Unique Shopping In Woodstock
Footprints 29 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3395 Mon–Sat 9:30am–5:30pm Sun 11am–4pm
The Village Butcher 18 Elm Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2756 Open every day.
Teago General Store 2035 Pomfret Road South Pomfret, VT (802) 457-1626 teagostore.com Mon–Sat 7am–6pm Sun 8am–4pm
Angkor Wat Restaurant
Encore Designer Consignment
61 Pleasant Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-9029 www.angkorwatrestaurant.com
1 The Green Woodstock, VT (802) 457-9797 www.encoredesignerconsignment.com
Mon–Fri 11am–3pm & 4pm–9pm Sat & Sun 4–9pm
Please visit our website for current hours.
Woodstock Hops N’ Barley Craft Beers & Growlers
Gear Traders
446 Woodstock Road Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2472
1 The Green Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1451 geartradersvt.com
woodstockhopsnbarley.com
Please visit our website for current hours.
Ellaway’s Attic Selective Consignment
Gallery on the Green
14 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1066 www.ellawaysattic.com Mon–Sat 10am–5pm Sun 11am–4pm
1 The Green Woodstock, VT (802) 457-4956 www.galleryonthegreen.com
Shop Local for the Best Selection
Frameworks Studio of Woodstock 63 Pleasant Street Barn Woodstock, VT (802) 356-5235
Eyes on Elm Optical Boutique 23 Elm Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-7227 www.eyesonelm.com
Open Tue–Sat
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri & Sat 10am–5pm Sun 11am–4pm
Whippletree Yarn Shop
Collective – the Art of Craft
Unicorn 15 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2480 www.unicornvt.com Mon–Fri 9:30am–5:30pm Sat 9:30am–6pm Sun 10:30am–5pm
Elevation Clothing
7 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1325 whippletreeyarn.com
47 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1298 www.collective-theartofcraft.com
Mon–Sat 10am–5pm Sun 11am–4pm
Mon–Sat 10am–5pm Sun 10am–4pm
Mon–Sat 10am–5pm Sun 11am–4pm
Caulfield Art Gallery
Krystyna’s Stones and Sterling
South Woodstock Country Store & Deli
11 The Green Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1472 www.caulfieldartgallery.com Mon–Sun 10am–5pm
20 Central Street (Behind Vermont Flannel) Woodstock, VT (802) 457-9438 www.krystynassilver.com Mon–Sat 11am–5pm Sun 11am–4pm
15 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 332-6380 elevation.clothing
4800 South Road, Route 106 South Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3050 Mon–Fri 6:30am–6pm Sat 7am–5pm, Sun 8am–4pm
Shop Quechee & Nearby this Summer
The Vermont Spot
Old Federal Antique Shop
Route 4 Country Store
5573 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 281-6274
East Woodstock Road (Route 4) Quechee, VT (802) 457-9411
Open daily 9:30am–5:30pm
Open daily.
Open everyday 9am-9pm
Antiques Collaborative, Inc.
VINS Nature Center & Store
Deirdre Donnelly Jewelry Art
6931 Woodstock Road (Route 4) Quechee, VT (802) 296-5858 www.antiquescollaborative.com Open daily 10am–5pm
Quality Inn 5817 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 295-7600 qualityinnquechee.com
6565 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 359-5000 www.vinsweb.org Located next to the Quechee Gorge Open daily 10am–5pm
ANICHINI Company Store
3699 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 295-7567
Quechee Gorge Village 5573 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 432-1700 www.deirdredonnelly.com Open daily 10am–5pm
Game Set Mat
6931 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 698-8813 www.anichini.com
15 South Main Street, Lower Level Hanover, NH (603) 277-9763 www.gamesetmat.com
Open daily 10am–6pm
Mon–Sat 10am–6pm Sun 12–5pm
CONTENTS
54
Features 36 History Lives at Justin Morrill Homestead by Stephen Morris
A legacy of good works and deeds.
42
ArtisTree Community Arts Center & Gallery by Meg Brazill Moving forward.
54 The Quechee Club by Laura Harris-Hirsch
A resort for all seasons.
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CONTENTS
48
59
71 In Every Issue
Departments
15 Editor’s Note 16 Contributors 18 Online Exclusives 82 Happenings 87 Advertisers Index 88 Last Glance
20 Around & About by Cassie Horner
30 Vermont Living Lasting gardens.
48 At a Glance by Emily Howe
Pasghetti Western.
59
Spotlight by Nancy Fontaine The Vermont Spot.
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65 65 Fantastic Finds by Laura Collins
Discover Sudie’s.
71 Community
by Bridget Wiedl Woodstock Community Food Shelf.
77 Seasonal Foods by Susan Nye
Summer days are salad days.
Mountain View Publishing, LLC 135 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755 (603) 643-1830
mountainviewpublishing.com Publishers
Bob Frisch Cheryl Frisch Executive Editor
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Bob Frisch KEEP US POSTED. Woodstock Magazine wants to hear from readers. Correspondence may be addressed to: Letters to the Editor, Woodstock Magazine, 135 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755. Or email us at: dthompson@mountainviewpublishing. com. Advertising inquiries may be made by email to rcfrisch1@comcast. net. Woodstock Magazine is published quarterly by Mountain View Publishing, LLC Š2014. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited. Woodstock Magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.
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E D I TO R ’ S N OT E
IAN RAYMOND
Lazy Days of Summer The bright days of summer bring picnics featuring Mom’s potato salad, hot dogs and burgers for grilling, and pitchers of iced tea and lemonade. Lazy days spent at the water’s edge or in the backyard ease into firefly-filled nights, complete with a bonfire for toasting marshmallows. The best thing I learned from all those early years as a Girl Scout is how to create the perfect s’more, and I’m looking forward to enjoying many of them in the next few months. While you’re out and about, take a day trip to the Justin Morrill Homestead in Strafford (page 36). The historic pink Gothic home is unique, and thanks to the State of Vermont’s Division of Historic Preservation and the nonprofit organization Friends of the Morrill Homestead, the structures and grounds today remain pretty much as they were in the 1800s. The results of Morrill’s work on Land-Grant Acts, which allowed funds from the sale of federal lands to support new colleges and universities, have led to 105 Land-Grant colleges with more than 25 million graduates, quite an accomplishment for a young man whose family did not have the means to send him to college. Share in the excitement of a movie premiere with the story of the making of Pasghetti Western, a labor of love for filmmakers Jim and Myra Hudson, family, and friends (page 48). The pint-size stars were a hit with the audience, and opening night at Woodstock Town Hall was a huge success! In this issue we’re also bringing you a story about the good folks at the Woodstock Community Food Shelf (page 71). Neighbors, friends, and students are working to provide food for up to 30 families each week and creating a comfortable, sharing place for those in need. We’re also learning about ArtisTree’s upcoming move to Pomfret (page 42), dropping in at the Vermont Spot in Quechee (page 59), and checking out the latest summer fashions at Sudie’s on Central Street (page 65). Please remember to support local businesses! Wherever your summer adventures take you, keep up with local stories, news, and events online at www.mountainviewpublishing.com, and be sure to sign up for our email newsletter. Enjoy!
Deborah Thompson Executive Editor dthompson@mountainviewpublishing.com
LIKE US www.mountainviewpublishing.com/facebook SUMMER 2014
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C O N T R I B U TO R S
Lynn Bohannon is a photographer with a studio in Woodstock, where she loves to photograph and create. Her specialties are people and products, but her current passion is flowers. Among her favorite things to do are kayaking, cross-country skiing, and being the number-one groupie for her daughter’s band.
Lynn Bohannon
Meg Brazill is a regular contributor to regional New England magazines and teaches at the Writer’s Center in White River Junction, Vermont. A recovering punk rocker and performance artist, she lives with her daughter in South Woodstock. She is currently working on a book of short fiction when she’s not too busy living it.
Meg Brazill
Writer, editor, and librarian Nancy works at Norwich Public Library in Norwich, Vermont. She is also a book blogger and website manager and has been writing articles about the Upper Valley for the last several years. She lives in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, with her husband, and her hobbies include reading, quilting, skiing, and snorkeling.
Nancy Fontaine
Stephen is the publisher of Green Living: A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment. He is also a novelist whose most recent work, Stories & Tunes, is set in Vermont. It is available at area bookstores and online booksellers. He lives in Randolph, Vermont.
Stephen Morris
A writer, photographer and chef, Susan is a regular contributor to magazines and newspapers throughout New England. Her blog Around the Table (www.susannye.wordpress.com) is filled with her favorite recipes and stories about family and friendship. When she’s not writing or cooking, Susan is hiking, biking, or kayaking near her New Hampshire home.
Susan Nye
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Bridget is a grant writer and freelance writer who lives in central Vermont with her family. She moved to Vermont 13 years ago and since that time has been an editor and writer for several publications, including the Outdoors Magazine in Burlington. When she isn’t behind the computer, she enjoys hiking, gardening, live music, and, most of all, spending time with her partner Daniel and their son Wilder.
Bridget Wiedl
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A RO U N D & A B O U T By Cassie Horner
Trek toTaste
What’s better to complement a walk in the woods than a picnic! On Saturday, June 7, from 10am to 3pm at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, people enjoying the network of trails can also enjoy a portable buffet of good eats during the sixth annual Trek to Taste. This special and popular event is a celebration of National Trails Day. The free event, co-sponsored by over 30 area organizations, features farm-fresh samples, an ice cream social, and music by Carter Glass, as well as arts and crafts, trail games, and community health exhibits. Well-marked trails can be hiked anytime, but there will also be guided walks departing at 10:30am and noon from the Forest Center for three desti-
Left: Hands-on engaging art activities are popular with young people and are provided by ArtisTree Community Arts Center. Below: Children enjoy the Ice Cream Social sponsored by the Billings Park Commission.
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Clockwise from top: Local farmfresh foods provided by Sustainable Woodstock. Sign points the way. Horseback volunteer Howard Miller shares a moment with a young hiker. Decorative walking sticks helped all enjoy a trek through the national park.
