2008 Winter Guide by Hersam Acorn

Winter Guide 2008-2009 WHERE TO GO! WHAT TO DO! EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A GREAT WINTER SEASON!

Yankee Shopper Berkshire Penny Saver TriState Pennysaver News Vermont News Guide

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Winter Guide

FRE E

Farms/Agricultural Attractions .................... 4-5 Galleries/Visual Arts ....................................... 6-8 Gardens, Nature Preserves & Parks ......... 10-12

2008-2009

Museums/Historic Sites .............................. 13-16

! WHERE TO GO ! WHAT TO DO

Music ...................................................................... 17

EVERYTHING

Theater and Cinema ..................................... 17-19

YOU NEED

Trains and Automobiles .............................. 19-21

FOR A GREAT W

Index

N! INTER SEASO

Winter Lodging ................................................... 20 Winter Driving Map .......................................... 21

Yankee Shoppery Saver Berkshire Penn er News TriState Pennysav s Guide Vermont New

Sledding Safety .................................................... 22 Top Ten Winter Events in Vermont ......... 24-25

A Hersam Acorn Newspapers Publication Chris Sobolowski, cover design Mary A. Garcia, page design

Winter Events Calendar at Bromley .............. 26

Berkshire PennySaver 154 West Park Street, Lee, MA 01238 413-243-2341 Yankee Shopper 20 Cleveland Road, Dalton, MA 01226 413-684-1373 TriState Pennysaver News 109 South Street, Bennington, VT 05201 802-447-3381 Vermont News Guide 99 Bonnet Street, Manchester, VT 05254 802-362-3535

Renee Tassone, General Manager

2008 Winter Guide

A Hersam Acorn Newspapers publication

FARMS/AGRICULTURAL ATTRACTIONS Adams Family Farm 15 Higley Hill Road in Wilmington, Vermont 802-464-3762 • www.adamsfamilyfarm.com Winter at Adams Farm Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides since 1980 Sleigh Rides The Farm’s five Belgian draft horses and two Percheron draft horses pull the sleighs through the 100 acre hillside farm. Through maple and pine groves, across an open meadow to take in the views, then to a log cabin in the woods to warm up by the wood fires, sip a steaming cup of hot chocolate and sing to the tunes of an ol’ player piano. Named “the best sleigh ride in New England.” If a more intimate setting is on tap try our Romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride for two. Try something completely different and visit us for our Wednesday Fudge Fondue Night Sleigh Ride. Try some of the Adams family’s traditional fondue made with homemade fudge. Enjoy a cup of mulled cider while dipping an assortment of fresh fruits and baked goods into a warm fondue pot filled with melted homemade fudge. Reservations required for all sleigh rides. Call today at 802-464-3762. Winter Bonfire Parties Our summer bonfire parties are so much fun we thought we’d offer a winter version. Beginning at 5:30 pm, enjoy hot dog and marshmallow roasting and Adams Farm’s homemade chocolate fudge s’mores. We are conveniently located next to the River

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FARMS/AGRICULTURAL ATTRACTIONS continued Valley Market and the Moover Stop at Higley Hill Road. Included in the price for the party is admission to the Indoor Livestock Barn, which will be open evenings to coincide with our Winter Bonfire Parties. Our Farm Store will be open throughout the event. Stop by and see where all the fun is and take home a memorable Vermont farm experience. Indoor Livestock Barn Visit with Adams Farm’s friendly farm animals, where visitors can feed the sheep, goats, llamas, and rabbits; cuddle with kittens and bunnies; milk a goat; hunt for chicken eggs; climb into the hay jump; and learn about a working Vermont farm. In the Barn Theater, watch a variety of historical, cultural, and agricultural Vermont films. Open Wednesdays through Sundays now through June. The Farm Store and Quilt & Fiber Arts Loft Open year-round, this shop features unique Vermont products and Adams Farm’s own maple syrup, maple mustard sauce, maple barbecue sauce, jams and jellies, as well as creative gifts for all ages. The Quilt and Fiber Arts Loft features yarns from the farm’s own fibers, plus woolen wares and quilts made by family members and local women. On-line shopping is also available. Gift Certificates For the holiday season or for any occasion, Adams Farm has the perfect solution for everyone on your gift list. Gift certificates are available for individual items, such as sleigh rides or farm admission, or for merchandise in our Farm Store. Gift certificates can be purchased by calling the Farm Store at 802-464-3762. Guided Snowshoe Tours Take a guided tour on snowshoes through the farmland and discover the magical world of winter in Vermont. Experience the sights and sounds of the snow-covered landscape during these exceptional day and night tours. Light refreshments will be served. Reservations are required. To make Reservations call the farm directly at 802-464-3762 MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover accepted For general information also call 802-464-3762

Billings Farm & Museum B ILLINGS FARM Christmas at the Farm Featured at Billings Farm & Museum Discover the traditions of a 19th century Vermont Christmas with a visit to the Billings Farm & Museum, celebrating its 25th anniversary year. Christmas at the Billings Farm will be featured from December 26 – January 4, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tours of the authentically decorated farmhouse, visits to the dairy farm for interactive programs, holiday activities, plus the Academy Award® nominee film, A Place in the Land will be offered.

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December 26 – January 4 - Horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides will be offered Dec. 26 – Jan. 4. Will Danforth will perform traditional holiday music in the 1890 Farm House parlor on Saturday, December 27 & Monday, December 29, from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

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2008 Winter Guide

FARMS/AGRICULTURAL ATTRACTIONS continued Like most New England states, Vermont did not widely celebrate Christmas until late in the 19th century. It was not until 1890, when the farmhouse at the Billings Farm was completed, that Christmas became recognized as a holiday in all states. At that time, celebrations were much simpler than they would become in the 20th century. Families enjoyed the holiday, but still had cows to milk, ice to cut, and wood to saw. A few gifts, a special meal, and the gathering of friends, were noteworthy in an otherwise typical day. Decorations of the period included fresh greens draped over mantels, windows, and doorways throughout the house. Small trees, packed in a jar or butter tub that stood on a tabletop were common. Many of the ornaments reflected an agricultural tradition, including strands of cranberries, popcorn, or dried apples that circled the tree. Apples studded with cloves, “exotic” oranges, silvered (foil-covered) chestnuts, painted pinecones and acorns complemented the handmade paper ornaments, which rounded out many a tree’s decorations. In Woodstock, turn-of-the-century businesses advertised their wares for Christmas gifts. Nearly all of the gifts were useful domestic items: fabric, clothing, umbrellas, linens, crockery, and carpet sweeps. Homemade, handcrafted items including fancy mittens, satin bows, and stockings filled with candies, nuts, and raisins were the most common type of gift given on Christmas Day.

FARMS/AGRICULTURAL ATTRACTIONS continued

North River Winery Vermont Route 112, River Road in Jacksonville, Vermont 802-368-7557 or 800-585-7779 www.northriverwinery.com North River Winery, Vermont’s first bonded winery, is located in the picturesque foothills of Windham County, situated along the North River. The 1850s farmhouse and barn which house the winery recall an age when wines were made by local residents. Started in 1985, the winery has grown from making 2,500 gallons of wine annually to about 20,000 gallons. Approximately 90% of the fruit used by the winery is grown at the Dwight Miller Orchards, a State of Vermont, Certified Organic Orchard. All fermentation, bottling and distribution of their eleven different wines are done on the premises. Of the roughly 100,000 bottles of wine made per year, approximately 60% is sold at the winery’s retail locations. Their year-round tasting rooms are located in Bennington at Camelot Village and Manchester Center at Vermont Magic on Route 7A. Both are open seven days a week: 10am to 5:30pm in Bennington and 10am to 5pm in Manchester. Free tours are also offered at the winery.

