization of the ecosystem has direction things are going.”
hives to make up for the losses, according world market.” A few examples of brands actually made bees more reliant on
to Conrad: “A lot of beekeepers these that sell neonicotinoid pesticides used on humans to survive. When considering
days are losing most of their bees, and crops are Tristar, Aloft, Clutch, Transect,
the next year they split all their bees, Advantage, Mallet, Capstar, Platinum,
make new queens, and make new hives Flagship, Optigard, and Agri-flex.
to make up for the ones that died.” This problem has not fallen on deaf
Wild and domestic bees have been ears in Vermont. Bill H.205 was signed
struggling against many challenges, into law by Gov. Phil Scott on May
particularly pesticides. Systemic 28 and limits the use of neonicotinoid
pesticides, especially, are a real threat. pesticides by directing the Vermont
While some pesticides sit on the surface Agency of Agriculture to register any
of the plant, systemic ones—especially neonicotinoid pesticide as a “restricted
neonicotinoids—are absorbed by the use pesticide.” This means neonicotinoids
plant and transported to all of its tissues, are now restricted to licensed applicators.
making the plant effectively toxic to That said, the bill exempts seeds already
PAGE 8 • SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 PAGE 8 • SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 T HE BRID GE
As part of the bicentennial celebrations at Norwich University, the Sullivan Museum and History
Center on the campus is hosting the exhibition 200 Years—200 Objects, which highlights objects from
the school’s private collection. The objects both shock and awe, as well as providing a keyhole view
into history. Here, the curator of the exhibition, Katherine Taylor-McBroom, samples eight of the 200
treasures on display.
All photos courtesy of Katherine Taylor-McBroom.
Subscribe!
Japanese Teacup (c. 19th century)
Several cracks and wear on this Japanese
teacup seem to show its journey from
France through WWII with its eventual
donation to the museum by Medal of
Honor recipient Capt. James Burt (Class
of 1939). The teacup arrived in a round
Christmas cookie tin with a note from Don’t miss out. Receive both issues each
Burt, “From a German Soldier eating month— mailed directly to your home.
breakfast in a French farmhouse who
couldn’t reach his gun…” That’s just $40 for 24 issues per year.
Music
Capital City Concerts Announces
20th Anniversary Season
W Paris Piano Trio: Régis Pasquier, Roland Pidoux
orld-class chamber music is
Design & Build
once again coming to Vermont, and Jean-Claude Pennetier. Photo by Guy Vivien.
with concerts taking place in
Custom Energy-Efficient Homes Montpelier, Burlington, and Greensboro
from September to May.
Additions • Timber Frames The season opens with a new miniseries
Weatherization • Remodeling of consecutive Friday noon “Meditation
concerts” on September 6, 13, and 20 in the
Kitchens • Bathrooms • Flooring Cedar Creek Room of the Vermont State
Tiling • Cabinetry • Fine Woodwork House. The concerts give listeners a respite
from their workday through 30-minute
meditations to live music. The performers
will be Jennifer Hoult, harpist (September
6); Karen Kevra, flutist (September 13);
Main Street Middle School will create favorite performers including cellist Edward
and Emily Taubl, cellist (September 20).
original artwork based on the 10 descriptive Arron and pianists Jeffrey Chappell,
On the heels of last season’s
movements of Mussorgsky’s masterpiece to Paul Orgel, and Jeewon Park to perform
extraordinarily successful Magnificat
be projected above the stage in sync with best loved works from the first 20 years:
performance, the music of J.S. Bach returns
the music. Flutist Karen Kevra will join Schubert’s two-cello “String Quintet in C
with a performance of “Sleepers Awake!”
Chappell in works by Charles Koechlin, major,” Barber’s “Piano Sonata,” Brahms’
(“Wachet Auf”), the most beloved of
featuring images from retired National “Piano Quintet in F minor,” and much
Bach’s cantatas. World-class singer soloists,
Geographic photographer James Blair’s more. Birthday cake to follow!
a chorus, and a professional orchestra
collection. May 15–17 brings a collaboration
composed of Vermont musicians and
The legendary Paris Piano Trio returns on with Scrag Mountain Music to venues in
players from the New York City Ballet
March 8 for the first time in nearly a decade Burlington, Montpelier, and Greensboro.
and Opera orchestras and Mostly Mozart
for what will likely be their last U.S. tour. The words of Vermont poet David Budbill
will be directed by Richard Riley. Violinist
The three extraordinary musicians, who will be celebrated in a concert featuring
Laurie Smukler will be the soloist in Bach’s
met as students at the Paris Conservatory, Vermont and New York City musicians and
resplendent “Violin Concerto in A minor.”
went on to become distinguished faculty composers.
Washington, D.C., pianist Jeffrey
there. It is expected that this concert will To learn more concerts, visit
Chappell returns for a unique concert
sell out quickly. capitalcityconcerts.org. Individual and
to perform Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an
A doubleheader weekend of concerts subscription tickets are available online.
Exhibition” on January 18 and 19. For
is scheduled for April 25 and 26, with Individual tickets are also available at Bear
this multimedia concert, students from
two different concerts showcasing a dozen Pond Books, Montpelier starting Sept. 7.