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A RO U N D & A B O U T nations. The Forest Center and Under the Big Tent are the starting points for the day, and activities are varied: Make a walking stick, take a story walk, become a Junior Ranger, and make a bicycle-powered smoothie. There are also displays and tastings from Upper Valley Farm to School classes. A sampling of activities includes the 2.5-mile hike through the heart of the National Park to the Nordic Hut at Spring Lot where visitors will find wood-fired pizza, local food displays, and a lawn game designed for family fun. A hike to the Pogue pond is rewarded with a station for making your own trail mix, trail games to play, and an opportunity to learn about invasive plants and trail maintenance. A short, one-mile hike on the Stewardship Trail leads to the Mount Tom Farmers’ Market where, among other things, you can design a hiking bandana and listen to local music. One of the guided hikes is deemed “hardy,” with a 4.5-mile round trip featuring South Peak. The reward is some great samples of fare from local farmers and food producers provided by Sustainable Woodstock. For more information and a full schedule of activities, visit www.trektotaste.info or call (802) 4573368, ext. 18.
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Clockwise from top: Northeast Organic Farming Association provided the oven for pizza made with King Arthur Flour and local toppings supplied by Farm to School high school and middle school students. Youngsters personalize their walking sticks. There's nothing better than ice cream on a hot day. Activities under the tent. S U M M E R 2014
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A RO U N D & A B O U T
Woodstock Alumni Parade and Reunion The annual festivities to celebrate Woodstock High School alumni go back 72 years to 1942 and have been going strong ever since. The idea was conceived during World War II in order to bring Woodstock High graduates together despite the war. Folks responded happily, and it became a tradition passed down through the generations to come to Woodstock in June. There is a parade through the village, with the highlight being floats created by classes that have graduated. In the afternoon and evening, classes have potlucks, picnics, and dinners, reuniting with friends they see every day or in some cases haven’t seen for decades. This year, Woodstock Alumni events are set for Saturday, June 14, with the parade at 2pm. The theme for this year’s floats is games, setting the stage for a fun time. (Last year’s theme was movies.) By early May, 10 floats were registered by 10 classes: class of ’74, Monopoly; class of ’61, Whac-A-Mole; class of ’58, ping pong; class of ’94, The Price Is Right; class of ’57, Pin the Tail on the Donkey; class of ’64, Go Fish; class of ’79, beach volleyball; class of ’73, Operation; class of ’89, Texas hold ’em; and class of ’75, bowling. There will also be local school marching bands, specialty bands, the Shriner clowns, military re-enactors, and other groups. Hundreds of people gather around the Green and village streets for the main event. Following the parade, classmates gather on the Green to renew and continue old friendships. For more information, visit the Woodstock Union High School alumni page on Facebook, which is also a source of old and new photos, requests for information about classmates, and information about special events. Clockwise from top: Re-enactors march in the parade. The class of 1973 created the float, named Green Acres. Members of the steel drum band. The tractor-drawn memorial to Woodstock High graduates who have passed away.
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caption
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A RO U N D & A B O U T
Bookstock 2014 A father shares a picture book with his son.
Anita Diamant. (Photo by Gretje Fergeson.)
Billy Collins. (Photo by Suzannah Gilman.)
Louise Gluck. (Photo by Katherine Wolkoff.) 26
F I N D WO O D S TO C K M AGA Z I N E AT W W W. M O U N TA I N V I E W P U B L I S H I N G . C O M
The buzz began early for Bookstock 2014, the annual—and eagerly anticipated—Green Mountain Literary Festival that brings both nationally recognized and New England authors to Woodstock for three days of activities. This year, the headliners include New York Times bestselling author Anita Diamant, nationally beloved poet Billy Collins, and the well-known poet Louise Gluck. The event will be held on July 25, 26, and 27. Activities, including author presentations and workshops, live music, art exhibits, a huge secondhand and vintage book sale, and the Bookstock Marketplace with about two dozen exhibitors and vendors, take
A selection of books at the giant book sale on the Green.
Musicians perform on the Green.
Speaker from a previous event.
Live music.
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A RO U N D & A B O U T
place at a variety of venues around the village. “This year Bookstock will bring another fabulous group of poets, fiction and nonfiction writers, and visual artists to central Vermont to present and discuss their work,” says Ron Miller, coordinator of Bookstock 2014. “This is such a wonderful opportunity to meet these very stimulating and creative people.” The schedule this year features a wide variety of authors writing about everything from capture by pirates to Jimmy Carter, Earth stewardship, and the buildings of Vermont. There will be a cartoonist, children’s book authors, a photographer, and novelists and poets. The event kicks off Friday, July 25 at noon with presentations, a workshop, and the start of the book sale, and includes the evening reception, art exhibit, and Billy Collins. A full day of activities takes place on Saturday, and Bookstock 2014 concludes on Sunday afternoon with the showing of a documentary film. For more information about Bookstock 2014 and to see the full schedule, visit www.bookstockvt.org.
Cashiers at the book sale. 28
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Above: A presenter at the Woodstock Historical Society. Below: New Hampshire and US Poet Laureate Donald Hall at Bookstock last year.
VERMONT LIVING
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lasting gardens
perennial plantings & more
Gardeners have an infinite number of choices. Butterfly or hummingbird gardens, gardens with a theme color—all yellow, blue, or white blooms in a variety of hues and foliage, all roses, irises, or daylilies. Alpine gardens, rock gardens, container gardens, seaside gardens, shade gardens . . . no wonder green-thumbers are as excited as children waiting for Santa at Christmas! 
To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves. —Mahatma Gandhi
}
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VERMONT LIVING
WHICH PERENNIALS TO PLANT? For border gardens, plant taller perennials at the back; think hollyhock, sunflowers, or foxglove. Medium height plants take the middle area, and shorter ones like vinca, thyme, and other groundcovers should be planted closest to the front, along walkways for example. Consider too when different perennials will bloom. Although it’s great to have something always blooming, the weather can make this a challenge. If you have plants with leaves of different sizes, shapes, and shades of green, grey, or other colors, you’ll have a pleasing palette all summer. Liverworts have colorful leaves, and the grey-green leaves of lamb’s ear are also attractive, or try Russian sage for silvery green foliage with smaller leaves. These plants are eye-catching and often just as attractive as showy blooms. If fragrance is high on your list, plant thyme, bee balm, lavender, anise hyssop, and of course, the mint family. Staggering blooming times can also be achieved by interplanting flowering annuals among your perennials. Annuals are also great when you find a spot in the garden that, for one reason or another, looks empty. If you’re aiming for a particular effect, think about the colors of the flowers as well as bloom times. »
“Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking in a garden to know it.” —Rumi
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Blue delphinium
Columbine
Shepherd’s Scabiosa
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VERMONT LIVING
“When I go into my garden with a spade, and dig a bed, I feel such an exhilaration and health that I discover that I have been defrauding myself all this time in letting others do for me what I should have done with my own hands.”
Consider plants that align with the
and lupine do well in most areas.
environmental or ecological re-
Some gardeners are choosing to
quirements of a site. Perennials that
turn more of their lawn areas into
are native to an area tend to fare
perennial beds. Doing so rewards
better in our notoriously change-
gardeners with not only the enjoy-
able New England weather. They’ll
ment of more flowers but also the
require less water and labor, and
fun of seeing more butterflies, hum-
they’ll be hardier. Hosta, daylilies,
mingbirds, and other pollinators.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
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A growing trend for gardeners is to intersperse vegetable and herb plantings in their perennial beds and borders. These plants add interest to gardens and are sometimes less likely to be eaten by pests, and of course, you’ll get to eat the fruits—and vegetables— of your labor.
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History Lives at
Justin Morrill Homestead A legacy of good works and deeds By Stephen Morris Photos courtesy of Vermont Division for Historic Preservation
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Left: Senator Morrill, wife Ruth, dog Trump, son James, and Mrs. Morrill's half-sister Louise Swan.
“This bill proposes to establish at least one college in every State upon a sure and perpetual foundation, accessible to all . . .” —1862, as quoted by William Belmont Parker, The Life and Public Services of Justin Smith Morrill
T
he pink Victorian home with its ornate gingerbread trim looks out of place nestled amidst the wooded hills. The nearby Town House in Strafford, spare and simple, is more evocative of the unforgiving landscape where Justin Smith Morrill, the town’s best-known native son, was born (1810) and died (1898). And yet it is the Gothic Revival house, Morrill’s homestead, that became Vermont’s first property to be listed as a National Historic Landmark. It is owned and administered by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. The grounds are open for exploration year-round, but it is the period from Memorial Day through Columbus Day, when the homestead springs to life, that gives meaning to the term “living history.” The gardens burst into bloom, costumed tour guides show off the house, and a roster of educational programs and special events make the homestead a mecca for master gardeners, history lovers, and architecture buffs. »
Opposite page: Justin Morrill imported magnolia seeds from Kobe, Japan in 1862. Right: Gravel carriage drives on the ornamental lawn have been restored from Morrill's original landscape plans.
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A Self-Made Man After paying the modest admission fee (check MorrillHomestead.org for special events, including free days for Vermonters), the first person a visitor is likely to encounter is a young woman in period costume, Emily Howe from nearby Tunbridge. She intersperses humor with her historical narrative. “I created a Victorian hat using only a glue gun, some old ribbon, and a Cool Whip container. Move over Scarlett O’Hara. People who don’t know me must think I’m some sort of wacko. I comfort myself with the knowledge that the people who do know me think the same.” While Emily brings color and life to the homestead, she intersperses historical facts with humor to portray a modest yet thoroughly remarkable man. Justin Morrill grew up in Strafford, Vermont, and attended Thetford Academy and Randolph Academy. His academic life ended at the age of 15, however, because his family did not have the financial means to send him to college. This left a lasting impression but did not dampen Justin’s intellectual curiosity or ambition. He taught himself about business while dabbling in architecture, horticulture, and politics. He became a successful merchant, eventually owning and operating four stores. He also served in local town offices as auditor and justice of the peace, where he honed an interest in local politics. Morrill invested shrewdly in banks, railroads, and real estate. By his mid 30s, he
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Above: Carriage barn, horse barn, and cow barn with experimental cutting garden and kitchen garden in foreground. Below: Emily Howe in period costume. Photo courtesy of Emily Howe.
was financially secure enough to retire from business and to more fully pursue a career in politics while maintaining his farmstead. Eventually, he became a mainstay in the Whig Party, a precursor to the modern Republican Party.