Cabot Creamery 288 Main Street in Cabot, Vermont 888-792-2268 • www.cabotcheese.com Visit Cabot’s Visitors’ Center in Cabot Village, home of Cabot’s famous cheddar cheese, and take a factory tour. The guided tour tells the history of Cabot Creamery and a little something about the agricultural history of Vermont. After the video, take a walk down the hall to view Cabot’s award-winning cheese being made. Following the tour ($2 per person over twelve years of age), nibble Cabot’s many varieties of cheeses, including the World’s Best Cheddar and Best Flavored Cheddar. The visit will include a Cabot Critters Coloring Book and weekly specials on selected cheese products. Call to confirm cheese-making days. Large groups welcome with reservations.

Hilltop Orchards and Furnace Brook Winery 508 Canaan Road in Richmond, Massachusetts 800-833-6274 •www.hilltoporchards.com Furnace Brook Winery, Berkshire’s first farm winery, is located at Hilltop Orchards, a 200-acre family fruit farm. Taste their awardwinning wines and ciders. The Normandy Gazebo offers wines bythe-glass and a menu in an open air environment overlooking the orchards and the Berkshire Hills. Hilltop Orchards, established in the early 1900s, today produces over 20 varieties of apples, plums, pears and grapes and is the largest producer of fresh apple cider in the Berkshires. The Hilltop Orchards Farm Store stocks fresh baked goods, local produce and cheeses, as well as apples, cider and cider doughnuts. Pick your own apples from late August through the end of the harvest in October. Hiking, biking, picnicking and guided hikes are also offered. The winery is open Friday-Sunday, 11am-5pm. 2008 Winter Guide

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GALLERIES/VISUAL ARTS

GALLERIES/VISUAL ARTS continued

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts

Bennington Arts Guild Gallery 103 South Street at the Four Corners, Bennington, Vermont 802-442-7838 • www.benningtonartsguild.com

28 Renne Avenue in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 413-499-9348 • www.culturalpittsfield.com

The Bennington Arts Guild is a cooperative run by artists from Bennington and the surrounding communities with the common goal of providing a viable market for, and bringing public attention to, fine art and fine craft produced in the area. Membership is open to artists throughout the greater Bennington area. Bennington Arts Guild Gallery is open Wednesday through Monday from 12pm-4pm.

The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts is a community arts center housed in a historic building in downtown Pittsfield. Inside is a gallery and performance area, workshops and artists’ studios. The center features current work of local and regional artists and craftspeople, both well known and emerging. This community arts center also features performances and readings by a variety of musicians, dancers, actors and poets. Nine individual artist rental studios are housed in the Lichtenstein Center, joining over 40 other working artist studios in downtown Pittsfield to create a thriving creative community. Local teaching artists lead a variety of classes, including ceramics, tap dancing, life drawing, tai chi and more. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon-5pm.

Bennington Center for Arts Route 9 just west of Bennington, Vermont 802-442-7158 • www.benningtoncenterforthearts.org The Bennington Center for the Arts is known primarily for its fine arts galleries of nature-inspired and Native American art. It has, over the years, acquired a wonderful collection of sculpture, weavings, pottery and carvings. These works represent the beauty of wildlife, landscapes and the culture and history of Native Americans. It houses the award-winning Oldcastle Theatre and the Laumeister Galleries, which feature rotating art exhibits and art sales. It is also home to the Vermont Covered Bridge Museum. Bennington Center for the Arts includes a museum shop, a main theater and a covered bridge theater, as well as a visitors’ information center. Open 10am-5pm Wednesday through Monday.

MASS MoCA 1040 MASS MOCA Way in North Adams, Massachusetts 413-662-2111 • www.massmoca.org MASS MoCA is an extraordinary project converting a 27-building historic mill complex in the Berkshire Mountains into a multi-disciplinary center for visual, performing and media arts. More than a static display hall, MASS MoCA provides space, tools and time for artists, cultural institutions and businesses working in sculpture, theater, dance, film, digital media and music. With annual attendance of 120,000, it ranks among the most visited institutions in the United States dedicated to new art. Hours are 11am-5pm (closed Tuesdays). MASS MoCA offers public tours at noon and 3pm on weekends and daily in July and August.

Southern Vermont Arts Center

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West Road in Manchester, Vermont 802-362-1405 • www.svac.org The Southern Vermont Arts Center The Southern Vermont Arts Center is a 407-acre visual and performing arts campus-the oldest cultural organization in Vermont-at the foot of Mount Equinox, in Manchester, Vermont. Occupying the former Webster estate, the Arts Center comprises the 28-room Georgian Revival mansion, Yester House Gallery; the Hugh Newell Jacobsen-designed Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum; a 400-seat performance space, the Arkell Pavilion, and the Madeira Education Center. The Arts Center’s Permanent Collection holds 800-plus pieces including the world’s largest holding of Luigi Lucioni (1900-1988) paintings and etchings, as well as works by Robert Bruce Crane, John Steuart Curry, Reginald Marsh, Grandma Moses and other prominent 19th and 20th century artists. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Open Sunday January 18 and February 22, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. $5 for adults; $3 for students; free to Members and children 12 and under 17th Annual Winter Members’ Exhibition Yester House Gallery January 10-February 2, 2009 Free Opening Artists Reception, 2-4 p.m., 1/10/09

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2008 Winter Guide

GALLERIES/VISUAL ARTS continued

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We love winter, it’s true, but come January, even the hardiest among us can develop a fairly nagging case of color deprivation. We recall with longing the glories of fall and yearn for the coming brilliance of spring. And that, in a nutshell, is the reason for this freewheeling, all media, mid-winter celebration of beauty and color. The Annual Winter Members’ Exhibition is open to Art Center Artist Members from throughout New England and is eagerly anticipated by collectors and browsers alike. The Annual Winter Members’ Exhibition regularly presents paintings, photographs, sculpture and mixed media pieces of the very highest quality. February Exhibitions Yester House Gallery February 7-March 8, 2009 Free Opening Artists Reception, 2-4 p.m., 2/7/09 Suzanne Chamlin, Irina Schrecker, Thomas Torak, Marguerite Takvorian-Holmes, John Kudukey, Todd Reuben, Clarence King, Elaine Franz Witten, Leslie Parke and Keith Hoffman display their works throughout the galleries of Yester House, the Arts Center’s 28 room Georgian Revival mansion. Children’s Teddy Bear Tea Party Yester House Gallery February 14, 2009 2:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m. Children aged 4-12, with adult; $24 per child- adult pair (members $20); additional guests $12 each (members $10); free admission for Teddy Bears! Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your child at the Art Center’s latest family event; a teddy bear tea party. The young participants are invited to bring a well-loved teddy bear (doll or other stuffed animal) and are encouraged to “dress up” for the occasion in their best Tea finery. In addition to enjoying tea, juice, sandwiches and sweets, the children will participate in a variety of activities, including crafts and stories. Reservations are required as space is limited. Southern Vermont Arts Center, West Road, Manchester 802.362.1405/www.svac.org Art From the Schools Yester House Gallery March 14-April 9, 2009 Opening Reception, 2-4 p.m., 3/14 A perennial favorite of all concerned - including SVAC personnel, the art teachers, the student artists and the admiring public - Art From the Schools showcases work by area students from the elementary grades through high school. The diverse nature of the artistic talent presented is a testimony to the level of outstanding guidance that the local art teachers provide to nurture creativity in their students. Southern Vermont Arts Center, West Road, Manchester 802.362.1405/www.svac.org Tues-Sat, 10-5; Sun 12-5 | Free admission. 2008 Winter Guide

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SVAC’s 1917 National Registry of Historic Places mansion, Yester House Gallery, in its seasonal finery. SVAC art from the schools: A young Picasso enjoying last year’s show.

Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro and especially PierreAuguste Renoir, with more than 30 paintings by the artist. The collection is also rich in American paintings by Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Frederic Remington and Mary Cassatt; Italian and Northern Renaissance masterpieces; portraits and landscapes by European masters; and an extraordinary collection of silver, porcelain, and furniture. The Clark offers a lively variety of events and programs for all ages including concerts, films, family activities, gallery talks and after-hours events. Most public events, including family days and summer band concerts, are free of charge. Food is available year-round. Trails of varying lengths and difficulty cross the property and offer spectacular views of Williamstown and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Picnic tables and benches dot the landscape, inviting visitors to relax and enjoy the surrounding hills. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am5pm. Open daily July and August, 10am-5pm.

Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute

Williams College Museum of Art

225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts 413-458-2303 •www.clarkart.edu

15 Lawrence Hall Drive off of Main Street, Route 2 in Williamstown, Massachusetts • 413-597-2429 • www.wcma.org

The Clark is a dynamic institution welcoming visitors yearround to experience outstanding European and American art in a beautiful, rural setting. Surrounded by 140 acres of woodlands, meadows and hiking trails, the Clark’s intimately scaled galleries are home to an exceptional collection. Opened in 1955 by Singer sewing machine heir Robert Sterling Clark and his wife, Francine, the Clark is renowned for its French Impressionist paintings by

One of the finest college art museums in the country, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) houses 12,000 works that span the history of art. Within the broad range of time periods and cultures represented, the collection emphasizes modern and contemporary art, American art from the late 18th century to the present and the art of world cultures. In addition to displaying works from the permanent collection, the museum organizes loan exhibitions of outstanding works from other collections. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday from 1-5pm. Admission is free, and the museum is wheelchair accessible.

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2008 Winter Guide

GARDENS, NATURE PRESERVES & PARKS Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center Dyken Pond Road off of Route 80 in Grafton, New York 518-658-2055 • www.dykenpond.org Dyken Pond is the principal headwaters of the Poestenkill and the largest lake on the Rensselaer Plateau. Its historic dam was built in 1902 by Manning Paper Company and regulated the stream flow powering machinery along the Poestenkill to Troy. Manning Paper Company donated its land holdings to Rensselaer County in 1973. Since that time, Rensselaer County has owned and operated this living watershed as an ecological teaching unit as well as a low-use recreation area. Thirty-three ecological communities offer an exciting blend of

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GARDENS, NATURE PRESERVES & PARKS continued places to explore and enjoy. The park is open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. No motorized vehicles, mountain biking, horseback riding, barbecues or swimming permitted. There is a non-motor boat launch near the parking lot. Call ahead to assure vehicle access to launch. Dogs are welcomed on leashes. Open daily during daylight hours.

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2008 Winter Guide

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Green Mountain National Forest Forest Supervisor, 231 North Main Street in Rutland, Vermont 802-747-6700 • www.fs.fed.us/r9/gmfl/green_mountain/index.htm The Green Mountain National Forest follows the backbone of Vermont north from the Massachusetts border, all the way to the Appalachian Gap. It was established in 1932 after uncontrolled logging, fire and flooding ravaged the State of Vermont. Today, the Green Mountain National Forest has grown—tract by tract—to almost 400,000 acres that stretch across nearly two-thirds the length of Vermont. The mission of the Forest is to sustain, protect and enhance forest ecosystems. The Appalachian and Long Trails, which extend along the ridgeline of the Green Mountains, are part of its 312 miles of trails. Within the forest’s boundaries are cold streams and beaver ponds famous for brook and rainbow trout fishing. Other activities include birding, berry picking, canoeing, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and scenic drives.

Lake Whitingham/Harriman Reservoir Wilmington/Whitingham, Vermont • www.thisisvermont.com/storywaters.html Lake Whitingham, also known as Harriman Reservoir, is Vermont’s largest recreational lake wholly within its borders, fully eight miles long from north to south, with over 28 miles of undeveloped shoreline. The lake was formed by the construction of the Harriman Dam, named for Henry I. Harriman, the engineer under whom it was constructed in 1923 by the New England Power Company. This large earthen dam stands 200 feet tall, 1,200 feet across and a quarter of a mile wide at its base. By the dam is the “glory hole,” an enormous 60-foot spillway shaped like a gigantic morning glory. It is maintained by the New England Power Company at no cost to the public.

GARDENS, NATURE PRESERVES & PARKS continued the Long Trail is known as Vermont’s “footpath in the wilderness,” its character may more accurately be described as backcountry. The trail climbs rugged peaks and passes pristine ponds, alpine bogs, hardwood forests and swift streams. It is steep in some places, muddy in others and rugged in most. Novice and expert alike will enjoy the varied terrain. With its 270-mile footpath, 175 miles of side trails and nearly 70 primitive shelters, the Long Trail offers endless hiking opportunities for the day hiker, weekend overnighter and extended backpacker. The Long Trail is marked by two-by-six-inch white blazes. Intersections are usually marked with signs. Double blazes may mark important turns. Side trails are blazed in blue and signed. The Long Trail is maintained by the Green Mountain Club in Vermont.

Merck Forest & Farmland Center Route 315 Rupert Mountain Road in Rupert, Vermont 802-394-7836 • www.merckforest.com Merck Forest and Farmland Center’s mission is to teach and demonstrate the benefits of innovative, sustainable management of forest and farmland. The purpose of the farm is to demonstrate modern, sustainable approaches to agriculture while producing maple syrup, organic vegetables, flowers and herbs and raising livestock for meat, eggs, wool and dairy products. These are sold at Merck’s farmstand, through its Community-Supported Agriculture program and at three local farmers’ markets. Timber products include hardwood logs for furniture, veneer, flooring and other products. Merck Forest and Farmland Center has several relatively rare types of forest communities, which provide valuable wildlife habitats and allow for scientific research. Merck has a number of trails, camp sites and educational programs. Open year-round, dawn to dusk.

Pember Nature Preserve/Pember Museum of Natural History

Green Mountains, Vermont • www.greenmountainclub.org/page.php?id=2

Preserve located on Route 22, eight miles south of Granville, New York Museum located at 33 West Main Street in Granville, New York 518-642-1515 • www.pembermuseum.com

Built by the Green Mountain Club between 1910 and 1930, the Long Trail is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States. It follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border as it crosses Vermont’s highest peaks. It was the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail, which coincides with it for one hundred miles in the southern third of the state. Although

The Pember Nature Preserve, donated to the Pember Library and Museum in 1979, encompasses 125 acres of forest, wetland and fields on both sides of Black Creek, a tributary of the Battenkill. The mission of the Pember Nature Preserve is to provide a refuge for the region’s native wildlife and plant species. Visitors to the marsh walk on elevated walkways and over a footbridge spanning Black Creek. An observation

The Long Trail

A Hersam Acorn Newspapers publication

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2008 Winter Guide

A Hersam Acorn Newspapers publication

GARDENS, NATURE PRESERVES & PARKS continued platform at the edge of Black Creek allows for the observation of wetland wildlife. In 1987, the Granville School District deeded the Porter Schoolhouse to the Pember Library and Museum for use as a nature education center. The Porter Schoolhouse is one point of entry to the preserve; the other is on South Grimes Hill Road. Seven nature trails are available year-round from dawn to dusk. Trail maps at both entrances. The Pember Library and Museum were established in 1909 by Franklin Tanner Pember and his wife, Ellen Wood Pember. Both institutions continue to operate in the building designed and built for that purpose. Franklin Pember was an entrepreneur, with interests in the fur trade, oil fields and orange groves. From boyhood he was interested in the natural world and collected mounted birds and mammals, bird nests and eggs, shells, insects, plants, rocks and minerals. This collection became the basis of the museum. Open year-round Tuesday-Friday from 1-5pm and Saturday from 10am-3pm. Closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

Somerset Reservoir Somerset Road off of Route 9 on Searsburg Mountain, Vermont www.thisisvermont.com/storywaters.html Just shy of 1,600 acres in size, this is the first of a series of large reservoirs utilizing the Deerfield River for electrical power. The south end of the reservoir, just after the dam, has a parking lot with public toilets. Excellent area for ice fishing.