Rocque Long
Saturday, September 14, at the Unitarian Silverman, trombone; Clyde Stats, bass; Arnowitt’s versions of the jazz standard
Church. His program, “Where Jazz and Caleb Bronz, drums. Arnowitt, a “On Green Dolphin Street,” Jobim’s
Painting
Meets Classical,” presents a colorful longtime former Montpelier resident, has classic Brazilian song “How Insensitive,”
variety of jazz old and new as influenced upcoming concerts at Toronto’s Al Green and Arnowitt’s take on the Beatles’
by classical composers Chopin, Debussy, Theatre and will be touring China in “Eleanor Rigby.” Two Vermont premieres
• Insured Stravinsky, Bernstein, and Copland. 2020 with the guitarist Steve Blair. There, will be featured, Arnowitt’s brand new
• 30+ years professional “Interlude with Igor,” based on the music
experience of Igor Stravinsky’s “Petrushka” and “The
• local references. Rite of Spring,” and “Coplandscapes,”
802-223-0389
based on music from Aaron Copland’s
“Appalachian Spring,” “Fanfare for the
Common Man,” and “Billy the Kid.”
Rounding out the program are some
selections from Arnowitt’s recent jazz
double album “Sweet Spontaneous,”
which was released on Parma Recordings
Big Round record label, and excerpts
from his “Jazz Suite from West Side
Story,” where he transforms the musical
ideas from Leonard Bernstein’s timeless
Broadway show into the language of jazz.
Tickets for the concert are $20, available
at the door only. For more information,
e-mail MA@MAPiano.com or call
(802) 229-0984.
T HE BRID GE SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 • PAGE 11
T
en thousand hours—that’s and hours of practice, the quality of the
the number writer Malcolm practice is far more important than the
Gladwell pegged to become a quantity.
master of trade in his 2008 smash hit “If you practice playing too fast for
book Outliers. “The 10,000-hour rule yourself, you are not playing well,”
is a definite key in success,” he writes in Koehler notes, referring to students
the book. “The people at the top don’t trying to emulate the masters they see
just work harder. They work much, on YouTube. “What they end up doing
much harder.” is getting good at playing badly.” It’s
Gladwell based some of the assertion in this truth that the value of a teacher
on the work of Swedish psychologist comes into clear focus for Koehler—to
Anders Ericsson, whose 1993 study of make sure that the time spent practicing
40 violinists in Germany brought forth is productive, not counterproductive.
the basis of the 10,000-hour rule in Melissa Perley, who teaches cello and
determining which factors differentiated co-runs Paul Perley Cellos in Berlin,
the best musicians from the good or the Photo courtesy of Hilari Farrington and Benedict Koehler. agrees. With her own students, she
mediocre ones. often sees them spend more time on
Yet pushback on the idea came from and it doesn’t distinguish between the more than just practice accounts for the the parts of a composition they play
Ericsson himself, in an article he co- types of practice. differences in performance. well rather than those that are more
wrote for Salon in 2016, noting, “Yes, In late August, Gladwell’s “rule” “Of course you will almost difficult. That approach to practice
it takes effort to be an expert. But took another hit with a study published undoubtedly improve with practice,” stymies development. “Work on what
Gladwell based the 10,000-hour rule in in the journal Royal Society Open Macnamara told Business Insider, “but you can’t do at all, not what you can
part on our work, and misunderstood.” Science. The authors of the study— more practice does not necessarily mean do,” she encourages.
He does admit, though, “The rule is Brooke Macnamara, a psychologist at you’ll be better than someone else with Creating an optimal practice model
irresistibly appealing . . . just put in Case Western Reserve University, and less practice.” also means understanding what
10,000 hours of practice at anything, researcher Megha Maitra—attempted While Central Vermont music methods and strategies work best with
and you will become a master.” But to recreate Ericsson’s original study and teachers—such as Hilari Farrington and each individual student. Often this
he notes three differences: namely that found that good violinists and best Benedict Koehler, who run the Vermont assessment begins with age, as children
there’s anything magical in the 10,000 violinists had both logged around 11,000 School of Irish Traditional Music— and adults often learn much differently.
number, that it was an average only, hours of practice, implying something don’t discount the value of hard work While children do come with many
T HE BRID GE SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 • PAGE 13
E
very day, Hunger Mountain Eastern North Carolina, Community support of our amazing community,” children at 26 area schools, where the
Co-op shoppers can support a Harvest of Central Vermont, Capstone said Patrick Donegan, interim executive adults read for one hour over lunch each
local nonprofit organization or Community Action, Good Samaritan director at Good Samaritan Haven. week with an elementary grade student.
community partner by rounding up Haven, North Branch Nature Center, “I would like to also thank Hunger While creating important connections
their purchase at the register through People’s Health and Wellness Clinic, Mountain again for their continued between mentors and students, the
the Co-op’s Give Change program. By Vermont Foodbank, and Montpelier support of GSH. Every little bit counts. program sets those students up to love
doing so, they are participating in a Food Pantry. We are an organization that counts reading and succeed in life.