A Public Servant Morrill ran for Congress in 1854, beginning a political career of 44 years, first as a representative and later a senator. Remembering his own lack of educational opportunity, he became chief sponsor of the Land-Grant Acts of 1862 signed into law by Abraham Lincoln. This legislation allocated funds from the sale of federal lands to support new colleges and universities. These affordable institutions made it possible for working class, immigrant, and minority citizens to
Above: The library today remains virtually unchanged. Left: Senator Morrill in his library. Below: Window in the library dates from 1859 and depicts Holyrood Chapel in Edinburgh.
pursue higher education in agriculture, business, engineering, mechanics, and home economics. Others could now enjoy the benefits he had been denied. The second Land-Grant College Act in 1890 created colleges in Southern, formerly Confederate, states that provided similar opportunities to African Americans, in many cases former slaves. The cumulative impact of Morrill’s legislation is immense. There are now 105 Land-Grant Colleges, a group that includes state universities, polytechnic colleges, and agricultural and mechanical colleges. More than 25 million people currently living on the planet have graduated from Land-Grant educational institutions, and an estimated 400
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A family enjoys the annual Apple Festival.
million have attended since their inception, making these two acts the most significant pieces of legislation in the history of American higher education. At the time of Morrill’s death, his 43 years and 299 days of continuous Congressional service was the longest in US history (since surpassed).
Living History, Lively Events Michael Caduto is the current executive director of the Friends of the Morrill Homestead, the nonprofit organization that collaborates with Vermont's Division of Historic Preservation to maintain the Morrill Homestead and manage the transformation of grounds and buildings into living history. “My first challenge on coming on board was to strengthen the program offerings and communications effort,” he says. A peek at the organization's website reveals a nonstop and widely varying roster of events, ranging from workshops on how to make bent-wood garden trellises to watercolor workshops for youngsters. Michael's next challenge is to strengthen and solidify the organization’s revenue stream, so that the education mission and visitor experiences are enhanced. A very popular event is
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“At this beautifully preserved and evocative site, visitors really feel the mid to late 1800s and get to understand this remarkable person, what interested him, his vision and goals, and the legacy of his good works and deeds.” —John Dumville, Historic Sites Operations Chief for the State of Vermont
the annual “Minis for Morrill,” a silent auction of miniature (four-by-fourinch) paintings contributed by local artists, held on July 4th. Not unlike many Vermont towns, Strafford has a wealth of talented artists hidden among its back roads.
Lively events like the workshops and auction are bolstered by the work of a group that Michael describes as “a supportive and hardworking board of directors” who assist in maintaining close and essential relationships with the Strafford community and the state of Vermont. John Dumville is the Historic Sites Operations Chief for the State of Vermont. He is also a graduate of the University of Vermont, a school that was started as a private college but became quasi-public, adding a School of Agriculture following the passage of Morrill’s Land-Grant Act of 1862. He makes no secret of his love for the homestead. “At this beautifully preserved and evocative site, visitors really feel the mid to late 1800s and get to understand this remarkable person, what interested him, his vision and goals, and the legacy of his good works and deeds,” he says. Adds Michael, “The homestead is living proof of Morrill’s deep and lasting curiosity about all things horticultural. It was Justin Morrill, for instance, who hired and worked closely with noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to design the grounds surrounding the nation’s capitol in Washington, the most familiar piece of landscape design in the nation.” The pink Gothic Revival farmhouse is not a grand mansion, nor are the inviting gardens as magnificent as the Mall in our nation’s capital, but the legacy of the boy from Strafford who couldn’t go to college stands second to none. The house at the Homestead is open Memorial Day (last weekend in May) through Columbus Day (second weekend in October), Wednesday through Sunday (and holiday Mondays) from 11am to 5pm. Tours are conducted on the hour. Admission is $6. Justin Morrill Homestead 214 Justin Morrill Highway Strafford, VT (802) 765-4288 www.morrillhomestead.org historicsites.vermont.gov/directory/morrill
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Inset left: Pomfret Farmhouse, the future location of ArtisTree Gallery and Expressive Arts offices. Inset right: The renovations begin on the historic 1800s barn as it gets lifted to pour a new concrete foundation.
ArtisTree Community Arts Center & Gallery
Moving forward
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Background: Computer mock-up of the farmhouse and barn in Pomfret that will house ArtisTree and Purple Crayon in the fall.
By Meg Brazill Photos courtesy of ArtisTree unless otherwise noted
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ArtisTree/Purple Crayon Staff (from left) includes Mark van Gulden, Music Director; Diana Mellar, Admin. Manager; Kathleen Dolan, Executive Director; Tayo Skarrow, Marketing and Communications Director; Jacqueline Overstreet, Operations and Events Coordinator; Finnie Trimpi, Programming Director; Fiona Davis, Ceramics Coordinator; and Adrian Tans, Gallery Director. Photo by Lynn Bohannon.
or over a year I’ve been following the slow but steady renovation of the farmhouse and three-story barn in South Pomfret that will soon be home to ArtisTree Community Arts Center & Gallery. When ArtisTree purchased the property, the historic three-story, 8,000-square-foot barn still housed the agricultural remnants of a dairy farm: metal stanchions for the cows and heavy concrete feed troughs formed the outlines of the former milking parlor. The yellow farmhouse, which hosted MIT retreats for years, still appeared much as it had for decades, looking out on the slopes of Suicide Six. 
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Above: Natalie Lefkowitz, 6, works on an art project with little brother Shaun, 2. Photo by Lynn Bohannon. Right: Main "purple door" entrance to the current ArtisTree/Purple Crayon location at Mount Tom. Photo by Lynn Bohannon. Bottom right: Guitar instructor Draa Hobbs with Phillip Gambone.
But things are changing. Last year, as summer progressed, the transformation turned dramatic. The barn’s traditional red clapboards were removed, revealing the wood sheathing, handsome in its simplicity. Inside, wooden “rounds” that look like whole logs were visible in the post-and-beam construction. The barn was jacked up on wood cribbing with steel beams supporting it as a foundation was laid underneath. The windows appeared as gaping holes in the sheathing. But as winter receded and spring arrived, the property began to emerge as it was envisioned, and the possibilities for an art community seemed limitless. It’s two miles from ArtisTree’s current Mt. Tom location on Pomfret Road, behind Teago General Store and next to Abbott Memorial Library. The property is convenient, unique, and beautifully sited. 44
Growing Exponentially ArtisTree, now in its 11th year of bringing visual and performing arts to Woodstock, will offer a full slate of workshops and camps this summer in its current Mt. Tom location. A grand-opening celebration to launch the new space is planned for September 13 to coincide with the opening reception of the gallery’s annual Local Color exhibition. In 2003, when Kathleen Dolan, ArtisTree’s founder and executive director, first started arts programming, she focused on young children and called it Purple Crayon Productions. “It was just a one-man show. I wasn’t actually sure if it would continue to be worth the time and money and energy it took.” She wanted to pursue a master’s degree in
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Above: Colorful playroom painting at the current location at Mount Tom. Photo by Lynn Bohannon. Left: Art instructor Lynn Graznak working with students during a felted vessels workshop. Below: The new gallery space on the first level of the Farmhouse in the new Pomfret location.
mental health counseling, but instead moved into a small space in the Mt. Tom building in 2000 and continued with her arts program. A turning point came when Kathleen hired Tayo Skarrow as her first full-time employee in January 2009. “Having someone devote all of their time and energy was a real catalyst,” she says, “and it made things happen quickly.” Tayo's promotion and marketing efforts paid off in more participation and more teachers. “We thought constantly about how we could grow and what else we could do.” With Tayo on
staff, Kathleen could finally devote time to pursuing her master’s degree. Partnering with other organizations proved to be a catalyst for growth too. They connected with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), the Norman Williams Public Library, the National Park Service, Woodstock’s literary festival known as Bookstock, and Pentangle Council on the Arts. “Any collaborative effort we could do, we tried,” Kathleen says. “It became exponential.”
Opportunities to Share Talent Kathleen credits her staff with ArtisTree’s growth. “All the people that came on really added to the program,” she says. And what she means is not
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Above: Megan Carlson, 6, reflects on her clay creation during her Clay for Kids after-school class. Right: The annual exhibit of Fine Works in Miniature in ArtisTree's Community Gallery.
just by giving their best to ArtisTree but by being creative; they are all interesting, dynamic people. That may be one of Kathleen’s gifts to the Woodstock area: finding talent and giving people the place and opportunity to share it. She is building the largest arts program since Pentangle began 40 years ago. The organizations actually complement one another, as ArtisTree offers classes and workshops, small performances, and an art gallery. Artist Adrian Tans became gallery director in fall 2010. With an intuition for what will draw people to the gallery coupled with his humor and a sincere interest in engaging the community, Adrian has turned the gallery into a magnet for artists and a destination for those seeking contemporary art in Vermont. At the MUD exhibition this spring, the gallery was packed with people and art. Using his curatorial vision and a bit of whimsy, Adrian pulls together an amalgam of local talent and professional 46
artists from farther afield, as if he were a magician. Artist Judith Taylor agrees. “This place is magical,” she said at the MUD opening, standing between a freestanding paintedwood pig sculpture by Jamie Townsend (Springfield) and a mixed-media piece, complete with dirt, a Connecticut license plate, and a fedora by Jack Rossi (Woodstock).
