For more upcoming events, click here for The Chester Telegraph calendar. To be included in our Upcoming events briefs, email Susan Lampe-Wilson at calendar@www.chestertelegraph.org. Photos welcome. No PDFs, please.

Antiques

Ever wonder what grandma’s clock is worth? Bring is to BRAM Saturday to find out.

July 11: Black River Academy Museum hosts antiques appraiser

O n Saturday, July 11, from 1 to 4 p.m., appraiser Mark Putnam will be at the Black River Academy Museum to evaluate your cherished possession at the museum at 14 High St. in Ludlow. The cost is $5 per item.

Putnam has been in the antiques business more than 20 years and is the owner of Putnam Auction Co. in Dorset, which sells antiques and complete estates and providing professional appraisals of personal property. He is a member of the National Auctioneers Association. For further information, call 802-228-5050, email glbrehm@tds.net or visit the museum’s web site www.bramvt.org.

Comedy

July 10: Chuckles and laughs at Grounded4Life

G rounded4Life is holding a comedy night 7 p.m., Friday, July 10 in the coffee house downstairs in the First Baptist Church at 162 Main St., in Chester. Their joke-smiths have combed the Internet to find the best chuckles, in their opinion, on the web today. Their expertise has been uploaded to YouTube and VIMEO, but we’re not too sure about their taste. Some may leave you laughing and others may have you scratching your head. You are needed to give the “thumbs up or down” on each clip.

Doors open at 6:30 and presentations begin at 7 p.m. The coffee bar and refreshments open for business when you arrive. The program is always free. Check out the Grounded4Life Facebook page or contact John Nunnikhoven at john4ns@fastmail.fm.

Libraries

July 16: Rock Library presents Pop-Up Museum and book reading

Vermont author Gary Lee Miller will be reading from his book of short stories, Museum of the Americas at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16 at the Rockingham Library,  65 Westminster St. in Bellows Falls.

To commemorate the museum theme of its title story, Rockingham Library will be opening a “Pop-Up Museum” consisting of mementos, artifacts and treasured objects from people who live in this part of Vermont. The library is inviting contributions from all who would like to display items of interest from their lives. These objects should have a simple story.

Participants are asked to bring their objects to the library between 4 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, when they will be asked to fill out a small  museum card about their item. Objects will be set up for display in a secured meeting room. The museum will open at 6 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. by a reading and book signing by Miller.

This event is free and open to the public. Watch for Facebook postings of the staff’s treasured objects. For more information, call 802-463-4270, email anne@rockinghamlibrary.org, log on to rockinghamlibrary.org or stop by.

Music

Experience looping, featuring Eugene Friesen with Ian Ethan Case at Immanuel Episcopal Church.

July 10, 11: New music looped at Stone Church Arts

On Friday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m., Stone Church Arts will present an evening of new music for cello and guitar featuring Eugene Friesen with Ian Ethan Case at Immanuel Episcopal Church, 20 Church St. in Bellows Falls. The evening will include solos and duets plus new collaborative compositions that involve “looping:” live recorded layers of sound resulting in a large ensemble effect.

Friesen is a four-time Grammy-winning cellist with the Paul Winter Consort and faculty member at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Acoustic double-neck guitaristCase is one of a few musicians to tackle the double-neck guitar. fluidly combining a variety of self-invented playing techniques.

The Bellows Falls performance is part of Friesen’s “Vermont Improv Intensive,” a workshop that draws participants to Vermont from all over the world.

On Saturday, July 11, workshop participants along with professional concert artists and educators will perform a free concert, making their improvisational debuts.

Tickets for the Friday concert are $17 for adults: $13 for seniors and children under 12 in advance and $20 ($15) at the door. Angel Tickets are also available for $35 for those who wish to support local music and sit up front in the most comfortable seating. Advance tickets are available at Village Square Booksellers In the Square in Bellows Falls, by phone at 802-460-0110, or online at www.stonechurcharts.org. For more information call 802-460-0110, email sca@sover.net.

July 11: A Far Cry chamber orchestra in Grafton

A Far Cry, a Grammy-nominated 18-member young chamber orchestra from Boston, will return to Grafton at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 for a performance in the recently renovated White Church, 55 Main St. in Grafton. This program is presented by the not-for-profit Grafton Music Festival.

The string orchestra will perform “TransAmericana” that takes the audience on a musical journey through North and South America, with pieces by Philip Glass, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Alberto Ginastera and Lena Frank.

Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors and students, and children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Tickets are sold at the Grafton Village Cheese store in Grafton, at Misty Valley Books in Chester, and online at BrownPaperTickets.com. For more information, go to www.graftonmusicfestival.com.