collective effort to support organizations Give Change round-up donations very much on donations to be able In coming months, recipient
and programs that have a direct impact also supported the Co-op’s Holiday to provide everything needed for our organizations will include Downstreet
on our local community. By giving Grocery Pack event, Feed A Family guests. Projects like Give Change Housing and Community Develop-
their spare change, they are creating the Food and Fund Drive, and the Hunger provide everything from a warm meal ment, Capstone Community Action,
change they want to see in our region Mountain Cooperative Community to a blanket to a bus pass for someone to Good Samaritan Haven, Friends of
and the world. Fund. All together, Co-op shoppers get to a doctor’s appointment. Anyone the Winooski River, People’s Health
Over the past year, recipient donated a total of $9,722.86 in support who participated in this wonderful and Wellness Clinic, and Vermont
organizations were the Central Vermont of all of these remarkable organizations fundraiser should know that they made Foodbank. To opt into being asked to
Humane Society, Good Beginnings of and invaluable community programs. a change in somebody’s life this winter.” round up every time they shop and make
Central Vermont, Prevent Child Abuse “I would just like to say that I am From now until September 29, Co-op sure they never miss an opportunity to
Vermont, Food Bank of Central and again humbled by the generosity and shoppers can continue to impact the support these organizations, members
lives of fellow community members can visit the Co-op’s website at
by rounding up their purchases to hungermountain.coop/give-change.
the next dollar each time they check This text provided and sponsored by
out, donating that spare change to Hunger Mountain Co-op.
Everybody Wins! This literacy-based
mentoring program pairs mentors and
T HE BRID GE SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 • PAGE 17
“U
ntil our own time, the pandemic that struck in 1593.
higher the achiever (male), As an added treat, I portray another
the more likely it was that eight characters (including William),
the woman who slept in his bed would all in conversation with myself. This
be judged unworthy of his company,” convention has the added fun of
says Germaine Greer in her insightful requiring lightning-fast changes in
book on Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s voice and gesture with often hilarious
Wife. results.
When you think about it, you have to Margo Whitcomb. Photo courtesy Most mysterious of all, is Shakespeare’s
admit that’s true. After all, Shakespeare of Lost Nation Theater. last will and testament, penned and
is part of our everyday parlance revised a mere month before his death
filling in those gaps. Playwright Vern
throughout the Western world, and yet, (thus the title of the play). In it, he left
Thiessen uses the void of Hathaway’s
when telling people I am playing Anne a peculiar and mysterious bequest to his
life and the mystery of Shakespeare’s
Hathaway in Lost Nation Theater’s wife Anne that has remained inscrutable,
will as a canvas for expressing women’s
production of Shakespeare’s Will, the a source of puzzlement and mystery for
eternal struggles and victories.
common expectation is that I am 400 years despite the thousands of books
Although the play is set four centuries
playing the contemporary Academy written on the man. Like the recent film,
ago, playing Anne feels surprisingly
Award-winning actor. Indeed, most All is True, with Kenneth Branaugh and
familiar to me, as I believe it will to
have never heard of Shakespeare’s wife. Judi Dench, Shakespeare’s Will wrestles
any woman, wife, or mother whose life
It’s an honor and a privilege—not with that bequest and takes place on the
continues to lean into the drudgery of
to mention a lot of fun—to release day of his funeral.
the “domestic.” Nevertheless, within
Anne Hathaway from the prison of It is certain to have surprising
those confines, Anne emerges as clever,
silence and invisibility and give her a resonance with a contemporary
bright, intuitive, sensual, and deft.
voice, 400 years later on, especially as, audience. One need know nothing
Moreover, the play is not bound by
historically, she has been demonized at of Shakespeare to enter Hathaway’s
realism. This is a memory play and
worst and considered irrelevant at best. world and take this journey—it is very
highly theatrical, chronicling their
Unlike the bard himself, few facts of accessible and explodes the expectation
lives together, their meeting, courtship,
Anne’s life are known. As an actor, this of historical “museum” theater.
children, the birth of his artistic life,
offers tremendous opportunity. Rather Shakespeare’s Will runs September
her lovers, the years till his death, and
than impersonating someone whose 5–15 at Lost Nation Theater in
all that occurred therein including
voice and image are widely known, I Montpelier. For more information and
a thrilling escape from the plague
can find almost complete freedom in tickets, visit lostnationtheater.org.
T HE BRID GE Calendar of Events SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 • PAGE 19
Community Performing
Arts
THEATER, DANCE,
STORYTELLING, COMEDY
Events
Through Sept. 15: Shakespeare’s Will. One-
woman show starring Margo Whitcomb directed
by Eric Love and written by Canadian playwright Vern Thiessen. Thiessen has created a poetic,
humorous masterful solo in which The Bard’s widow gets the last word. Thurs.–Sat., 7:30 pm; Sat. and
Sun., 2 pm. Lost Nation Theater, 39 Main St., Montpelier. $10–30; students and seniors $5 off; youth
Events happening Annual River Cleanup. With Friends of the
under 11 $10. lostnationtheater.org
Budgeting and Building a Spending Plan. Children are welcome, but must be supervised
class is for you. Debt that helps build wealth can Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street,
Think 50-30-20. In order to live within our by an adult. If you have an old canoe that you
be a good thing, as long as you know how to Montpelier. 223-3338.
means and save money, it’s important to keep don’t mind piling with tires and weird old metal
manage it effectively. 6–7:30 pm. Capstone, 20 Mid-Week Movie: The Full Monty. 7 pm.
spending ratios in balance. Learn how to work objects, we’d love to use it. Also, if you can spare
Gable Place, Barre. Free. 477-5215 Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
it. 6–7:30 pm. Capstone, 20 Gable Place, Barre. a five-gallon bucket or two, bring them along.