Art for Everyone With 5,000 square feet of available space in the farmhouse, most of the ground floor will be dedicated to the gallery. “The ceilings are much taller and the space is more open,” Adrian says. “It has a kind of elegance.” Instead of removing windows, they’re putting in panels that can cover the windows when they need to, retaining the character of the building’s exterior. “There is a nice proportion of windows for a house but too many for a gallery, so this seemed like a
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good solution,” he explains. They’ve created long, uninterrupted wall space by building walls, and they may fabricate some movable freestanding walls. There were limitations at the old location, in part because they were renting. “And for another,” he says wryly, “you couldn’t make the ceilings any taller.” Openings at the gallery have recently combined with live music, thanks to music director Mark van Gulden. Two years ago, he started ArtisTree’s music program, adding an essential art to their programming. Last year ArtisTree hosted Interplay Jazz for a few weeks, and they run a biweekly open mic session. “There’s no advance signup. It’s a small group. Everyone usually gets to play a few tunes,” Mark says. “The
music program is a constant work in progress.” They offer group lessons and some private instruction. “I like group lessons a lot, and they’re very affordable.” Group lessons currently include ukulele, guitar, keyboards, and sometimes group drumming with hand percussion. “Our monthly concerts are in an intimate setting,” Mark says. “I primarily book Vermont musicians though not necessarily just from Woodstock.” ArtisTree won’t be competing with other area performance venues though. “We’re small, so that’s kind of our niche. We’ll have an 80- to 100-seat venue in the new facility and a little amphitheater outside.” It will be a good room for classical, jazz, or folk, and eventually, poetry and the spoken word. Children’s classes will take place on the ground floor of the barn, which will also separately house a clay and sculpture studio. The second floor will have a “wet” studio for media like painting and a “dry” studio for textiles and crafts, which will be available to older adolescent children and adults. Movement and music studios for lessons and performances will be located on the third floor. “There is a high, high ceiling and a mezzanine that will look into the concert area,” Mark says. Kathleen says she’s really looking forward to having an office upstairs in the farmhouse for her counseling practice in expressive therapies. “I’m still trying to define the direction I want to go in,” she says. With the new facilities and new equipment, a talented staff, and an eager audience, she will have a lot of directions to choose from. Even better, so will everyone in the Upper Valley who has an interest in expressing themselves through art. ArtisTree Community Arts Center & Gallery 1206 Route 12 281 Barnard Road (e911) Mount Tom Building Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3500 www.artistreevt.org S U M M E R 2014
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AT A G L A N C E
Pasghetti Western A labor of love By Emily Howe Photos by Jack Rowell unless otherwise noted
Above: Eli and Ira Ferro holding their cousin, Gideon Hudson. Right: Eli Ferro examines his own face on a wanted poster. Photos these two pages by Emily Howe.
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Hats . . . hats . . . hats . . . My family members wore so many different hats in the making of our children’s film, Pasghetti Western, that I’m not sure what my official title really was. Assistant Producer? Co-writer? Costumer? Publicist? Kid Wrangler? One thing it’s safe to call me is proud sister of the filmmakers, Jim and Myra Hudson. When Myra and Jim announced to our family that they intended to make a movie, I can’t say anyone batted an eye—it was no stranger than anything else they’ve done. Or that any of us have done, come to think of it. Our clan is notorious for being a little “different,” you might say. From our father’s homemade waterwheel, to my brother-in-law’s DIY ski tow, somebody always has an unusual project in the works. I’m not sure where this comes from, and I’ve long though vaguely mulled over the reasons behind our never-ending quest for kooky enterprises. Is it boredom? A side effect of being poor, hardscrabble Vermonters? Are we seeking attention? Maybe we’re just plain weird. The best answer I could come up with struck me out of the blue during the world premiere of Pasghetti Western. It’s because we love our family. We create excuses disguised as some new venture
Clockwise from top left: Pasture on the set. The movie's main character “Ma,� played by Lilly Hudson, holds Gideon on the porch of her ranch's cabin. Rustlers and townsfolk alike gather in the local watering hole, which serves milk on tap. Jim Hudson films a scene in a historical general store set at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds. Another on the saloon set.
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Clockwise from above: Jim with son Oliver on opening night. Woodstock Town Hall Theater lit up for the premiere. A packed house enjoys the show. Photo op. Myra holds the poster. A fun night for all. Myra and Jim on stage together.
to get everyone involved. It’s another way to gather together and hug (we hug a lot), to make memories, and to reassure each other how important and how necessary we are to each other. This movie was no exception. With huge, extended families on both sides, Myra and Jim are often the ringleaders, keeping everyone feeling cherished and needed and, yeah, hugged. The film they had in mind was the perfect foil, an old-time Western, starring only small children cast in all the traditional adult roles of ranchers and rustlers. With Myra and Jim, to think is to act, so they bought a camera, rounded up the whole gang of cousins and siblings and friends, and commenced to work their magic.
Understanding Human Nature Back at the beginning, a couple of years ago, I was going through a pretty low time following a divorce and struggling 50
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as a newly single mother when the Hudsons dreamed up this idea. Working every minute to stay afloat, I had no creative outlet in my life, and my stress level was almost breaking me. I hadn’t laughed—really laughed—in a long time. Suddenly my family swooped in, telling me I was needed, and gave me these little, manageable goals that were based entirely in fun and imagination. I became absorbed by miniature ponies, outrageous Gibson Girl wigs, making adorable costumes, and writing again! Color came flooding back onto the scene as I watched my children swagger around with their cousins, in seventh heaven, wearing chaps and 10-gallon Stetsons. Myra and Jim had the basic storyline laid out before we filled in the details, but unconsciously, the plot of an overworked mother on her own, fighting for herself and her babies, beating the odds, overcoming her demons and persevering with the love of her family became partly my story. This process gave me better things to think about than feeling sorry for myself. When I watch the movie now, it just blows me away that I had a small hand in making it happen. Between the beyond-cute children, the music, the gorgeous scenery, and the brilliant comedy, I’m utterly impressed with what we can do as a team. Myra and Jim are talented enough to have done it all by themselves, I’m sure, but the fact that they spread the fun around and included everyone speaks volumes for their kindness and understanding of human nature.
“Embracing the Insanity” Something we didn’t count on was doing most of the writing after we made the film. We tried doing it the other way around, like normal people would, but not only are we far from normal, it was impossible. Choosing the two most challenging and most undirectable subjects, children and animals, is not for the faint of heart! » S U M M E R 2014
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AT A G L A N C E
Above: Waiting for the show to begin. Right: Emily Howe.
Whatever was planned for the day’s shoot usually went the opposite way once the camera was rolling, but the purity and amusement that came from letting the kids take the lead was an unexpected bonus—not directing them turned out to make the best footage of all. If laughter is the best medicine, we surely got dose after dose. Just the sheer frustration of trying to get a stubborn child to simply walk across the frame is funny, if you have the right mind-set. The theme became “Embracing the Insanity.” Embracing the frustration of never having anything go the way you planned, and realizing that what you glean from that is even better in the long run, and not much different from parenting. From the start, we discovered that moviemaking was a lot like being out in public and keeping your fingers crossed that your kids are on their best behavior, only they never are. Add some expensive movie equipment, just for the heck of it. And then, learn to let go. We remembered afresh to embrace childhood for what it is: a time of wonder and joy and humor, and sometimes a 52
struggle. It drove home the fact that you can learn as much from your children as they can from you. Once we let go of our preconceived notions, our children were far funnier and truer—a recipe for success. Some days we laughed so hard we couldn’t breathe, and we came to the realization that, even if we were the best screenwriters on earth, you just can’t make this stuff up. We still had our share of spats over scenes and music and deadlines, and one memorable day that I won’t forget, we had a couple dozen little ones on set and it seemed like they were all overdue for a nap and crying. But there was usually delicious food waiting and happy dogs romping
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From top: Musicians Bow Thayer and Kristina Stykos. Avry Loftus and Oliver Hudson. Emily Howe with Eli and Ira Ferro. Hattie Byrne and Fiona Spence.
everywhere. There were cowboy hats and of course hugs, which will fix most anything when you’re six. Often when you’re 36 too, I learned. The camera occasionally fell over, so it got swathed in bubble wrap. Noses were picked, but we bit our tongues. Kids improvised and we chuckled. Horses or lambs ran off in the wrong directions yet we kept rolling. Our children delighted in playing makebelieve with the people they loved best in the world and got completely into their characters. They were proud and thrilled and loved almost every minute of it. In the end, we’ve preserved this precious snapshot of childhood that is so much more real and special than we’d hoped for. Started for a lark to bring everyone involved some pleasure, with skillful editing and mindblowing talent for this art form, Myra and Jim ended up creating a film that’s absolutely beautiful, unique, and hysterical, not only to us but to anyone who sees it. Sitting in the packed theater on opening night, I listened to the roars of laughter, the comments and occasional sniffle or two. Then, in awe as the credits rolled and the blooper reel showed a bit of behind-the-scenes lunacy, I watched everyone rise to their feet with thunderous applause and cheers. I realized that success is based on love. Between popcorn and more hugs than you can shake a stick at, my kids were beaming from ear to ear, and my heart was healed. Hats off to love. Hats off to family. Yee haw!
To Order a Copy DVDs can be preordered on the movie website, www.pasghettiwesternmovie. com. They will be released late in June. People may also contact Jim and Myra Hudson: 2427 Gee Hill Road South Royalton, VT 05068 pasghettiwestern@gmail.com www.facebook.com/pasghettiwestern.
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A resort for all seasons By Laura Harris-Hirsch Photos courtesy of The Quechee Club
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he Quechee Club in Quechee, Vermont, just five miles from Woodstock, calls itself “Vermont’s Premier Four-Season Resort.” That makes sense, but it’s also true that you’d need only one word to describe this club with its two top-rated golf courses; 11 tennis courts; three restaurants; two swimming pools; the beach at Lake Pinneo for swimming, sunbathing, and boating; the capacity to host weddings and corporate functions; and a clubhouse complete with a health club and restaurant overlooking the Ottauquechee River. In a word, The Quechee Club is spectacular. »
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Inset: The chipping green and Lakeland green #2. The Main Clubhouse located at The Quechee Club houses administration offices, Davidson’s Restaurant, Dewey’s Deck, The Main Dining Room, and an enclosed deck as well as the indoor pool and squash courts located in the Health Club.
