CALENDAR

Saturday, December 7 at 1 pm. Holiday Dessert Party  Universalist Meetinghouse

Wednesday, Book Group at 1 pm. Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse, 108 School St. Bennington. This month’s book is Foster by Claire Keegan (2022). Jan Day will lead the discussion.

Wednesday, December 11 at 1 pm. Scribble Sisters. Location TBD.

January date. Afghanistan Talk. Bennington Library .

CONTENTS 

Holiday Dessert Story by Julie Mackaman

Once again, we’ve invited the local fiddle-tune band Rosin the Beaux to play at our December 7 holiday dessert party. We’re starting early so that we can wrap up long before it’s dark. Mary Ellen Munley and her team of hostesses will provide desserts.

We’ve asked whistle player Deb Burns to us what the Beau is cooking up for us.  Bev tells us that most of the music the group plays was born in rural communities living close to the land. Whether from Ireland, Scotland, French Canada, Appalachia, or New England, the tunes often reflected seasonal rhythms and activities and an intimate knowledge of the natural world.

Their set list this year showcases “Harvest Home,” the traditional Irish and British community celebration that still occurs at season’s end, featuring music, dancing, feasting, and merriment. The song titles refer to animals and birds, haying, the natural world, food, and drink — and most of the tunes are meant for dancing.

Guitarist Pat Dunlavey will teach a dance to two French Canadian tunes: the Gaspé Reel and the centuries-old “La Bastringue” — variously translated as “The Hoedown,” “the Dance Shack,” or “The Scramble.”

Their set list this year showcases “Harvest Home,” the traditional Irish and British community celebration that still occurs at season’s end, featuring music, dancing, feasting, and merriment. The song titles refer to animals and birds, haying, the natural world, food, and drink — and most of the tunes are meant for dancing.

Guitarist Pat Dunlavey will teach a dance to two French Canadian tunes: the Gaspé Reel and the centuries-old “La Bastringue” — variously translated as “The Hoedown,” “the Dance Shack,” or “The Scramble.”

Two other traditional terms for this time of year are “InGathering” and “Days of Grace,” both suggesting rest and contemplation after the year’s hard labors. Good advice!

“December Museum Visit” by Berta Winiker

Jamie Fletcher, Bennington Museum Curator (left rear) with AAUW members who visited the museum on Friday, November 8.. Photos on display on the wall are part of “The Circus is Coming to Town,” on display are those of Nicholas Whitman, who photographed the vintage pictures in 1972 when he visited his old barn, which had been converted to an antique store. Just a few fragments of posters remained on the wall; however, a couple of lumps of circus posters, many layers thick and measuring about 3’ by 5’ each, advertised shows in Bennington, Vermont and other local towns. Just a few photos remained on the wall, but a few had been pulled off the barn’s wall and were up in the former hay loft. Whitman became the caretaker and documentor of these delicate slices of local history.

Scholarship Changes.Suzanne Kirkpatrick and Jennifer Kern

Looking Ahead: Planning Meeting for January through April

The Program Committee is hard at work sharing ideas, making museum arrangements, selecting and contacting speakers. They met at the Bennington Committee Market on Tuesday, November 10. In attendance were two new members—Mary Elizabeth Groupe and Joyce Fuller. Suzanne Kirkpatrick, Sheila Mullineaux, Judy Murphy, Althea Church, Julie Haupt, Berta Winiker, and Dawn Rodrigues were also there.

Judy Murphy gave notice after serving for about 25 years as our publicity person. A big thank you to Judy and to her dryer for their service. To find out how the dryer helped, ask committee members. By the way, the dryer remains available for service.  Julie Mackaman has graciously agreed to be our publicist!  For samples of her work go to the bottom right of the newsletter’s home page and type in “Mackaman” in the search bar. You’ll find 100 articles that she has written in the newsletter for us.  Fair Warning: You may be asked by newsletter editor, Dawn Rodrigues, to suggest and help arrange either a private or a public a program.

Here’s what’s we’ve planned or beginning to take shape:

• Our Holiday Party is slated for 12/7 at 1:00 at the Old Church Barn. Julie M. has done the newsletter writeup and will take care of publicity. Mary Ellen Munley will call four folks to provide refreshments.
• Our January program is TBD. Sheila will talk with Linda Donigan about BFL’s efforts with refugees. Grace Winslow was suggested as a program discussing Open Arms.
• February will be Janet Groom, Improv. It is tentatively scheduled for 2/22 or 2/23.
• in March, a Deb Burns will give a talk on “The Plastics Problem“

Once our January program is confirmed and in the event that we have to look further for a program, Berta will ask Julie M. to check with Deb Burns about the Plastics program. It is tentatively scheduled for 3/15.

Sheila will ask Mary Ellen Munley to call around for prices for eating out or for having a catered lunch for our March program.

Mary Elizabeth Groupe will look into the possibility of a pre-program talk by Conductor Michael Finckel for the Sage Symphony outing on 5/18/25.

We brainstormed a 2025 public program, likely in the fall, on the topic of Food Insecurity. Kate Bryan (Battenkill Health Center), GBICS, Kate Ebbott (Grateful Hearts), Tim Foley (Community Dinners), Jack Rossiter Munley and Lorraine Donatelli  (Community Cafe), Gleaning. Thea offered to organize this.

And, finally, since we were on a roll, we thought about having another field trip! A visit to the SVAC in Manchester. Julie Haupt noted the richness of their exhibits and the frequent focus on feminism.

Our next meeting will be on 1/14/25 at the Bennington Community Market. Join us or listen in. We will move to a larger table if we should be so fortunate to have that problem. In fact, while we’re in brainstorming mode, what about forming a new Special Interest Group—The Lunch Bunch. Let Dawn know if you are interested: Dawn.Rodrigues@gmail.com.