Free. 477-5215 Meet at 8:30 am at City Hall in Montpelier The Surgeon and the Shepherd with Meg St., Greensboro. $5.
for assignment to a section of river and to get Ostrum. Vermont author Meg Ostrum Yestermorrow Speaker Series Events: Live
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 instructions from your site captain. presents a new documentary film inspired Big, Build Tiny. Learn about tiny houses with
by her book, The Surgeon and the Shepherd: Erin Maile O’Keefe, co-founder of Tiny House
The Sacred Hunt: Harvesting Local Meat. Stuffed Roast Pork Dinner. With mashed
Two Resistance Heroes in Vichy France Fest Vermont and instructor at Yestermorrow
With Murphy Robinson, Hunting Guide potatoes, coleslaw, carrots, pickles, applesauce
which provides the first in-depth chronicle Design/Build School. 7 pm. 7865 Main St.,
& Hunter Safety Instructor. A beginner’s and various pies for dessert. 5:30 pm. Vermont
of Dr. Charles Schepens’ short-lived, Waitsfield. Free. tinyhousefestvermont.com
introduction to hunting for people who care Grange Center, 308 West St., Brookfield. Adults
but remarkable, career masquerading as
about where their meat comes from. We will $12; children 10 and under $7. Reservations:
double agent Jacques Perot. 6:30–8 pm.
discuss what you need to learn to hunt safely 223-7961
and ethically, and explore how hunting fosters Montpelier Contra Dance. With Luke
a sacred relationship with the landscape around Donforth calling and music by Turning Stile.
us. 5:30–7:30 pm. Hunger Mountain Co-op No experience and no partner needed. All
community room, Montpelier. Sign-up: info@ dances are taught plus an introductory session
hungermountain.coop at 7:45 pm. Capital City Grange Hall, 6612 Rt.
Workshops in Swedish and Oldtime Fiddle 12, Berlin. Please bring clean, soft-soled shoes.
with Ben Paley. A master fiddler and singer Adults $10; kids and low income $5; dance
equally adept at Swedish, Oldtime, Irish, and supporters $15. capitalcitygrange.org
Klezmer traditional styles. 7:30 pm. Landmark
Schoolhouse, 1643 Rt. 215, Lower Cabot. $16 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
advance; $20 at door. cabotarts.org Social Thinking Introduction for Parents
and Professionals. Do you have or work with
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 children and teens who struggle to navigate
Friday Morning Fall Bird Walks. A weekly, the social world? Want to develop skills to help
casual bird walk around the North Branch them? Come to a free discussion about concepts
Nature Center property in search of fall and strategies that can help them. 5:30–7 pm.
migratory songbirds. Learn about identification, Kellogg Hubbard Library, Hayes Room, 135
ecology, and life history of our local avifauna. Main St., Montpelier. sarahrosenthalvt.com
Led by NBNC’s expert naturalists and birders.
7:30–9 am. 713 Elm St., Montpelier. $10. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
229-6206 Launch Meeting: Vermont Arts & Culture
Center for Arts and Learning Elevation Disaster and Resilience Network. A
Celebration. Celebrate the installation of variety of trainings and resources on risk
the center’s new elevator. 3 pm. 46 Barre St., assessment, emergency planning, funding for
Montpelier. recovery, and more. Representatives of arts
organizations, theaters, galleries, museums,
Shabbat Dinner and Hebrew School Open historical societies, libraries, creative businesses,
House. Come learn about Beth Jacob’s Hebrew and municipalities, as well as performing arts
School from new school principals, Eli and Kara presenters and artists are encouraged to attend.
Rosenberg and enjoy a Shabbat pizza dinner with 8:30 am–4:30 pm. Chandler Center for the
community. 5:30 pm. at Beth Jacob Synagogue, Arts, Main St., Randolph. $10. Pre-registration
10 Harrison Ave., Montpelier. required: http://bit.ly/VACDaRN
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Meet the Artist Series: llustrator Nancy Stahl.
Hike Stowe area with Green Mountain Stahl has designed stamps for the U.S. Postal
Club. Moderate Pace. 7.7 miles (or optional 8.1 Service and has been a freelance illustrator for
miles). Stowe Pinnacle to Hogback to Hunger The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Mountain (Waterbury trailhead). Car spot 11:30 am. Northern Vermont University-
required. Bring water, lunch, snacks, and dress Lyndon, Harvey Academic Center, Room 111.
in layered clothing. Contact Phyllis Rubenstein, Free. Barclay.Tucker@NorthernVermont.edu
793-6313 or Phyllis@PhyllisRubensteinLaw. Jason Reynolds, Author of Long Way Down.
comcastbiz.net or Rudy Townsend, 433-1004 or Reynolds will talk about his 2017 book Long
rubrentownsend@gmail.com for meeting time Way Down, a novel written in verse for young
and place. adults about gun violence. The novel was named
BirdFest! A summer nature festival for all a Newbery Honor book and won other awards.
ages featuring all of our feathered friends. Reynolds, who lives in Washington, D.C., will
Live birds of prey, kids and families activity sign copies of his book after the talk. 8 pm.
tent, bird walks, workshops, presentations, Northern Vermont University Johnson, Dibden
and more. 7 am–2 pm. North Branch Nature Center for the Arts. Free. NorthernVermont.edu
Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier. By donation. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
northbranchnaturecenter.org
Youth Acting Class, Snow Queen. All ages.
Plainfield Old Home Days. Yard sale at Grace Seeking for roles Wolves, Bandits. 4–5:15 pm.
Methodist Church, 8 am–2 pm. Parade in Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier.