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Activities at the Club are year-round, but in sum- Above: Sunrise over Quechee’s Lakeland Course. Photo by Lisa Lacasse. mer, when the powder white of the ski hill has been replaced by the lush green of the fairways and Right: Lights by the lake. the vivid colors of the gardens, the atmosphere is especially inviting. The renovations and rebuilding of the top-rated Highlands and Lakeland Golf A True Vermont Destination Courses, devastated by Tropical Storm Irene, are This year, a new program has expanded the use of complete. All 18 holes on each challenging course— the facilities to the public. As a service to members, originally designed by Geoffrey Cornish, the world- the new Certified Quechee Property Program acts famous golf architect who specialized in sculpting as a liaison between members and renters, optimizdramatic courses using natural terrain—are open ing the process by which owners find renters, both for member play. Golf Digest ranked Highlands long- and short-term, and assists renters in their among the top 10 in Vermont. And this season, The use of the Club facilities. A continuing option is a Quechee Club is selling a limited number of associStay ’n Play weekend package. The package price ate golf memberships to the public. includes guest rooms at a local inn and limited acFor more than 40 years, The Quechee Club cess to the Club for couples or families. has provided recreational activities primarily for members (and their guests) of the Quechee Lakes Landowners Association. Quechee Lakes, a private resort community with approximately 1,400 resident members, encompasses 5,500 acres. When you enter the clubhouse, perhaps for dinner at the newly renamed Davidson’s Restaurant, or if you’re a member/guest, to work out or play squash downstairs in the fitness center, you’ll notice the spacious lobby with its cathedral ceiling and flagstone floor, the overstuffed armchairs in front of the fireplace. “Elegant yet comfortable” are words that describe this building. An elegant wedding reception at Davidson’s. The Club is host to a variety of functions throughout the year with venues suitable for any style.
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The Club, a favorite place for weddings in any season, also partners with local inns like the Woodstock Inn or the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm to provide guest accommodations for weddings. “Many, many weddings take place here,” says Michelle Dougherty, Clubhouse manager. “What makes us unique is that a bride and groom can use our entire campus for their celebration, both indoors and out. They might plan a ceremony and reception in the elegant main dining room, for example, or in the absolutely charming and traditional 1800s-style Murphy’s Tavern. We can provide spaces and food for an entire wedding weekend, from rehearsal dinner to farewell brunch. “Morgan Lory, executive chef, customizes menu options to suit any occasion,” notes Michelle. Because many fundraising and corporate functions, including golf tournaments, are held at the Club, large groups present no problems for Chef Morgan and the events staff. This spring the Club was the venue for Headrest’s Mud Season Madness Dinner Dance, and at the end of July, it will be the site of a classic gala with Casino Night to benefit the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth.
Casual Fine Dining & More Ross Jones, director of dining services, supervises four restaurants open to the public. Throughout the year, Davidson’s Restaurant offers casual fine dining, often featuring farm-to-table foods from local farms including the Robie Farm and Hope Meadow Farm. In summer, the Clubhouse Deck offers grilled and light, seasonal bistro fare for lunch and dinner, served in an open-air setting with views of Lakeland Golf Course and the Ottauquechee River. For the convenience of families and sports enthusiasts, summer hours for the Base Lodge Food Court, which overlooks both the tennis courts and Highland Golf Course, are from 6:30am to 3pm, with grab-and-go items available from 3 to 5pm. Vermont’s summer weather is perfect for tennis, and Quechee is a perfect place for practice and games. Of the 11 courts, 8 are Har Tru. A professional staff offers lessons and clinics for adults and juniors (children as young as 4 can take lessons, while older children and teens will enjoy tennis camp). Golf lessons for adults, teens, and children are also offered. » S U M M E R 2014
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Quechee is a beautiful setting for outdoor tented events.
Niles Franc, recreation programs manager, enthusiastically describes the summer camp programs open to children and teens from the Upper Valley as well as residents of Quechee Lakes. “In our Adventure Camp for Teens (ACT), we introduce teens to the great outdoors,” taking them backpacking and hiking, or perhaps on a canoe excursion in a wilderness area near Blueberry Lake in Vermont’s Mad River Valley. “Teens learn to appreciate what Vermont has to offer,” says Niles. A supporter of outdoor experiential learning for leadership training and team-building, Niles also organizes a Teen Adventure Program (TAP) for ages 13 through 17, which runs every Thursday from early July to mid August. TAP participants go on lengthy day trips, perhaps hiking, a float trip, or kayaking, or traveling by van to a theme park like Six Flags or Water Country. Hampton Beach for an ocean experience and even Nashua, for indoor skydiving, are on the schedule too. Once school is out, the sounds of children having fun fill the air near Murphy Farm. With two swimming pools, a lakeside beach, and a playground, camp at The Quechee Club is an opportunity for children to be active and make new friends. From mid June to mid August, two day camps, one for preschoolers and one for ages 6 through 12, offer arts and crafts, swim lessons, outdoor games, and “just plain fun,” says Niles. Activi58
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ties like fishing, canoeing, and exploring the outdoors are fun in themselves, notes Niles, and at the same time, kids learn about our natural environment and how to care for it. And when they (or their parents) need a night out, look to one of the Kids’ Night Out evenings for dinner and activities. Whether it’s a Scavenger Hunt, Bowl-A-Rama, or A Pirate’s Life for Me, your kids will have fun while you relax, knowing that the experienced Recreation Department staff is supervising them. The Quechee Club 3268 Quechee Main Street Quechee, VT (802) 295-9356 www.quecheeclub.com
Summer Music Series at The Quechee Club (open to the public) Who: Walt Cunningham, acclaimed director of the Dartmouth Gospel Choir, and his band. When: June 27, 7pm, followed by fireworks at 9pm. August 1, 7:30pm, with fireworks at 9pm. Where: Outdoors, rain or shine on the Ski Hill. Family friendly; bring chairs or blankets and a picnic. Tickets: $30 at gate, advance $25 (buy tickets through the website), students $10, kids under 13 free.
S P OT L I G H T
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Vermont Spot A fun place to shop By Nancy Fontaine Photos by Jack Rowell To the left of the antique mall at Quechee Gorge Village, nestled next to the Cabot Cheese store, the Vermont Spot Country Store awaits. The tracks of the small railroad run a few feet away, and a sign advertising “Fresh fudge, free tastes” adorns the front railing. On the sign over the door, the store’s name is rendered in white letters with black spots, like a Holstein, with a bright blue oval background that matches the color of the front door. Inside, the brick entryway continues the motif. It is painted white with large, irregular black spots, lending an air of whimsy from the moment you walk in, which is exactly what owner Chris Goodwin is going for. »
Above: Chris Goodwin, owner. Below: A young customer chooses candy from the 125 varieties available.
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S P OT L I G H T
Clockwise from top: Customers can choose from a large selection of plush toys. Sample more than 20 flavors of homemade fudge. Choose from a variety of Vermont apparel. Fill a bag with colorful tumbled stones. Hand-blown glass ornaments.
If there’s one word Chris uses to sum up his philosophy for stocking his wares, it’s “fun.” He says, “I want people to really enjoy their shopping experience. Even if people don’t buy anything, I want them to smile.” For example, the day I visited, a display of what looked like huge Tootsie Pops but were actually lollipop-shaped containers, each with eight Tootsie Pops inside, was situated up front by the register. “It’s eye catching, and everyone who sees it comments on it,” he says.
A True Treasure Trove Situated on Route 4 with its tourist traffic, The Vermont Spot carries mugs, key chains, and magnets with various Ver60
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Stay cool in women's lightweight pajamas.
mont images and sayings, of course. Tasty treats are another staple; Chris’s biggest sellers are penny candy and handmade fudge (made on-site at the Cabot shop once or twice a week). “We try to keep at least 25 flavors on hand,” he says. He also stocks a selection of fun clothing, including Solmate (South Strafford) and Darn Tough (Randolph) socks, Wild & Cozy boxer shorts festooned with colorful moose, and Pook Toque hats, which look like a pair of wool socks sewn together and lined with fleece. “I try to get a mix of items and include those made in Vermont and the US whenever I can,” he says. The Vermont Spot is open to the stores on either side, which makes the 2,500-square-foot space seem even larger. A closer look at Chris’s selection reveals it truly is a treasure trove. The longer I browse, the more potential gifts and recipients I think of. A left-handed mug and chocolate-peanut butter fudge for my husband; handmade catnip toys for my cats; a sign that reads “Instant human—just add coffee!” for a java-loving friend; beautiful glass ornaments for my sister-inlaw; clever clay magnets with sweet illustrations for my book group. » S U M M E R 2014
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S P OT L I G H T
Clockwise from top: Giant Tootsie Pops are very popular. Browse the aisles for treats and souvenirs. Store manager Robin Neil with Vermontmade Solmate socks. Candy galore. Wooden shelf-sitter signs.
The array of pottery is particularly lovely and goes beyond the Vermont logo items one would expect in a touristoriented store. The hand-warmer mug— a unique, hand-cradling design made in small lots by Oregon potters Clay in Motion—is a good example, and it has proved very popular. Chris says, “This is the kind of stuff I’m looking for: not always inexpensive, but a little different. My goal is to find products that people haven’t come across before.” Chris is constantly on the lookout for interesting items when he visits other stores for his wholesale souvenir business, Vermont Illustrating. I spied some handmade quilted pot holders made in Southern Vermont by Norma Gilman, 62
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Colorful plush and decorative tin metal signs at the Vermont Spot.
whose wares he found while on his rounds. He also shares great finds; he tells other shop owners about the wonderful hand-warmer mugs, for instance.