MUSEUMS/HISTORIC SITES Bennington Battle Monument 15 Monument Circle in Bennington, Vermont • 802-447-0550 www.bennington.com/chamber/walking/monumentdescription.html This 306’ dolomite obelisk is Vermont’s tallest structure and was dedicated in 1891 to commemorate the 1777 Battle of Bennington. In 1953, it was restored by the Vermont Historic Site Commission, which now administers it for the state. The monument was constructed on the site of the Continental arms storehouse, the object of this Revolutionary War battle in which General John Stark led his troops to one of the first major American victories against the British. There are interpretive exhibits, an elevator to the top of the monument and a gift shop. Scenic vistas of Vermont, Massachusetts and New York can be seen from the observation level high within the structure. Open mid-April to October 31st, 9am-5pm daily.

Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site Route 67 between Walloomsac, New York and Vermont state line 518-686-8266 • www.nysparks.com/sites/info.asp?siteID=3 Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site is the location of a Revolutionary War battle fought in August 1777 between the British forces of General John Burgoyne and Colonel Friedrich Baum against the American forces under Brigadier General John Stark and Colonel Seth Warner. British forces underestimated the strength of their enemy, and most of their men were killed or taken prisoner while the Americans sustained smaller losses. The British surrendered on October 17, 1777. Open weekends only from Labor Day to Veterans Day, 10am-7pm. Barnett Homestead, adjacent to the Bennington Battlerfield State Historic site is open for tours and offers special events. Call the Hoosick, N.Y. Town Office at 518-686-4571

Bennington Museum West Main Street (Vermont Route 9) in Bennington, Vermont 802-447-1571 • www.benningtonmuseum.org

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The Bennington Museum was founded as the Bennington Historical Association in 1875 to celebrate Bennington’s Colonial past and, more specifically, to commemorate the historic Revolutionary War Battle of Bennington in 1777. Over time the museum acquired paintings and sculpture by Vermont artists, children’s toys, maps, books and military artifacts. Its Grandma Moses Gallery hold the largest public collection of Grandma Moses art and memorabilia available to the public. It also features: an extensive array of American glass from the 19th to the early 20th century; vintage portraits of early settlers by Ammi Phillips; a unique Ralph Earl townscape; examples of abolitionist newspapers by William Lloyd Garrison; a Windsor writing-arm chair owned by Ira Allen, a founder of Vermont and author of the State’s Constitution; and the world’s largest collection of Bennington pottery. The museum is open daily (except Wednesdays) from 10am-5pm.

Cambridge Historical Society & Museum 12 Broad Street in Cambridge, New York 518-677-5232 www.cambridgenychamber.com/theregion.html A Hersam Acorn Newspapers publication

2008 Winter Guide

MUSEUMS/HISTORIC SITES continued This museum was established in 1929 by the Cambridge Historical Society to preserve the history of Cambridge and the surrounding area for the education and enjoyment of the public. The house is a fine example of Victorian architecture featuring a mansard roof, wraparound porch and ornate exterior moldings. Displays include Revolutionary and Civil War memorabilia, fire-fighting exhibits, Cambridge-made (19th century) Baron furniture, china, glassware, antique kitchen utensils, antique hat boxes, spinning wheels, toys, period clothing and more.

Chesterwood Estate and Museum 4 Williamsville Road just off of Route 183 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts • 413-298-3579 • www.chesterwood.org Sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial, the Minute Man at Concord, Massachusetts and many familiar public monuments, Daniel Chester French (1850-1931) was a leading turn-of-the-century sculptor. In the 1920s, his studio—Chesterwood—provided a retreat from New York’s urban life. Models, studies and full-size sculptures of his famous works, as well as striking contemporary sculptures, are displayed in the studio, museum gallery, summer home and gardens. Open daily from 10am-5pm, May 15th through October 15th with guided tours on the hour.

Friends (Old Quaker) Meeting House & Maple Street Cemetery Corner of Friend and Maple Streets in Adams, Massachusetts 413-743-1799 • www.berkshireweb.com/quakers/index.html The Quakers, or “Friends” as they called themselves, were a religious denomination who came from the Smithfield, Rhode Island area. They were the first group of settlers to form a community in East Hoosuck, the original name of the Adams township. They lived in Adams for 15 years before starting to build the meeting house in 1782. They finished it four years later. The meeting house, like many Quakers homes, was built with very little ornamentation and left unpainted. The Quaker community in Adams reached its peak in 1819 when a total of 40 families were members of the Friends Meeting. There was a steady decline after that date and in 1842 the Society of Friends held its last official meeting in the old meeting house.

Georgi Museum & Park Center

Herman Melville’s Arrowhead 780 Holmes Road in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 413-442-1793 • www.mobydick.org Arrowhead was the home of Herman Melville from 1850-1863 and where he wrote his most famous work, Moby Dick, along with three other novels, Pierre, The Confidence-Man and Israel Potter, a collection of short stories entitled The Piazza Tales, all of his magazine stories and some of his poetry. Arrowhead is now a house museum interpreting the life of the Melville family in the Berkshires. It is owned and operated by the Berkshire County Historical Society.

Museum of Black WWII History 179 Oak Hill School Road in Pownal, Vermont 802-823-5519 • www.blackww2museum.org This museum was created not to glorify war but to document it—in particular to honor the long-ignored role of AfricanAmericans in the largest worldwide conflict of human history. The museum’s goal is to enlighten visitors about the relatively unknown and unappreciated contribution of the 1.1 million African Americans who served in the U.S. military in World War II. More than a collection and display of objects, the museum is a center for ongoing teaching and research on this broad subject. Open Thursday to Monday from 10am-5pm and special hours upon request.

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Adams Lane in Shushan, New York 518-854-3773 • www.salem-ny.com/georgi.html A collection of Renaissance art, European antiques and Asian collectibles, situated on nine acres of park and gardens along the famous Battenkill trout stream. The art collection is comprised of Italian, Dutch, Flemish, German and French paintings from the fourteenth through the eighteenth centuries. Chinese and Asian tapestries and Oriental figurines are an added attraction. The Georgi Museum also boasts an extensive mineral collection with samples from as far away as South Africa. Museum grounds are open dawn to dusk. Open weekends only from 1-4pm.

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The Mount: Edith Wharton’s Estate and Gardens 2 Plunkett Street in Lenox, Massachusetts 413-551-5111 • www.edithwharton.org

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The Mount—Pulitzer-prize winning author Edith Wharton’s 1902 estate and gardens—is the creation of one of America’s greatest authors. An icon of American architecture and landscape design, The Mount combines English, French and Italian elements with a New England twist. The estate has been extensively restored, with nearly $9 million invested to bring the 42-room mansion and formal gardens back to life. Like Jefferson’s Monticello, The Mount is an “autobiographical house,” a telling reflection of her remarkable life and work. Three acres of formal gardens surround the mansion. Wharton, an authority on European landscape design, created her gardens as architectural compositions, divided into rooms and planned in concert with the house and surrounding natural landscape. Linger over lunch on the terrace where Wharton entertained notables like Henry James. The Mount is the only U.S. monument to Edith Wharton. Open Wednesday through Saturday from10am-4pm through May 23rd, then seven days a week from 10am-5pm for the summer.