Plainfield Village, 11 am. Fun at the Plainfield fineartsbarn@gmail.com
Rec Field includes bounce house, crafts, BBQ,
and more from noon–3 pm. Street dance with Avoid the Debt Trap. If you are considering a
Raized on Radio on Main St., 6–10 pm. major purchase, or you already have debt, this
PAGE 20 • SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 Calendar of Events T HE BRID GE
New work by contemporary Vermont weavers, Medical Center, 130 Fisher Hill Rd., Berlin. their art. Two painters and a wet plate collodion
Visual Arts a “pop-up weaving studio,” talks and other
educational activities. Opening reception: Sept.
moetown52@comcast.net.
Through Oct. 25: The War of Ideas:
print photographer challenge the viewer to
engage with the works. All three artists work
20, 5:30–7:30 pm. 201 N. Main St., Barre. to create a conduit for inspired expression.
EXHIBITS studioplacearts.com
Propaganda Posters from the Vermont
Opening reception: Sept. 6, 5–7 pm. Vermont
Historical Society Collections. Visitors can
Through Sept 5: Threads. An exhibit of fiber Through Sept. 30: Show 34. Latest work by examine how posters have been an important Art Council’s Spotlight Gallery, 136 State St.,
arts by local weavers. Jaquith Public Library, The Front’s gallery members. Artist reception: part of the wartime effort, for everything from Montpelier.
School St., Marshfield. jaquithpubliclibrary.org Sept. 6, 4–7 pm. The Front, 6 Barre St., recruitment to support on the homefront. Sept. 17–Nov. 2: Studio Place Arts. Opening
Montpelier. thefrontvt.com Vermont History Center, 60 Washington St., reception: Sept. 20, 5:30–7:30 pm. 201 N.
Through Sept. 6: Scattered Geometry: The
Barre. 479-8500. vermonthistory.org Main St., Barre. studioplacearts.com
Ceramics of Jenny Swanson and Holly Through Sept. 30: Norwich & Northfield— Rock Solid XIX. Annual stone sculpture
Walker. White River Gallery, 35 S. Windsor St., Our Past & Present. Paintings by Joe Latulippe Sept. 13–Oct. 27: Dianne Shullenberger, exhibit showcases stone sculptures and
South Royalton. 498-8438 and historical photographs of Northfield Outdoor Influences. Inspired by being assemblage by area artists and other work that
Through Sept. 8: Kathleen Kolb: Night and courtesy of the Northfield Historical Society. outdoors and experiencing nature’s atmosphere, depicts the beautiful qualities of stone.
Day, Now and Then. Showcasing a place the Opening reception, Sept. 6, 6–7 pm. ART, Shullenberger’s new display features fabric collage Perspective by Tuyen My Nguyen.
artist loves—Greensboro, Vermont and its etc,. 32 Depot Square, Northfield. artetcvt.com and sculpture. Opening: Sept. 14, 5 pm. Gallery Installations made from tautly strung thread
surroundings. Highland Center for the Arts, Sept. 6–30: Jane Edwards & Linda Hogan. at Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick and string that explore scale differences in
2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. Edwards’ whimsical, hand-built pottery St., Greensboro. highlandartsvt.org small and large configurations.
Through Sept. 14: The Vermont We Cannot delights the innocent being within all of Through Oct. 29: Handcrafted Vermont; Humanity – No Fear of the Other and
See. A collection of infrared photographs of the us. Her works are inspired by the organic, Works by the Guild of Vermont Furniture the Good Life: Recent Paintings by
Vermont landscape by Lisa Dimondstein, Julie elegant ceramics of Asia and the intuitive Makers. Vermont State House Cardroom, Damariscotta Rouelle
Parker, and Sandra Shenk. Axel’s Gallery and spontaneity of a child at play. Hogan, a Montpelier. curator.vermont.gov Through Dec. 21: 200 Years—200 Objects.
Frame Shop, 5 Stowe St., Waterbury. photographer, explores working with images Through Oct. 30: Monkeys, Missiles, and An exhibition celebrating Norwich University’s
of perspective and reflection. Opening Mushrooms. Paintings by Marina Epstein. The bicentennial. Curated to include objects from the
Through Sept. 15: Cecil Gerry, Organized
reception: Sept. 6, 4–8 pm. Cheshire Cat, paintings on view represent the artist’s experience museum collection, as well as documents and
Chaos. Acrylic paintings, prints, and sculpture.
28 Elm St., Montpelier. cheshirecatclothing. living in Vermont combined with exotic images from Archives and Special Collections,
Reception: Sept. 4, 3–5 pm. Visual Arts Center
com tropical influences from Mexico. 134 State St., that reflect and retell the university’s 200-year
at NVU-Johnson. NorthernVermont.edu
Sept. 6–Oct. 31: Helen Rabin and Marge Montpelier. hermitage-gallery.com history. Norwich University Sullivan Museum
Through Sept. 20: Philip Hagopian, Sequel. and History Center, Northfield. norwich.edu
Pulaski. Art & Author Night: Sept. 13, 6 pm. Through Oct. 31: Deborah Sacks: Cats,
Multimedia paintings. Julian Scott Memorial
Gallery at Dibden Center for the Arts, NVU-
Jaquith Public Library, School St., Marshfield.
jaquithpubliclibrary.org
Landscapes and Figures. Mixed media prints. SPECIAL EVENTS
Johnson. NorthernVermont.edu Reception: Oct. 25, 6 pm. Chelsea Public Sept. 6: Montpelier ArtWalk. Two dozen
Sept. 6–Oct. 15: Valerie Hird, We’re Not in Library. chelsealibrary.com art exhibits at businesses and galleries around
Through Sept. 27: Studies in Rhythmic
Kansas Anymore. Paintings. Reception: Sept. Through Oct. 31: LandART Lab 2019. Over town. Start anywhere you want and visit as
Vitality—Paintings by Lois Eby. Acrylic
6, 5:30–7:30 pm. Furchgott Sourdiffe, 86 Falls 18 regional sculptors presenting outdoor art and many venues as you like. Refreshments served at
paints on birch panels. Art Walk reception:
Rd., Shelburne. fsgallery.com installation on the land. Pack a picnic and bring most venues. 4–8 pm. Downtown Montpelier.