A Bovine in Mind Chris attends the Smoky Mountain Gift Show in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, each year. It was there that he found a striking line of unusual gifts made from recycled license plates. They include barn stars sporting Vermont and Maine plates, bracelets, and birdhouses. Originally from Connecticut, Chris has lived in the Upper Valley for over 20 years. He started as a sales rep for Vermont Illustrating and bought the company 10 years ago. “I always knew I wanted to run a business,” he explains. He stuck with the souvenir industry because he likes the creative aspects. “I get involved in the design of the products; I work with design teams for the suppliers until they come up with what I want.” Of his bovine motif, Chris says, “I had that logo in my head for a long time, thinking I would use it if I ever started a store.” He got the chance in February 2013, when his current S U M M E R 2014
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A happy local customer.
space became available. “The owners of Quechee Gorge Village, Gary and Robin Neil, gave me a call and asked if I was interested. I figured, why not give it a shot? It’s not too different from what I do already.” Robin Neil, who now manages the store, has known him since his sales rep days. “The Vermont Spot is a fabulous place to work because Chris and his wife Bethany are a joy, and every day is different. You never know who will come in to shop—a local neighbor, a visitor from Finland, or a traveling acrobatic group. You will always find us laughing and having a good time with whoever walks in the store,” she says. Home for Chris is West Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he and his wife Bethany are raising their five children. “I have a long-term plan,” he says. “When the kids get older, both my wife and I can spend more time at the store, and I can spend less time on the road.” As he prepares for another busy summer season, Chris is looking forward to seeing his store thrive. “I’m excited; it’s going to be fun!” he says. Just like his merchandise. The Vermont Spot Country Store Quechee Gorge Village US Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 281-6274
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FA N TA S T I C F I N D S
Discover
Sudie’s Colorful clothing for women By Laura Collins Photos by Lynn Bohannon
Imagine rising each day looking forward to going to work. What does it take to maintain that level of enthusiasm 12 months out of 12? Sudie Watson, proprietor of Sudie’s clothing store on Central Street in Woodstock, Vermont, has discovered a way—surround yourself with color. “I have always been drawn to color; I love bright colors, and they’re part of the identity of my store,” she grins, adding with a chuckle, “Even my local customers stop by the store during the winter months just to see the colorful clothing.” » Top: Owner Sudie Watson. Center: Look for Sudie's bright awning on Central Street. Right: Summer jackets will transition to fall.
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Clockwise from top: Customers enjoy shopping on girls' day out. From beach to garden party, Sudie's has the fashions. No matter what the occasion, find your outfit at Sudie's.
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The Ideal Place to Be Sudie’s clothing store has been in business since November 2001; however, her history in Woodstock extends well beyond the past 13 years. Sudie’s roots are firmly entrenched in this community, dating back to the days when her grandfather rode his horse into town to attend elementary school. Her work in retail began as a teen working behind the counter of her parents’ clothing store, Footprints, which after 40 years is still owned and operated by the family and happens to be across the street from her store. College and a physical therapy career landed her in Connecticut for a spell, but the lifestyle that Vermont has to offer called her home. She shares, “My husband and I were ready to start a family, and this is the ideal place to live. I just really missed home, missed Vermont, so we moved back here.” Sudie’s return plans included opening a physical therapy practice in Vermont. However, she postponed those plans because her parents needed help in their store. She worked with them for a year or two until the unique opportunity of opening her own clothing store presented itself. Rhoda Teagle, the previous owner of the store, called Town and Country at the time, passed away. Prior to her passing, Rhoda had identified certain individuals she wanted to take over the store, and Sudie’s parents were on the list. Sudie marvels, “Growing up I never dreamed I’d be back in retail. But now that I’m in it, I love it. It’s been such a blessing to be given the opportunity—right in the middle of Woodstock, the town that I love, the people that I love.”
Sporty, Comfortable & Current The store’s inventory has evolved over the years, beginning centuries before as a sporting goods store that carried clothing, skis, and shoes for the entire family. Now it’s a women’s clothing store carrying colorful active wear that is sporty, comfortable, and current. » S U M M E R 2014
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Clockwise from top: Lightweight cashmere wrap, handbags, and scarves are perfect for an evening out. Find accessories to complement your new outfit. Browse Sudie's selection of bracelets and other jewelry, including Anna Beck.
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Sudie with her rescue dog Tebo.
Upon entering the store, shades of coral, aquamarine, pink, blue, and green in numerous florals, patterns, and solids bring instant life and energy to the space. The options are endless for that afternoon barbecue, early evening party-boat ride on the lake, or night out with friends and family. Sudie seeks to appeal to all generations of women. “Twenty-somethings to eighty-somethings,” she says. “I have lovely older ladies who come in for sweaters, and the younger gals come in for strappy dresses.” Sleeveless and cap-sleeved dresses, capris, and skirts by Horny Toad and Aventura, matching scarves, V-neck tees, rayon blouses, and Lucky Brand Jeans are just a few of the many styles and brands she carries—and certainly must-haves for the woman who wants to be ready for that special fun-filled event. Shoes, jewelry, and handbags are also available to add a certain something to an outfit. There is always a sale running, and Sudie has a section of marked-down items to keep things moving and bargain hunters satisfied. New inventory arrives daily to keep the store well stocked and on trend. She travels twice annually to the Javits Center in New
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FA N TA S T I C F I N D S York to seek out and test new lines. Many of the companies she works with accommodate special orders for customers who want a specific size or color. Some of her core lines deliver items to her in just a few days. Local clients are a large part of Sudie’s business, and she credits their loyalty to her success. “I wouldn’t be here without them. I’ve been very grateful for that business and will certainly try to continue to fill that need as best I can.” The rest of her business comes from overnight guests at the Woodstock Inn and repeat customers who own second homes in Quechee or Killington. These out-of-towners have encouraged her to create a website so they can view her inventory at a moment’s notice and place an order online. Sudie is excited to report that her website, a fully functional e-commerce site, is in production and expected to be up and running before summer. Online customers can take advantage of weekly specials and sales, learn what’s new, and place orders. Sudie is also grateful for her staff, her great kids—Emma and Jack, her parents, and her brother for the support they have provided over the years. Her staff in particular drive the success of her business. “I’m so fortunate, the girls working for me . . . with me are happy, pleasant, and great with people. Elizabeth has been with me for six years. I’m lucky to have her.” She takes pride in a staff that is not into highpressure sales but comprises instead helpful, friendly people who like to make suggestions and help with sizes. Sudie’s clothing store is open from 9:30am to 5:30pm, Monday through Saturday, and Sunday afternoons, with the exception of Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Customers are encouraged to call, stop by, or visit her website—coming soon! Sudie’s Clothing 16 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2525 www.sudieswoodstock.com (coming soon!) 70
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COMMUNITY
Woodstock Community Food Shelf The right thing to do
By Bridget Wiedl Photos courtesy of the Woodstock Community Food Shelf The Woodstock Community Food Shelf exemplifies what it truly means to help your friends and neighbors in need. Since 1984, individuals, local businesses, and other nonprofit organizations have worked together to create a community of giving that provides wholesome food to anyone from Vermont; the majority of guests come from Windsor County. Âť Left: Board member Sheila Murray and volunteer Margaret Thomas. Below left: Change the World Kids (top) Finn McFarland, Anna Ramsey, (center) Elizabeth Kamb, (bottom) Katherine Tucker, Kristin Ramsey, and Oliver Wilson. Below right: Eric Lewis, student, WUHS; Laurel Tobiason, Horticulture and Agricultural Science staff; John Hiers, Horticulture and Agricultural Science teacher; Diana Brown, Woodstock Community Food Shelf board member.
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“Our mission is to have well-stocked, nutritious food,” says Beverly Regan, a Woodstock Community Food Shelf board member since 2008 and the person responsible for sourcing the food that goes on the shelves. “Our biggest challenge is keeping food on the shelf and keeping up with the need,” she says. “It’s never ending.”
Above: Board members include (front) Laura Kent and Cassie Horner, (back) Diana Brown, Sally Gottlieb, Sheila Murray, Bev Regan, Norm Youknot, and Helen Curtis. (Not pictured: Joan Williamson.) Below: Vermont Foodbank delivery with drivers and volunteers from a Woodstock business.
Much More than Food This is no small challenge, considering the food shelf is open three days each week and serves as many as 30 families daily, or nearly 7,000 individuals each year. In fact, they will provide food for any person who needs it, as long as they reside in Vermont, and they work hard to make sure they don’t leave anyone out. “We also have an outreach program where we bring food to people who are shut in or can’t make it to the Food Shelf,” says Beverly. This typically includes the elderly or disabled individuals, and, says Beverly, “The visit is as much a part of that whole system as the food is.” This networking and socializing, which has grown naturally between 72
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Empty Bowls Supper is a fundraiser for the Food Shelf.
volunteers and food shelf visitors, has become as important to their efforts as the food they distribute. “The people come and wait, but there’s a social element to it,” says Cassie Horner, an active board member who maintains the food shelf’s website and Facebook account, and also writes a regular column about the food shelf in The Vermont Standard. “Even a little book exchange has organically happened.” “Many of our guests are pleasantly surprised at the comfort they feel when they first come to the food shelf,” adds Beverly. “Our volunteers are excellent at making guests feel welcome.” At least 75 percent of these guests have been turning to the food shelf for an extended period of time, which helps to create this sense of community and familiarity. “It is not patronizing here, it’s like a sharing. I think that’s the best way to describe it.” The food shelf’s visitors encompass individuals and families from a wide variety of economic backgrounds, and their stories are often, not surprisingly, linked to the current economy. “We have folks who come in telling us they have lost a job and hope to use the food shelf on a temporary basis. We have folks who have part-time or full-time jobs but have large families and need help with food,” says Beverly. Like the food shelves and meal sites throughout the rest of the state, the Woodstock Community Food Shelf witnesses firsthand the hardships that many Vermonters face and works tirelessly to ensure that no one is turned away because of a lack of nutritious food in stock. » S U M M E R 2014
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Left: Oliver Wilson harvests beans from the Change the World Kids' Food Justice garden for the Woodstock Community Food Shelf. Bottom left: One week's donation of vegetables harvested from the Change the World Kids' Food Justice garden going to the Woodstock Community Food Shelf.