Naumkeag Prospect Hill Road in Stockbridge, Massachusetts 413-298-8146 • www.thetrustees.org/pages/335_naumkeag.cfm An aura of grand times and gracious living still lingers at Naumkeag. This 26-room gabled mansion, designed by Stanford White in 1885, was the summer home of Joseph Hodges Choate (1832-1917), noted attorney and ambassador to England at the turn of the century. The rooms contain the Choate family’s collection of Chinese export porcelain, antique furniture, elegant rugs and tapestries. Naumkeag is famous for its eight acres of terraced gardens and landscaped grounds surrounded by forty acres of woodland, meadow and pasture that stretch to the Housatonic River Valley.

North Adams Museum of History and Science Western Gateway Heritage State Park in North Adams, Massachusetts 413-664-4700 • www.geocities.com/northadamshistory Housed in a beautifully restored historic freight yard, the North Adams Museum of History and Science portrays a microcosm of America as told through the history of North Adams and the environment of the Northern Berkshires. It provides over 25 exhibit areas on its three floors and includes hands-on discovery rooms, the Solar System Black Light Gallery, the Natural History Center, early social, industrial and railroading history, the Fort Massachusetts Barracks Room and other military exhibits and more. Open 10am-4pm Thursday through Saturday and 1-4pm Sunday May through December. Free admission.

Old Hopkins Observatory & Mehlin Museum of Astronomy Main Street (Rt. 2) in Williamstown, Massachusetts 413-597-2188 • www.williams.edu

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MUSEUMS/HISTORIC SITES continued The Hopkins Observatory is the oldest existing observatory in the United States. In 1834, Prof. Albert Hopkins went to England, with the permission of the trustees of the college, to search for astronomical apparatus. On his return, he enlisted some of his students to build a permanent observatory, which they constructed by hand from 1836 to 1838. That building is now the planetarium. It was originally located in the center of the quad but was moved to the far end in 1908 and to its present location in 1961. Some of the original equipment from the 1834 trip to England still survives in this building.

Park-McCullough House Corner of Park & West Streets in North Bennington, Vermont 802-442-5441 • www.parkmccullough.org The Park-McCullough House, a 35-room Victorian Mansion, was completed in 1865 for Trenor and Laura Park. Trenor Park, a Bennington lawyer, had made a fortune in California successfully managing John C. Fremont’s Mariposa gold mines. Returning East, he commissioned architects Diaper and Dudley to design this “summer home,” a classic example of French Second Empire Style. The furnishings and decor are nearly unchanged. As you walk in the front door, you will find rooms with fourteen-foot ceilings opening onto a gracious central hall with a sweeping staircase. The grounds feature a playhouse, rose gardens and a Carriage Barn, which houses a fine collection of horse-drawn carriages, buggies, sleighs and fire-fighting equipment. Open daily 10am-4pm mid-May to mid-October. Guided tours on the hour. There is a series of classical concerts on Sundays at 4pm in July and August, and the ParkMcCullough House also plays host to theater and other events.

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Robert Todd Lincoln’s Hildene Historic Route 7A in Manchester, Vermont 802-362-1788 • www.hildene.org In 1902, Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest son of President Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, hired a Boston architectural firm to build a stately home on a promontory overlooking the Battenkill Valley in Manchester. The site he chose commanded sweeping views of the valley bordered by the Taconic Mountains to the west and the Green Mountains to the east. His magnificent Georgian Revival style home was completed three years later. Robert Todd Lincoln named his new home Hildene, meaning “hill” and “valley.” Hildene would be Mr. Lincoln’s summer home for the next 21 years and would be the only house in America where all of Abraham Lincoln’s descendants would eventually reside. Mary “Peggy” Lincoln Beckwith, a greatgranddaughter of Abraham Lincoln, was the last of the president’s descendants to live at Hildene. She occupied the home until 1975. Shortly thereafter, Friends of Hildene, a nonprofit organization, was formed to oversee “the preservation of Hildene’s open land and the restoration of those buildings that best serve the public as an educational and cultural resource and as a memorial to the Lincoln family.” Today, Hildene welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world who arrive to enjoy this meticulously restored home with its elegant formal gardens, cutting and kitchen gardens and farm and to participate in the many special events held annually on the beautiful grounds of the estate. To enjoy the home, exhibits and grounds you should allow approximately 90 minutes. You may also visit the cutting and kitchen gardens, the observatory, the exhibit area and the Museum Shop. Grounds passes are available to visit the gardens and grounds but are not valid for admission into the Lincoln home. Open 9:30am to 4:30pm daily. Cross-country skiiing and snowshoeing with rentals available.

Slate Valley Museum 17 Water Street in Granville, New York 518-642-1417 • www.slatevalleymuseum.org

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The Slate Valley Museum is housed inside a restored 19th Century New World Dutch Barn. Through artifacts, photographs, videotapes, art, displays, immigrant histories and a quarry shanty, the museum presents the history, science and art of slate quarrying and its influence on Slate Valley culture and community life. Learn why the Slate Valley is unique in all the world and why slate from the Slate Valley has been used in national landmarks such as the White House. Open year-round.

Williamstown House of Local History David and Joyce Milne Public Library, 1095 Main Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts 413-458-2160 • www.milnelibrary.org/hlh.html Williamstown House of Local History was founded in 1941 to promote knowledge of the town’s history by collecting and preserving materials, mounting exhibitions, presenting educational programs and facilitating research. The collection includes photographs, documents and artifacts from the 1700s to the present day, as well as published material on the town and genealogical material on local families. Open Monday through Friday 10am-noon and other hours by appointment.

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Memorial Hall Center for the Arts Main Street (Route 9) in Wilmington, Vermont 802-464-8411 • www.memhall.org Located in Wilmington, Vermont, Memorial Hall Center for the Arts offers a professional cultural arts series from early July through Labor Day, as well as one community theatre production each summer. The season traditionally includes cabaret, Broadway, Motown, musicals, oldies, light opera and classical concerts. Memorial Hall Center for the Arts is named after the historic building that it calls home. Endowed with acoustics that rival halls of greater capacity and renown, Wilmington’s Memorial Hall is resplendent with the spirit of a time gone by.

Vermont Symphony Orchestra Performing at Hildene Meadowlands in Manchester, Vermont 800-VSO-9293, www.vso.org. Seventy years ago, a small group of musical enthusiasts meeting in Woodstock, Vermont convinced each other that by working together, they could assemble the necessary musical and financial resources from across rural Vermont to create a statewide symphony orchestra. Whereas most other orchestras originate in a single town or city, performing there in one concert hall and touring occasionally, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra dedicated itself to traveling to any gymnasium, armory, racetrack or hillside where an audience could be found. The musicians, whose numbers included barbers, lawyers, mail carriers, doctors and farmers, came from all across the state to rehearse and perform. Before the advent of modern highways, this represented an extraordinary commitment. For 70 years, the orchestra has shuttled from town to town, overcoming geography with such energy and persistence that it has earned a national reputation.

BSC is committed to presenting new productions of neglected musicals and plays, in addition to developing new works for the American Theater. BSC garnered national attention with William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s Tony Award-winning musical hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which began as a workshop at BSC.