Sept 6, 4–7 pm. Vermont Supreme Court
Gallery, State St., Montpelier. leby@loiseby.com Through Oct. 19: Exposed: Outdoor friends and family. King Farm Rd., Woodstock. montpelieralive.org
Sculpture Exhibition. Helen Day Art Center, Sept. 6–Oct. 31: Conduits: A Show With Sept. 7–8: Unseen Details from Harry’s
Through Sept. 27: Vermont Pastel Society.
90 Pond St., Stowe. Three Artists. Three artists (Liz Hawkes Hardware. Photographs by Rosalind Daniels.
Reception: Sept. 6, 3–8 pm. T.W. Wood Art
Gallery, 46 Barre St., Montpelier. Through Oct. 20: Visual Splendor: Travels deNiord, Richard Heller, and Rachel Portesi) On exhibit Sat., noon–8 pm and Sun, noon–
in Northern India. Photographs by Amy with divergent expressions convene to 5 pm. Reception with refreshments: Sept. 7,
Sept. 17–28: Weaving Community: Recent 6–8 pm. Cabot Artisans Gallery, 3053 Main St.,
Davenport. The Gallery at Central Vermont compliment and explore underlying realities in
Work from the Vermont Weavers Guild. Cabot. 563-2064.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Seeking for roles Snow Queen, Gerda, Kai, etc. Beat the Toxic Stress and Weight Gain Cycle. Chapters in History Four: Turmoil
4–5:30 pm. Bethany Church, 115 Main St., With Amy Panetta, MA, NC, Nutrition and Perennially Swirling. The public is encouraged
Youth Acting Class, Snow Queen. All ages. Montpelier. fineartsbarn@gmail.com Weight Loss Consultant. With the excitement to participate in this free reading and discussion
of September’s frenzy of activities, your “fight series of presidential biographies. Sept’s book is
or flight” stress response can get stuck in “on” No Ordinary Time, Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt:
position. 6–7:30 pm. Hunger Mountain Co-op The Home Front In World War II by Doris Kearns
community room, Montpelier. $8 members; $10 Goodwin. Books are available for loan from the
non-members. Sign-up: info@hungermountain. library. 2 pm. Jaquith Public Library, School St.,
coop Marshfield. 454 -1680
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 “Poets in Conversation” in Adamant. Where
Friday Morning Fall Bird Walks. A weekly, in ourselves does poetry come from? This and
casual bird walk around the North Branch other questions will be under discussion when
Nature Center property in search of fall the Adamant Community Club hosts “Poets
migratory songbirds. Learn about identification, in Conversation,” with Vermont poets Nadell
ecology, and life history of our local avifauna. Fishman and Jane Shore. They will discuss their
Led by NBNC’s expert naturalists and birders. inspiration, their craft, the process of revision,
7:30–9 am. 713 Elm St., Montpelier. $10. 229- and answer audience questions. 7:30 pm.
6206 Adamant Community Club. Free. 454-7103
Sept. 7: WDEV Radio Rangers. A mix in. 4–6 pm. Highland Center for the Arts, Sept. 14: Michael Arnowitt and the
Live Music
of Western swing, old country, novelty and 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. No cover. ImproVisions Jazz Quintet. Pianist Michael
bluegrass music. 7:30 pm. Highland Center for highlandartsvt.org Arnowitt returns to perform in concert “Where
the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. $10. Sept. 13: Meditation Concerts: Flutist jazz meets Classical” with Dave Ellis, trumpet,
highlandartsvt.org Dan Silverman, trombone, Clyde Stats, bass,
VENUES Karen Kevra. Free concerts give listeners
and Caleb Bronz, drums. Jazz based on music
Sept. 11: Remembering September 11, 2001 the opportunity to experience world-class
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. 229-9212. with Tower Bells. Michael Loris will play a performances in a reflective way through of the classical composers Chopin, Debussy,
Bagitos.com half-hour program of music remembering the 30-minute meditations to live music. Noon. Stravinsky, Bernstein, and Copland. 7 pm.
Sept. 5: Coffee Corner Jam Session, 7:30 am; victims of the 9/11 tragedy on the historic tower Cedar Creek Room of the Vermont State Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier.