A Dedicated Community Effort Each year, the food shelf distributes approximately 60,000 items of food. In addition to a variety of shelf-stable items— such as tuna fish, peanut butter, hearty soups and stews, hot and cold cereals, pasta and pasta sauce, canned fruits and vegetables, coffee, baking goods, and toilet tissue—guests are welcome to an unlimited supply of produce, meat, eggs, cheese, margarine, and butter, based on availability. “We have had so many nice donations of locally raised meat,” says Cassie, “which is just a treat.” The food shelf also offers spices and herbs. The board and volunteers work hard to make sure that all items are nutritious and of high quality, and the list of supporters who generously donate their time, money, food, and other services to drive this mission forward seems endless. The results of their combined efforts are nothing short of impressive, inspirational, and heartwarming. The food shelf is run completely by volunteers and includes nine board members and approximately 30 individuals who take turns welcoming guests, packing up their food, and stocking the shelves. “Our volunteers are the best in the world,” says Beverly. “Many are retired, but we also have folks who are working or are stay-at-home moms.” The majority of volunteers are from Woodstock, while some come from Hartford, Plymouth, and Lyme, New Hampshire. Individuals in the community also step forward with in-kind donations. “We see the same people over and over,” says Beverly. “They never forget. It’s really impressive.” Last November an individual gave the food shelf 30 turkeys, and a board member donates the use of her truck for picking up food. 74
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Nika Meyers paints the root cellar door.
One person even repaired a window box and plants flowers. The groups and businesses in the community that dedicate themselves to supporting the food shelf’s efforts through in-kind or cash donations include, to name a few, Glad Rags, a used clothing store that donates proceeds to local nonprofit organizations; the Post Office, through its annual food drive; the Freelance Family Singers; the Dead River Company; MISys Manufacturing; and the Woodstock Rotary Club. The Woodstock Farmers Market, in conjunction with the merchants of Woodstock—a program created by Nick Ferro of Ferro Jewelers—supplies the food shelf with fresh, locally grown produce twice monthly from November through April. Local churches also conduct food drives once a month or quarterly, and the food shelf receives a delivery from the Vermont Foodbank once a month. The Vermont Volunteer Services for Animals Humane Society (VVSA) donates cat and dog food as these are needed.
A Small Nonprofit, A Huge Heart The involvement of children and teens is particularly impressive and includes the Spectrum Teen Center, which sponsors very successful food drives at the local market, and the Woodstock chapter of Change the World Kids, which annually plants a community garden just for the food shelf. Last year S U M M E R 2014
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Spectrum Teen group from Woodstock Union High School conducts a food drive.
they built a root cellar from which the food shelf is able to draw fresh produce on a regular basis during the winter. The Pomfret School also holds an annual food drive on Valentine’s Day, and the students themselves deliver the donations to the food shelf. “In addition to the in-kind donations, our cash donors are generous and consistent. We rely on all of these folks to keep the food shelf open and well stocked,” says Beverly. “We like to get actual food in, but then we couldn’t survive if we didn’t get the money,” adds Cassie. In addition to food and monetary donations, which are always welcome, Beverly and Cassie explain that they could also use some help maintaining the property, as well as the use of two more trucks or a van for outreach and picking up food. “We would also love a new sign,” says Beverly. For 30 years the Woodstock Community Food Shelf has existed to lend a helping hand to the thousands of children, adults, and seniors who struggle with the issues of hunger in Vermont’s Upper Valley. In response, the Woodstock community has become stronger in its combined efforts to provide food for friends and neighbors in need. Given the scope of what this small nonprofit has been able to accomplish, contributing to their efforts just feels like the right thing to do. For more information about volunteering or donating to the food shelf, or for hours of operation, visit their website at woodstockfoodshelf.org. 76
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SEASONAL FOODS
By Susan Nye
Make dinner light and bright
Life seems to slow down a bit in the summer. We take a moment to breathe, feel the sun on our faces, and enjoy time with friends and family. Local farmers play an important role in our summertime fun. The farmers’ markets are bursting with fresh, local produce. What could be better than shopping in the open air? Our growing season may be short, but just-picked fruits and vegetables figure prominently in some of our favorite summer memories. Nana’s famous blueberry pie, watermelonseed-spitting contests, corn on the cob, and Aunt Lottie’s special potato salad are all part of summers past, present, and future. Well, maybe not the watermelon seeds—most are seedless these days. »
Summer Days are Salad Days The Menu
Piri Piri Shrimp in Lettuce Cups Salad Niçoise with Grilled Salmon
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Piri Piri Shrimp in Lettuce Cups Serves 6 12 wooden skewers 2 lb extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined Piri Piri (recipe follows) Bibb or Romaine lettuce leaves 1 red and/or yellow bell pepper, julienned 1–2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and julienned 4 radishes, trimmed and julienned 1–2 carrots, grated 1–2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced 1½ cups cilantro leaves 1½ cups mint leaves 2 limes, quartered
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Soak the wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes. Put the shrimp in a large bowl and add piri piri, about ¼ cup, to lightly coat. Toss to combine and refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes.
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You can cook the shrimp in the morning or just before serving. Heat a gas grill to medium-high. Thread the shrimp onto the soaked skewers. If the shrimp are large enough, you can cook them directly on the grill. Grill the shrimp, turning once, until just opaque, about 3 to 4 minutes. Don’t overcook!
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To serve, artfully arrange the lettuce leaves, vegetables, and herbs on a large platter or individual plates. Add the shrimp and a small bowl with the remaining piri piri. To eat, top a lettuce leaf with a few shrimp, add a generous portion of vegetables, sprinkle with herbs, and drizzle with a little piri piri and a squeeze of lime. Fold the lettuce leaf around the shrimp and enjoy.
Piri Piri M a k e s 1½ c u p s 12 fresh red bird’s-eye* chilies, seeds and ribs removed, chopped ¼ cup fresh lime juice ¼ cup apple cider vinegar 1½ cups loosely packed cilantro 1½ cups loosely packed flat-leaf parsley 6 garlic cloves 1 tsp sea salt, or to taste ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil, or to taste 78
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Combine the chilies, lime juice, vinegar, herbs, garlic, and salt in a small food processor or blender and puree until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil and blend until well combined.
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Let the piri piri sit for at least 30 minutes to combine the flavors. Store any leftover piri piri in the refrigerator. * If you can’t find bird’s-eye chilies, substitute with serrano or jalapeño peppers.
Why not make a great salad one of your summer specialties? A big, beautiful salad is summer’s answer to the casseroles we ate, and loved, all winter. When the days turn steamy, there’s nothing better than lots of fresh vegetables for supper. Add your favorite seafood, and dinner will be light and bright. Perfect summer fare! Even better, you can get most of the chopping, mixing, and any cooking out of the way early in the day, while it’s still cool. A few thoughts on making the perfect summer salad: Explore different colors, textures, and flavors. Load up your salad with lots of different vegetables, the more colorful the better. Add interest with a drizzle of a flavorful vinaigrette, and finish with a sprinkle of fresh herbs. The French are famous for their salade composée, or composed salad. Instead of tossing all the ingredients in a bowl, try arranging the different elements of your salad on a large platter. A stunning feast for the eyes, a composed salad is definitely worth the little bit of extra effort. Leftovers never tasted so good. Last night’s shrimp will be perfect on top of the gorgeous arugula, heirloom tomatoes, and fresh-picked corn you found at the market this morning. Leftover chicken is delicious tossed with Israeli couscous and feta, and served on a bed of baby spinach. And that grilled steak, mushrooms, and asparagus? Arrange them on dandelion greens with a sprinkle of gorgonzola and toasted walnuts. Stay cool, and enjoy the salad days of summer! Susan Nye writes for magazines throughout New England. She shares many of her favorite recipes and stories about family, friendship, and food on her blog, Around the Table, at www. susannye.wordpress.com. The New Hampshire writer and chef was named one of the Top 100 Foodie Bloggers of 2012 by BlueStar Range.
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Salad Niçoise with Grilled Salmon Serves 6 1½ lb new potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces Vinaigrette Niçoise (recipe follows) 1 lb green beans, trimmed 1 lb assorted cherry and grape tomatoes, cut in half 2–3 scallions, thinly sliced ½ yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 small cucumbers, peeled and chopped 2 lb salmon fillet Olive oil Sea salt and freshly ground pepper ½ cup dry-pack, oil-cured black olives, pitted and quartered 1–2 Tbsp capers, drained Fresh chopped parsley
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Put the potatoes in a large pot of cold, salted water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until tender. Drain the potatoes well and transfer to a bowl. Combine with just enough Vinaigrette Niçoise to coat, and toss to combine. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate.
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Bring salted water to a rapid boil in a large skillet. Add the beans and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring a few times. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again and put the beans in a bowl with enough Vinaigrette Niçoise to lightly coat, and toss. Store in the refrigerator.
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Put the tomatoes, scallions, bell pepper, and cucumbers in a bowl, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle with enough vinaigrette to lightly coat, and toss. Store in the refrigerator.
4
Preheat the grill to medium-high. Drizzle the salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Lay the fish skin-side down on the grill and depending on thickness, grill the salmon for 8 to 10 minutes. You can carefully turn the fish after 4 to 5 minutes for some nice grill marks, but it’s not necessary. Remove the fish from the grill, cover, and refrigerate when it comes to room temperature.
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Remove the vegetables and salmon from the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before serving. Slice the salmon and remove the skin.
To serve, arrange the beans around the edges of a large deep platter or on individual plates. Spoon the potatoes into the center. Artfully sprinkle the tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, and bell pepper over the beans and potatoes. Top with salmon, sprinkle with chopped olives, capers, and parsley, and serve.