Berkshire Opera Company Performing at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 30 Castle Street in Great Barrington, Massachusetts and The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 413-442-9955 • www.berkshireopera.org Berkshire Opera Company is dedicated to presenting the finest professional opera performances and enriching the lives of people of all ages in Berkshire County and the surrounding areas. The 2008 season includes Uncharted Territory, Women on the Verge, Vocal Colors, Secrets of the Sky and Sea, Le nozze di Figaro and Exhilaration.

Berkshire Theatre Festival Main Street in Stockbridge, Massachusetts 413-298-5576 • www.berkshiretheatre.org The Berkshire Theatre Festival is the oldest performing arts venue in Berkshire County and one of the oldest in the United States.

THEATER AND CINEMA

Care that’s about you.

The Albany Berkshire Ballet 116 Fenn Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 413-445-5382 • www.berkshireballet.org The Albany Berkshire Ballet was founded in 1960 by Artistic Director Madeline Cantarella Culpo. Nationally recognized for its versatility in performing both classical and contemporary dance works with excellence, the company’s classical repertory rivals that of any large company performing today. With works created by some of ballet’s greatest choreographers, including Igor Youskevitch, Michel Fokine and Antony Tudor, the Albany Berkshire Ballet performs such full-length ballets as Giselle, Cinderella, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, delighting audiences of all ages.

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Barrington Stage Company Berkshire Music Hall at 30 Union Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 413-528-8888 • www.barringtonstageco.org Barrington Stage Company is a professional award-winning Equity theater now located in the crossroads of the Berkshires in Pittsfield. Co-founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, 2008 Winter Guide

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Colonial Theatre 111 South Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 413-997-4444 • www.thecolonialtheatre.org Pittsfield’s refurbished Colonial Theatre is a living time machine, transporting visitors to a resplendent Gilded Age theater in its prime. Designed by noted theater architect J.B. McElfatrick, the Colonial was of a class above most playhouses of the day. Noted London theater consultant Louis Flemming called the Colonial “one of the greatest acoustical houses in the entire world.” McElfatrick designed about 350 theaters around the country—66 in New York City alone—but the Colonial is one of only a dozen still standing. An extensive and meticulous restoration has brought the majestic 1903 theatrical masterpiece back to life for its opening this summer. The 810-seat historic theater will once again host leading performers from around the country. The new season will include a British Invasion Tour, Praying with Lior and Romulus My Father.

Dorset Playhouse/Dorset Theatre Festival Cheney Road off Route 30 in Dorset, Vermont 802-867-5777 • www.dorsettheatrefestival.org; www.dorsetplayers.org ��

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The historic Dorset Playhouse has been in continuous use since its construction in 1929. This playhouse is the site of the Dorset Theatre Festival, which received the Moss Hart Award for Outstanding Theatre in 1995 and 1997. Some of the plays and authors first produced with the Dorset Theatre Festival or written at the Dorset Colony have gone on to major openings in New York, Miami and elsewhere.

Hubbard Hall Projects, Inc. 25 East Main Street in Cambridge, New York 518-677-2495 • www.hubbardhall.org

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This community arts center, dedicated to bringing the best of theater, music, dance and the visual arts to the region, is housed in a restored 1878 rural opera house. Hubbard Hall offers plays, concerts, classes and local art.

Images Cinema 50 Spring Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts 413-458-5612 • www.imagescinema.org One of the few remaining single-screen, independent theaters still in operation, Images Cinema is a historic part of the Northern Berkshires, offering an exceptional variety of independent, foreign and classic films year-round. Images has shown independent cinema for independent minds for over 80 years.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 358 George Carter Road in Becket, Massachusetts 413-243-9919 • www.jacobspillow.org Celebrating its 75th year, Jacob’s Pillow is America’s premier dance festival and is now a National Historic Landmark. World-renowned dance is performed in two theaters, and there are free outdoor performances, talks, exhibits and historic grounds to visit. Founded by dance pioneer Ted Shawn in the 1930s, the Pillow today is A Hersam Acorn Newspapers publication

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renowned not only for producing a premier festival, but also for its professional school, intern program, archives of rare holdings, artist residencies and year-round community programs.

The Mount Equinox Skyline Drive is the longest privately owned paved toll road in the U.S. Begin your adventure at the Toll House on Historic Route 7A in Sunderland at an elevation of 600 feet. As Skyline Drive winds and twist its way up the mountain, it provides panoramic views of lakes, rivers and valley communities below. There are many vistas and areas for picnicking along the 5.2-mile drive, which has a vertical gain of 3,248 feet to the summit. The serenity and beauty of the world famous Battenkill River may be seen meandering through town, farm and woodland below. There is so much natural beauty that the drive to the summit is half the experience. However, the view from the summit is truly breathtaking and an experience you’ll not soon forget. It offers incredible sunsets and panoramic views of the Green, White, Adirondack, Berkshire and Taconic Mountain ranges. The drive offers picnic areas, many of which have marble picnic tables made from marble quarried on neighboring Dorset Mountain. There is a fireplace for grilling at the first area located 1/4 mile from the entrance of the drive. Open 9am to dusk, May 1st through October 31st, weather permitting.

Oldcastle Theatre Company Performing at the Bennington Center for the Natural and Cultural Arts at the junction of Gypsy Lane and Vermont Route 9 in Bennington, Vermont • 802-447-0564 • www.oldcastletheatreco.org Company members have played in theaters from local Hubbard Hall in Cambridge, New York to Broadway. THEATER AND CINEMA continued

Paramount Theatre 30 Center St. Rutland, Vt • 802-775-0570 • www.paramountvt.org Opened in 1914, The Playhouse Theatre of Rutland was considered by many to be one of the finest theaters in New England through the early part of the 20th century. The Paramount, as it has been known since the early 1930s, has been completely restored as the “Jewel of Downtown Rutland.” The Paramount Theatre is more than just a beautiful building that embraces the remarkable history of the area; it is a living performing arts venue that echoes with the voices of Sarah Bernhardt, Ethel Barrymore, Harry Houdini, Groucho Marx and others. The Paramount season runs from September through June, and other groups also use the performing space.

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The Weston Playhouse 703 Main Street in Weston, Vermont 802-824-5288 • www.westonplayhouse.org

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The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, a nonprofit regional theater dedicated to excellence in a unique Vermont setting, serves a community of artists and audiences through a broad spectrum of dramatic works and educational programs. The playhouse is Vermont’s oldest professional theater, now in its 71st year, and the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company is one of the oldest summer stock theater groups in America. Act IV Cabaret each evening immediately following Main Stage performances.

Williamstown Theatre Festival

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Performing at the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance at Williams College, 1000 Main Street (Route 2) in Williamstown, Massachusetts • 413-597-3399/413-597-3400 (box office) • www.wtfestival.org Nestled in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts, the Williamstown Theatre Festival is a summer-long celebration of theater that brings together a vast and impressive array of artists and offers audiences varied cultural experiences. Every summer, WTF presents over two hundred performances of classic and new plays, outdoor free theater, cabaret and countless readings and workshops.

TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES Equinox Skyline Drive Off of Route 7 in Sunderland, Vermont ª 802-362-1114 or 802-362-1115 www.equinoxmountain.com/skylinedrive 2008 Winter Guide

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Hemmings Motor News 216 Main Street in Bennington, Vermont 800-447-9580 •www.hemmings.com Located in the town of Bennington, Vermont, for over 50 years, Hemmings Motor News publishes the world’s largest collector-car magazine, affectionately known as the “bible” of the collector-car hobby, as well as their more recent titles, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines and Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car. Their free vehicle display features a rotating selection of their collector vehicles and an automobilia collection. The collector-car display also includes panel trucks, pickup trucks, bicycles, marine engines and vintage porcelain signs showcasing the automotive industry through the decades. The Car Lover’s Oasis Shop

TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES continued contains a huge collection of automotive items: over 150 unique reproduction porcelain signs, dozens of die-cast models, pedal cars, auto artwork, clothing, books and more. At the old-fashioned Sunoco filling station, attendants will clean your windshield and check your oil. Hemmings also hosts Cruise-Ins every other Thursday night from mid-May through August, as well as their Musclepalooza event at the Lebanon Valley Dragway (May 25th), Second Annual New England Concours d’Elegance in Stratton, Vermont (July 18th through 20th) and Third Annual Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car Show in Saratoga, New York (August 10th). The Filling Station and Gift Shop are open daily from 7am-7pm (closed holidays). The gas pumps are on 24 hours a day.

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Mohawk Trail Route 2, Western Massachusetts 413-743-8127 or 866-743-8127 • www.mohawktrail.com

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The Mohawk Trail is the first scenic road in New England. National Geographic Traveler selected the Mohawk Trail as one of 50 of the most scenic routes in the United States. The American Automobile Association also chose “The Trail” for scenic recognition, as has the federal government in one of its national programs. The Mohawk Trail has gained a world-wide reputation for its scenic beauty, both natural and man-made. It carries on its ancient trade route heritage via over 100 unique shops, attractions, public and private camping areas, inns and villages that line its path.

With 63 miles of unsurpassed splendor and 50,000 acres of state parks and forests, it’s an excellent vacation choice for fun and adventure for all ages during any season. It extends from Williamstown to Shirley.

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V erm o n t

R e a l E sta t e For Less

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Arlington , Dorset M a n c h e ste r , R u p e r t Sandgate, Shaftsbury Sunderland,Vermont

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Y - Pa y M o r e ? S u rf & Save ,G o

www.

Vermont4me.com Pinnacle Realty 3621 Historic 7 Arlington,VT Frank A. Molgano Jr.

Broker/owner 802-236-8065

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Protect Your Head When You Jump on the Sled Children under 12 should wear a helmet when they go sledding. That’s the simple advice of Lynne Sears, a pediatrictrauma coordinator, who has seen all kinds of injuries caused by sledding. “If we have nice weather and a lot of snow, more people will get hurt,” says Sears, who works at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison. Most sledding injuries are broken arms, legs and collarbones. What Sears worries about the most are what she calls “the worst of the worst.” In 2005, 20,000 children ages 5 to 14 needed medical attention because of mishaps on sleds, according to the Safe Kids Coalition, an organization dedicated to preventing accidental injuries. Sears says sledding is fun, and she doesn’t discourage participation. But riders often wind up in the emergency room with injuries caused ��

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“If you have a little hill or slope in the neighborhood, and a couple of kids using it, that’s probably fine,” she says. “If you have a steep hill where everyone is going very fast, kids may collide with other kids, a rock or a tree. Then, there could be significant injuries because of the impact of the speed.” “You could also be ejected from the sled if you collide with another sled or hit a bump, go flying and land on snow-covered rocks,” she adds. “You may think you are going to land in a bank of snow when you are actually hitting a boulder. You don’t know what’s underneath that snow.” So, what should be done to make a child’s sledding experience fun while reducing the possibility of an accident? “Everyone should be helmeted, with chin strap in place, if one is going down a steep slope, so the helmet doesn’t fly off,” says Sears. Jim Savage manages the hospital’s safety center, which offers helmets and other protective equipment for children and adults. He says the number of sledding injuries is reduced by half if a helmet is worn. “A combination ski/snowboard helmet would offer the best protection,” he says. “It’s designed to protect the ears and lower continued on page 23

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by excessive speed as well as accidents with other sleds and immovable objects.

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part of the neck along the spine, and provides warmth in the winter. In a crash, there’s energy being transmitted to the brain. The liner in the helmet lessens that energy and reduces the impact of the injury.” Savage adds the helmet should fit properly and make good contact with both sides of the head as well as the front and back. He says protective headgear was very popular at the safety center last winter when some parts of the Midwest had snowfall exceeding 100 inches. “We had one child who was an inpatient from a sledding injury,” says Savage. “The mother came down and purchased a helmet for him while he was still in the hospital, and said from now on, she was going to make sure he wore it for sledding, skiing or snowboarding.”

hour when you get to the bottom. You are virtually unprotected with no bumper or dashboard in front of you. You are just out there with the elements.” While adults need to look out for kids, adults also need to protect themselves if they participate in winter sports such as skiing and snowmobiling. In the late 1990s, entertainer Sonny Bono and Michael Kennedy, the son of the late Robert Kennedy, died from head trauma in skiing accidents. Neither man wore a helmet.

Aside from using helmets, sledding enthusiasts can take other steps to avoid a trip to the hospital. For example, riders should sit on the sled feet first, not head first, and children under 12 should have adult supervision. Also, adults and children should know the surroundings. “Most sled injuries are preventable if you use common sense,” says Sears. “Always look out for rocks, trees, and people. Depending on the slope, you could reach speeds up to 35 to 40 miles per

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TOP TEN WINTER EVENTS IN VERMONT First Night Montpelier - 15th Anniversary

Montpelier, December 31, 2008, 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. (January 1, 2009)

Central Vermont’s drug and alcohol-free, family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. There’s something for everyone with music, dance, theater, storytelling and magic, plus children’s activities, an international food court, poetry slam, 5 km road race, ice skating, parade & fireworks. Twelve incredible hours of entertainment for one price! Before December 31: $10/single, $40/family. Day of: $12/single, $50/family. 802-223-9604 or visit: www.mdca.org.

Art in the Snow - Brandon

January 24 & 25, February 28-March 1, March 28 & 29, 2009; Saturdays 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, Sundays 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. On the fourth weekends of January, February, and March, Brandon’s artists open their studio doors to visitors for the opportunity to experience their creative community. Brandon has been called "the art and soul of Vermont" and the creative economy is red hot. This is the public’s unique chance to see that creative process in action! Open studios to include painters, potters, jewelers, sculptors, photographers, folk artists, fabric artists, and glass artists. 802-247-6401 or visit: www.brandon.org.

Brookfield Ice Harvest - 30th Year

Brookfield, January 31, 2009, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The 30th Annual Brookfield Ice Harvest recalls the history of ice harvesting in Brookfield through a talk, demonstration, and hands-on competition for young and old. Prizes are awarded. This is a great family event, with food, skating, dog sledding and many other features. 802-276-3959.

TD Banknorth Craftsbury Marathon

Craftsbury Common, January 31, 2009, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This point-to-point cross-country ski race and tour has been presented by the Craftsbury Outdoor Center for 27 years. Offering exciting competition, the marathon is the largest xcountry ski event in the Eastern United States, with half of the 725 participants coming from out of state. The marathon (25 or 50 km) has a special Family Touring Class. Registration fees. 802-586-7767 or visit: www.craftsbury.com.

INDIGENOUS EXPRESSIONS: Native Peoples of the Lake Champlain Basin - Burlington February 14, 2009 and ongoing, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Explore more than 11,000 years of regional Native American history and culture at ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center’s special, facility-wide Quadricentennial experience. You’ll discover the indigenous people’s intimate connections to the landscape that allows them to survive and thrive in the ever changing Lake Champlain Basin. Through exciting exhibits, activities, imaginative interactives, a contemporary portrait gallery, lectures, films, artifacts and multimedia presentations, you’ll connect with the past, present, and vibrant future of our native neighbors. Free with ECHO admission. 877-ECHOFUN (877-423-6386) or visit: www.echovermont.org.