Colin McCaffrey and friends, 6 pm bells of Montpelier’s Trinity United Methodist House, Montpelier. capitalcityconcerts.org $20. 229-0984
Sept. 7: Irish Session, 2 pm Church. 9:59 am. 137 Main St., Montpelier. Sept. 14: Blue Wave Concert to Save Our
Sept. 8: Southern Old Time Music Jam, 10 Sept. 13: Catherine MacLellan. A songwriter
Sept. 12: The Hunger Mountain Co-op unparalleled among performers of her Democracy! Featuring Dana and Susan
am Robinson. Dana and Susan Robinson’s original
Sept. 12: Old Time Music Session, 6 pm Brown Bag Summer Concert Series: Green generation, MacLellan earned immediate
Mountain Swing. Montpelier Alive’s series critical acclaim after releasing her debut album, and traditional folk music has been featured
Sept. 13: Ian Steinberg, 6 pm in Ken Burns documentaries. A fundraiser to
Sept. 14: Irish Session, 2 pm; Barry Bender, of FREE and fun lunch-time concerts every winning awards and being labeled “Critics
Thursday, Aug, 1–Sept. 26. Join us for a diverse Favourite New Discovery” by Penguin Eggs support Virginia candidates flip the state ‘blue’
6 pm and combat Republican gerrymandering. 7 pm.
Sept. 15: Eric Friedman, 11 am lineup of local and regional acts that are sure magazine in 2008. 7 pm. Highland Center for
to delight. Bring a lunch from one of our the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. $15; Maple Corner Community Center, 84 West
Sept. 19: Coffee Corner Jam Session, 7:30 County Rd., Calais. IndivisibleCalais.org
pm; Italian Session, 6 pm wonderful downtown restaurants and enjoy All students $10; seniors $12. highlandartsvt.org
Sept. 20: Dave Loughran, 6 pm concerts at noon in City Hall Plaza, 39 Main Sept. 13: The Fretless. Young, innovative Sept. 18: Burger Night with Music
St., Montpelier. band that melds the worlds of Celtic, folk, by Dave Keller. 5:30 pm. Templeton
Charlie O’s World Famous. 70 Main St. Farms, 3410 Center Rd., East Montpelier.
Montpelier. Free. 223-6820. Sept. 12: Kick ‘Em Jenny & Hillcrest and chamber music into an amazing and
Nursery. Enjoy samples created with Hillcrest unique sound with intricate arrangements templetonfarm.com
Every Tues.: Karaoke, 7:30 pm
Sept. 13: Fro, 9:30 pm and 12:30 am Nursery’s fresh late-summer harvest while and percussive chopping. 7:30 pm. Chandler
jamming to volcanic Appalachian fiddle tunes, Music Hall, Main St., Randolph. $10–35.
Espresso Bueno. 248 N. Main St., Barre. 479- deep groove songs, and a little Cajun thrown chandler-arts.org
0896. espressobueno.com.
Sept. 7: Moose JAMS (rock & blues), 7:30 pm
Sept. 14: Jazzyaoke (live jazz karaoke), 7:30
pm, $5
Whammy Bar. 31 W. County Rd., Calais.
whammybar1.com
Every Thurs.: Open Mic, 7 pm
SPECIAL EVENTS
Sept. 4: Roochie Toochie and the Ragtime
Shepherd Kings. All-star old time novelty jazz
and pop quintet. 7 pm. Caledonia Grange #9,
88 Church St., East Hardwick. $10 suggested
donation. 472-8987
Sept. 5: The Hunger Mountain Co-op
Brown Bag Summer Concert Series:
Araba-Lon. Montpelier Alive’s series of
FREE and fun lunch-time concerts every
Thursday, Aug, 1–Sept. 26. Join us for a diverse
lineup of local and regional acts that are sure
to delight. Bring a lunch from one of our
wonderful downtown restaurants and enjoy All
concerts at noon in City Hall Plaza, 39 Main
St., Montpelier.
Sept. 5: Fishhead. David “Fishhead” Solomon
plays an eclectic mix of classic oldies, blues,
folk, rock, and R&B. 6:3–8:30 pm. Café at
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
St., Greensboro. No cover. highlandartsvt.org.
Sept. 6: Meditation Concerts: Harpist
Jennifer Hoult. Free concerts give listeners
the opportunity to experience world-class
performances in a reflective way through
30-minute meditations to live music. Noon.
Cedar Creek Room of the Vermont State
House, Montpelier. capitalcityconcerts.org
Sept. 6: Ben Paley. A master fiddler and singer
equally adept at Swedish, Oldtime, Irish, and
Klezmer traditional styles. 7 pm. Landmark
Schoolhouse, 1643 Rt. 215, Lower Cabot.
$16 advance; $20 at door. Potluck snacks and
BYOB. cabotarts.org
Sept. 6: Everyone Orchestra. Danceable,
improvisational music drawing from funk, jazz,
soul, electronic and Americana roots. 7 pm.
Northern Vermont University-Johnson, South
Lawn (weather permitting) or at Dibden Center
for the Arts. NorthernVermont.edu
Sept. 7: Green Mountain Monteverdi
Ensemble of Vermont: Music of Love and
War. The program is devoted to the two
masters of early baroque vocal music: Claudio
Monteverdi and Heinrich Schütz. 7:30 pm.
Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier.
Suggested donations: adults $20; students/
seniors $15; children $10. gmmev.org
PAGE 2 2 • SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 T HE BRID GE
Calendar of Events
dish to share if you are able. 6 pm. Beth Jacob Progressive Party Montpelier City Caucus.
Synagogue, 10 Harrison Ave., Montpelier. The biennial party reorganizing season is upon us
and the Montpelier Progressive Party is meeting
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 to form its City Committee and elect officers
Five Money Questions for Women. Kristin and delegates to the county committee. 6:30 pm.
Dearborn, Edward Jones Financial Advisor, will Montpelier City Hall, City Council Chambers,
share her perspective on a process women can 39 Main St., Montpelier. progressiveparty.org
use to identify financial goals and set a strategy.