Vinaigrette Niçoise 4 Tbsp red wine vinegar Juice of ½ lemon 1–2 tsp anchovy paste 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard 3–4 cloves garlic
1 tsp fresh thyme Dash of hot sauce Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, or to taste
½ shallot, chopped
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Put the vinegar, lemon, anchovy paste, mustard, garlic, shallot, thyme, and hot sauce in a blender or small food processor, season with salt and pepper, and pulse to combine. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil and process until smooth.
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Let the vinaigrette sit for 30 minutes or more to combine the flavors. Store any extra vinaigrette in the refrigerator.
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HAPPENINGS: SUMMER 2014 JUNE | JULY | AUGUST
June 13–15
35th Annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon Craft and Music Festival Info: www.quecheeballoonfestival.com Quechee Village Green
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Pentangle Council on the Arts 31 The Green Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3981 www.pentanglearts.org JULY July 28–August 1 | Summer Performing Arts Camp AUGUST 2 | Summer Performing Arts Camp Performance Town Hall Theater, 1pm
34th Annual Brown Bag Concert Series All are free and held on the Woodstock Green at 12pm.
June 28 | Vermont Symphony Orchestra Suicide Six, 7:30pm
JUNE 26 | Interplay Jazz All-Stars JULY 3 | Atlantic Crossing 17 | The Snaz 31 | The Michele Fay Band AUGUST 7 | Island Time Steel Band 14 | Robert & Gigi 21 | Watch Out for Dinosaurs
July 24 | The Twangtown Paramours
July 10 | Va-et-Vient
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HAPPENINGS
June 8, 15, 22 & 29 Ice Cream Sundays Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm
JUNE 10 | What’s On Your Nightstand? Info: normanwilliams.org Norman Williams Public Library, 10:15am
10 | Stories of Woodstock Past Info: normanwilliams.org Norman Williams Public Library, 1pm
June 11, July 9 & August 20 Poetry Live Info: normanwilliams.org Norman Williams Public Library, 6:30pm
16 | Summer Reading Program: Fizz! Boom! Read! Info: normanwilliams.org Norman Williams Public Library
16 | Little Shop of Horrors Preview Info: normanwilliams.org Norman Williams Public Library, 1pm
18 | Free Early-Bird Nature Walk Info: normanwilliams.org Norman Williams Public Library, 7:30–9am 84
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18 | 2nd Annual Zack’s Place Tournament of Champions Info: www.zacksplacevt.org Quechee Club, 12pm
21 | Family Art! Info: artistreevt.org ArtisTree, 10am–12pm
21 | Summer Revels Info: revelsnorth.org Norwich Green, 5pm
23 | Inventive Vermonters: A Sampling of Farm Tools Info: www.woodstockhistorical.org Woodstock History Center, 7–8pm
June 23–27 & July 21–25 Junior Farm Vet Camp Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum
27 | 5th Annual Woodstock Rec Golf Classic Charity Tournament Info: www.woodstockrec.com Woodstock Inn and Resort, 11:30am
JULY July 1–August 19, Tuesdays Time Travel Tuesdays Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm
July 2–September 24, Wednesdays Wagon Ride Wednesdays Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm
4 | Old Vermont 4th Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm
7 | Grant’s 1864 Overland Campaign (The Wilderness) Part 1 of a three-part mini lecture series. Info: www.woodstockhistorical.org Woodstock History Center, 7pm
July 11–October 17, Fridays Foodways Fridays Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm S U M M E R 2014
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HAPPENINGS 11 | Band Concert & Ice Cream Social Info: www.woodstockhistorical.org Woodstock History Center, 7pm
17 | Opera North Lecture: Street Scene Info: normanwilliams.org Norman Williams Public Library, 4:30pm
20 | National Ice Cream Day Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm
21 | Grant’s 1864 Overland Campaign (Spotsylvania Courthouse) Part 2 of a three-part mini lecture series. Info: www.woodstockhistorical.org Woodstock History Center, 7pm
25–27 | Bookstock 2014 Info: bookstockvt.org Visit the website for event locations.
July 27 | Hay Day Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm
28 | Grant’s 1864 Overland Campaign (Cold Harbor) Part 3 of a three-part mini lecture series.
GET CONNECTED Get listed on the mountainviewpublishing.com BUSINESS DIRECTORY and you will also be included on our printed list in every issue of WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE. (See page 18.)
GET CONNECTED NOW! Email Bob Frisch at rcfrisch1@comcast.net, or call Bob at (603) 643-1830. Find out how you can connect with our readers. It’s easy, inexpensive, and another way to reach an affluent and educated audience.
SUBSCRIBE Share the wonder of our beautiful area and the latest news all year long with a gift subscription. Friends and family who have moved away from the area will be especially appreciative. Be sure to order a subscription for yourself, too! Send a check for $19.95 for one year (4 issues) to Woodstock Magazine, 135 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755. Or conveniently pay online using PayPal at www.mountainviewpublishing.com.
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ADVERTISERS INDEX 506 On the River Inn ............................................45
Mertens House .....................................................40
Action Garage Door .............................................70
MoRae Jewelers....................................................80
Ambrose Custom Builders....................................81
Newhall Farm .......................................................40
Ameriprise Financial.............................................41 Angkor Wat Restaurant .........................................6 Anichini Company Store ........................................8 Antiques Collaborative ..........................................8
Old Federal Antique Shop .....................................8 Ottauquechee Well Drilling .................................84 Perry’s Oil Service .................................................64
ArtisTree/Purple Crayon Productions ..................85
Pi Brick Oven Trattoria/Central Street Café ..........3
Bentleys.................................................................76
Procopio Interior Design ......................................23
Billings Farm & Museum ......................................58
Quality Inn ..............................................................8
Braeside Motel .....................................................28
Quechee Mobil .....................................................76
August 16–17 Heritage Chicken Days
Brown’s Floormasters ...........................................29
Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm
Caulfield Art Gallery ..............................................7
Carpet King & Tile ................................................83 Charles Silva Jr. Builder/Designer.........................85 Collective – the Art of Craft...................................7 Co-Operative Insurance Companies ......................4 Crown Point Cabinetry.........................................11
Robert Wallace Real Estate........ Inside front cover Route 4 Country Store ...........................................8 Shepard Interior Selections..................................84 Singleton’s ............................................................81 Snyder Bassette Real Estate Group ...... Inside back cover
Info: www.woodstockhistorical.org Woodstock History Center, 7pm
David Anderson Hill .............................................61
South Woodstock Country Store ...........................7
Davis Alterations & Building................................73
Stone Dental .........................................................61
Dead River Company..............................................5
Strong House Spa .................................................64
AUGUST
Deirdre Donnelly Jewelry Art ................................8
Sudie’s ...................................................................85
1 | 28th Annual Quilt Exhibition Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm
Elevation Clothing..................................................7 Ellaway’s Attic Selective Consignment ..................6 Encore Designer Consignment ..............................6 Engel & Voelkers ..................................................67
Systems Plus Computers .......................................79 Teago General Store ..............................................6 The Carriage Shed ................................................47
Excel Plumbing and Heating ...............................14
The Fort at No. 4 ..................................................33
2 | Luau at Britton Pond
Eyes on Elm Optical Boutique ...............................7
The Hanover Inn ...................................................41
Info: www.zacksplacevt.org Britton Pond, 5:30pm
Favreau Design ....................................... Back cover
The Prouty ............................................................47
Ferro Jewelry Designers .......................................63
The Quechee Club ................................................23
First Impressions Salon & Spa ..............................70
The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm..................67
3 | Antique Tractor Day Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm
Five Olde Tavern & Grille .....................................64 Footprints ...............................................................6 Fore U Golf ...........................................................45 Frameworks Studio of Woodstock ........................7
The Vermont Spot ......................................... 8 & 84 The Vermont Standard.........................................28 The Village Butcher ................................................6
G.R. Porter & Sons ................................................76
The Williamson Group ...........................................1
4 | Willy Wonka Preview
Gallery on the Green..............................................6
The Woodlands ....................................................69
Info: normanwilliams.org Norman Williams Public Library, 1pm
Game Set Mat .........................................................8
Trap Door Bakehouse & Café ..............................53
Gear Traders ...........................................................6
Unicorn ...................................................................7
Gilberte Interiors ..................................................73
Upland Construction ............................................29
11 | Learning a Sense of Place Info: www.woodstockhistorical.org Woodstock History Center, 7–8pm
Gillingham’s ..........................................................14 Green Mountain Plumbing & Heating ................75 Green Mountain Railroad ....................................83 Henderson’s Tree & Garden Services ...................19
Upper Valley Haven..............................................22 V.I.N.S. Nature Center & Store ...............................8 Vermont Antique Dealers Association ................35
Hull Maynard Hersey Insurance...........................15
Vermont Facial Aesthetics....................................75
August 15–September 30 Exhibit: Horse
Jake’s Quechee Market & Cafe ............................70
Visiting Nurse & Hospice of VT & NH ..................79
Jancewicz & Son ...................................................17
Vitt, Brannen, Loftus ............................................80
Info: normanwilliams.org Norman Williams Public Library
Jeff Wilmot Painting ............................................75
Whippletree Yarn Shop .........................................7
16 | Naked Table Project Workshop Info: nakedtable.com ShackletonThomas Workshops
31 | Labor & Leisure Day Info: www.billingsfarm.org Billings Farm & Museum, 10am–5pm
Kedron Valley Inn .................................................63 Keepers, A Country Café......................................79 Kendal at Hanover ...............................................35 Krystyna’s Stones and Sterling...............................7
Woodstock Beverage ...........................................53 Woodstock Farmers Market ................................33 Woodstock Home & Hardware ............................13
Landshapes ...........................................................53
Woodstock Hops ‘n Barley .....................................6
LaValley Building Supply......................................19
Woodstock Summerfest .......................................58
Mascoma Savings Bank ..........................................9
Zayas Jewelers ........................................................2
For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact Bob Frisch at (603) 643-1830 or email rcfrisch1@comcast.net. S U M M E R 2014
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LAST GLANCE
Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds. —Regina Brett
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