Burke Mountain Dog Sled Dash

East Burke, February 28 - March 1, 2009, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Watch over 100 dog sled teams compete for their share of the $8,000 purse. Enjoy BBQ, raffles, and kids games to benefit Northeast Kingdom children and families. Attend the benefit dinner and meet NHL Hall of Famer Clark Gillies! 802-626-7300 or visit: www.skiburke.com.

Vermont Flower Show

Essex Junction, March 6 - 8, 2009; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vermont’s premier flower show offers three days of Spring the first weekend in March. Visitors see a grand central display filled with flowering plants, water features and stonework. The 2009 theme is "Child’s Play" with a focus on encouraging garden play for children and the young at heart. The central display includes a fairy house forest, kinetic sculpture, Mr. McGregor’s veggie garden, water features, a tree house and a star gazing tent. Over 100 exhibitors display at the show. Three days of seminars and educational workshops are held. There is a professional floral competition. Kids will find a special room all their own devoted to hands-on activities and scheduled performers to entertain them. Vermont Certified Horticulturists are on hand all three days to answer any gardening or landscaping questions. Fee. 888-517-6484 or visit: www.vermontflowershow.com.

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Relay for Life Nordicstyle

Stowe, March 7 & 8, 2009; Saturday, 6 p.m. to Sunday, 6 a.m.

Join us as we Celebrate, Remember and most importantly Fight Back against cancer at the 6th Annual Relay For Life NordicStyle at the Trapp Family Ski Touring Center. Join us this year as we camp out during this all night event, cross country ski, snowshoe the trails and put the fun into fundraising to find a cure for cancer. Be part of American Cancer Society’s historical event... Relay For Life NordicStyle. 866-466-0626 or 802-872-6304. E-mail: www.cancer.org.

Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Killington, March 14-15, 2009

January 25. Wild Wings Ski Touring Center in Peru generously donates the use of its trails to participants in the event. Skiers seek pledges, either on a permile basis or as a set dollar amount, and then crosscountry ski to earn their donations. “We make it easy and fun to take part,” “Downtown” Bob Stannard and Chris Kleeman rocking the blues said Robertson. “The trails are beautiful and offer something for skiers of all abilities. Participants can show up when it is convenient for them to do so and stay for as long or as little as they like.” T-shirts will be given to the first 40 to register with pledges of $35 or more. A suggested donation of $20 is being asked for tickets. For more information on this special performance benefit blues concert or Ski for Heat, contact Martha Robertson at 802.824.3558 or skiforheat@vermontel.net. Concert and Ski for Heat registration, donation, and general information is also available at www.skiforheat.org.

More than 100 of the top snowboarders in the world compete in Slopestyle and Superpipe at Bear Mountain. Competition venues and live entertainment venue are open to the public, free of charge. The excitement will peak on Saturday with a concert and Superpipe finals. The overall winners of the three-stop Grand Prix series will be crowned at Killington. The entire event will air nationally on NBC. 802-422-6867 or visit: www.killington.com.

Blues Concert to Benefit Ski for Heat 2009 MANCHESTER — The stage is set for a cool blues concert on January 9, 2009 to benefit Ski for Heat 2009. “Downtown” Bob Stannard and Chris Kleeman are reuniting for the first time in two years to rock the blues for this special event. What promises to be an extraordinary evening will be taking place at Burr and Burton Academy’s Riley Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. and is being presented by Northshire Bookstore and Write Solutions. Burr and Burton Academy is donating the use of its facility. “Ski for Heat is very fortunate to have the support of the community for this local endeavor. We are so grateful to Bob and Chris and everyone involved in making this concert and Ski for Heat happen,” said Ski for Heat event founder Martha Robertson. “What better way to get excited about skiing for heat than to see Bob and Chris on the stage together?” A hot blues duo in their own right, Stannard and Kleeman have also shared the stage with performers such as BB King, Maria Muldaur, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Susan Tedeschi, Chris Smithers, Buddy Guy, and John Hammond. “Having them play locally, to benefit a local fundraiser, is huge!” added Robertson. Ski for Heat is a cross-country skiing (or snowshoeing) fundraiser that benefits low-income families and individuals in the area with heating fuel assistance. Clark’s Quality Foods in Londonderry is the title sponsor for the event, which is Sunday, 2008 Winter Guide

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A Hersam Acorn Newspapers publication

WINTER EVENTS CALENDAR AT BROMLEY

WINTER EVENTS CALENDAR AT BROMLEY continued

FAMILY FRIDAYS Combine Bromley’s $39 midweek/non-holiday ticket with Bromley’s fantastic Family Friday deal, where each paying adult pays just $12 per kid for up to three kids, the savings positively snowballs. On Family Fridays – December 19; January 9, 23 & 30; March 6, 13, 20 and 27; April 3, – mom or dad can take their two kids and one of their friends for a whole day of skiing or riding for the outrageous price of $75! A family of four skis for just $102!

just any ordinary lunch but a full sit down waitress served lunch at the Wild Boar Tavern. Everything is included, all day lift ticket and you’re pick of the menu. This way you can afford to leave a good tip! Lift and Lunch Tuesday are December 23; January 6, 13, 20, 27; February 3, 10, 24; March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31.

$39 LIFTS & LUNCH TUESDAYS Check this out skiers and riders, Bromley is offering a special $39 lift & lunch ticket on most Tuesdays throughout the season. Not

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MOM’S DAY OFF February 6: Hey Mom! Show us a picture of your kid and ski or ride all day for a $15 donation to the VT-NH Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen For the Cure. 100% of proceeds are donated.

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FEBRUARY FESTIVAL February 14: Join us for the torchlight parade, live music, dancing, a dessert tasting, and a silent auction and vacation raffle, all capped off by a magnificent fireworks display!

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PHAT DAY AT BROMLEY January 17: Protect - Head - At All - Times is what PHAT is all about. Celebrate Safety on PHAT Day at Bromley and rent a helmet for free! MLK MONDAY MADNESS January 19: As if a $39 ticket wasn’t good enough! Ski or ride Bromley on Monday, January 19, and save your used MLK Day lift ticket. It’s good for $10 off your next weekend ticket or holiday ticket!

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VERMONT SPECIALTY FOODS DAY January 17: Come on up and you'll get to sample a variety of Vermont specialty foods. The Sugar House will be here with maple syrup and Cabot cheese to gourmet mustards and cider, Bromley skiers and riders are in for a real taste of Vermont.

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KARE ANDERSEN’S 24TH ANNUAL TELEMARK RACE February 22: Come watch some of the best tele skiers in the East! Have fun with great tele events, games and fun for the entire family. Learn what tele-skiing is all about! SLEIGH RIDES-DEB HODIS Deb Hodis started riding before she could walk. Deb is the third generation stable in her family, all starting with her Great Uncle. Horses for Hire is the business that realizes this life long aptitude. Her working companion is Oklahoma, the stable mascot…the Beagle!

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A member of the Manchester and the Mountains Regional Chamber of Commerce since 1992, Deb works with innkeepers providing customized horseback & sleigh rides in the Green Mountains for their guests. Reservations can be made the same day, but advanced reservations are best to ensure that you get the time and horses that are best for your family. Established in 1988, Horses for Hire is in close proximity to Manchester and the surrounding mountains, Stratton, Bromley & Magic Mountain Ski areas. The stable is open seven days a week, year round. For more information, or to make reservations, Deb Hodis & Horses for Hire can be reached at (802) 297-1468 or email us at horsesforhire@gmail.com.

A Hersam Acorn Newspapers publication

2008 Winter Guide

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Winter Guide 2008-2009 WHERE TO GO! WHAT TO DO! EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A GREAT WINTER SEASON!

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