This 45-minute presentation offers questions WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
women should ask as they explore their finances. Open Weaving Workshop. See event description
6:30 pm. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main under Sept. 17
Street, Montpelier. 223-3338. Fit For What? Re-envisioning “Working Out.”
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 With Robert Kest, Ph.D. It is possible when
working out, be it aerobics, yoga, running, etc.,
Open Weaving Workshop. Sept. 17–19. to cultivate a more skillful, responsive, and richer
Families, students and curious beginners of all way of being that can shape our lives. 6–7:30 pm.
ages are invited to try their hand on a variety Hunger Mountain Co-op community room,
of looms and hand-weaving techniques, with Montpelier. Sign-up: info@hungermountain.
materials provided at no charge. Come weave for coop
ten minutes or an afternoon. Groups of seven or
more, please call ahead to ensure that we have Build & Maintain Great Credit for a Lifetime.
space available. 3:30–5:30 pm. Studio Place Arts, Learn the keys to building and maintaining great
201 N. Main St., Barre. Free. 479-7069 credit, how to interpret your report, and steps to
take now to improve your credit score. 6–7:30 pm.
Pacem School Community Makerspace Capstone, 20 Gable Place, Barre. Free. 477-5215
Grand Opening. Demo our new equipment:
laser cutters, 3D printers, sewing machines,
and more. 5:30 pm. 32 College St., Montpelier.
pacemschool.org
T HE BRID GE SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 • PAGE 23
W
e were in the kitchen listening is playing too loud or too soft; they Photo courtesy of Ken McMurtry.
to NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t must know if an individual or section is
Tell Me! one Saturday when beginning to lose focus and wobble out
Peter Sagal introduced as the guest that of synchronization. They are reading off
week “the legendary” Marin Alsop, music a score that has all the parts, and they
director and conductor of the Baltimore need to make sure each part comes in at
Symphony Orchestra. My wife made the the right time.”
statement that conducting was probably “Maybe it is a bit harder than I
one of the most, if not the most, difficult imagined,” I said. “Too fast, too slow,
jobs in the modern arts. too loud, too quiet, lots of parts, no
“What are you talking about?” I said, wobbling,” I said. “I think you’ve got
“It doesn’t look that hard.” My wife, it,” she said. “That’s not all…” There
Polly, took a deep breath. She was being was applause from the radio and the
patient with me. I had heard that sigh fading sound of Peter Sagal’s voice. “The
before. “Well it is,” she said. conductor has to work endless hours in
My face flushed a bit. Feeling a deep- rehearsals, fine tuning each movement,
seated insecure need to defend my experimenting with sounds, keeping the
position, I said, “All the conductor does orchestra in sync.”
is stand in front of the orchestra and “Now I know why there aren’t more
wave a baton around. It couldn’t be that five-year-old conductors,” I said.
hard.” She laughed. “Good conductors are rare,” she said.
“Laugh if you want,” I said, “but at the “I enjoy the Vermont Philharmonic “I would love to sit in the orchestra,” see plenty as an audience member. Just
Pop’s concert last month a five-year old concerts,” I said, feeling a little defensive. I said, “surrounded by music. In the watch and enjoy.”
kid was invited on stage to conduct the The conductor on Wait Wait…Don’t Tell middle of the action, where I could “Why is it they never want you to clap
1815 overture.” Me! was saying that besides the baton watch the baton swishing through the air at classical music concerts,” I said. “Who
“1812” She said. she had at least 15 facial expressions she and see all the subtle facial expressions makes the rules anyway?” Our cat Jill
used when conducting a performance. and hand gestures.” LePurr jumped on my lap and smiled.
“Whatever,” but I knew instantly,
from the look on her face I had gone “Does Lou Kosma make faces when “Come to the fall concert October 21,” “Here we go again,” Polly said.
too far. Said the wrong thing. Suddenly, he conducts,” I asked? Lou has been she said, “It’s the Opera Gala. You’ll
Peter Sagal’s voice was just a blur in the conducting the Vermont Philharmonic
background. “You know nothing about for the past 20 years.
music,” she said, “or conducting.” “He has a wide range of dirty looks,”
I couldn’t argue with that. My only Polly said, “He has encouraging
musical experience involved learning looks, too, you’re coming in too early
a few ukulele chords and playing the looks—premature looks I guess you’d
triangle in the Loma Vista Elementary call them—and play louder, play softer
School percussion orchestra. Neither of looks.”
these activities involved a conductor. To
make matters worse, Polly is a cellist in
the Vermont Philharmonic.
“Imagine…” she said.
I think I’m not exaggerating when I
say she had a bit of attitude when she
said this.
“Imagine standing in front of 50
musicians who are expected to play very
beautiful, very difficult music, and with
only a small wand and physical gestures,
keeping them focused and playing in
concert with one another.”
“The cliché about herding cats comes
to mind,” I said. “Forget cats, it’s hard
work,” she said, “these musicians, all of
various skill levels, play in sections—
strings, winds, brass, and percussion—
and those sections must interface with
one another, be in harmony with all the
other sections.”
“I used to play in a percussion
orchestra,” I said.
Polly ignored my attempt at humor.
“The conductor must know and
understand the role of every instrument;
they must know every player’s skill
level; they must know when a section
PAGE 24 • SEP T 4 —SEP T 17, 2019 T HE BRID GE
Rick McMahan
802-249-8666
rick@vtbridge.com