Sensible Shoes walks your way at Proctorsville Green

July 15: Sensible Shoes to perform in Proctorsville

The Town of Cavendish and the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association invite all to spend an evening listening to the sounds of Sensible Shoes on the Proctorsville Green at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15.

ASCAP award-winning songwriter, keyboard player and singer Barbara Blaisdell brings her powerful New Orleans-inspired rhythm piano to the stage. The band includes lead guitarist and singer Tim Utt; Pooh Sprague, on bass, guitar and vocals; and drummer and singer Steve Drebber. Sensible Shoes has placed original music in several major motion pictures, including “Philadelphia” and “The Manchurian Candidate.” The concert is free and open to all.

Join friends and neighbors in front of the gazebo on the green. Bring a blanket or a comfortable chair, have a picnic or just relax on the grass. The event is sponsored by the Vermont Farmstead Cheese Co. For more information call Robin at 802-226-7736. In the event of rain postponement information will be reflected on the Cavendish Facebook page.

July 16-Aug. 6: Chester Summer Concert Series returns with five bands

Chester’s 2015 Summer Concert Series returns to the Academy Building lawn, 330 Main St. across from the Green in Chester with five Thursday night concerts at 6:30-8 p.m. starting July 16.

The Bondville Boys kick off a series of concerts on Chester’s green

Kicking off the series is local favorite, The Bondville Boys, with its eclectic, hard-edged bluegrass. Musicians Jake Geppert, Tom Morris and Laura Molinelli have played together for over 20 years. Joined recently by Ben Campbell and Christian Heins, The Bondville Boys are known for sweet harmonies, excellent musicianship, great energy and original tunes

On July 23, Frydaddy and the Little Town Horns perform. Led by Carlos Ocasio, the Frydaddy band has been rocking the Upper Valley for close to 30 years. With influences ranging from James Brown to Carlos Santana, their original tunes will make for a foot stompin’ good time.

On July 30, Andover’s own Ida Mae Specker and The Honest Mistakes will perform. Specker, a third generation fiddle player, fiddles, drums, and sings simultaneously in a whirlwind of passion and virtuosity.

On Aug. 6, Gerry Grimo and the East Bay Jazz Ensemble returns to Chester to deliver the amazing big band sounds that have captivated concert-goers in the past. Its large ensemble delivers jazz, pop and R&B, taking the audience on a sentimental journey through the sound of the classic big bands.

And to wrap up this year’s concert series, on Aug. 13, Chester’s own Chris Kleeman Band, performs some of Kleeman’s own tunes and old traditional and Chicago-style blues.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chester, the Chester Summer Music Series thanks its major patrons, Newsbank, TDBank, and Dakin & Benelli.

Bring blankets and lawn chairs and be prepared to sit back and listen to music on a summer night in downtown Chester. In case of inclement weather, concerts will move to MacLaomainn’s Scottish Pub, 52 S. Main St., in Chester. For information, contact Lynne Reed at Misty Valley Books, 802-875-3400, mvbooks@vermontel.net.

Stars Burn Down light it up at Grounded4Life

July 17: Grounded4Life brings Stars Burn Down back to Chester

A highly acclaimed contemporary worship band, Stars Burn Down, returns to Grounded4Life for a reprise of their packed house evening last summer. Join the band for an evening with friends, food and conversation while you listen to some uplifting music. Grounded4LIFE is located in the coffee house downstairs in the First Baptist Church at 162 Main St., Chester. The program is free.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and music begins at 7 p.m. The coffee bar and refreshments will be ready when you arrive. Check out the Grounded4Life Facebook page or contact John Nunnikhoven at john4ns@fastmail.fm.

Public meeting

July 10: SMCS Community Advisory meeting

The public invited to participate in Springfield Medical Care Systems’ Community Advisory Group, which meets quarterly, in collaboration with its Community Health Team and health team partner agencies including local community health and human services organizations and stakeholders.

The group meets at Springfield Hospital Library 25 Ridgefield Road, Springfield on the following dates:

Friday, July 10: 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 2: 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Anyone wishing to participate is invited to join in some or all of the meetings, and participation is being sought from the following groups:

• Area primary care practices
• Hospital administrators and staff
• Clinical and IT leadership
• Medical and non-medical providers from community service organizations
• Area-designated mental health and substance abuse agencies and mental health and substance abuse providers
• Public health leadership from Vermont Department of Health local district offices
• Agency of Human Services field services director and leaders of AHS initiatives
  such as:
  Children’s Integrated Services
  Enhanced Family Services
  Adult Local Interagency Team
• Consumer/patient representatives(s)
• Vermont Chronic Care Initiative coordinators
• Designated Regional Housing Organization  leaders
• Support and Services at Home  staff
• Local business owners or representatives

The purpose of the meeting is to seek ongoing assessment of community health needs and possible solutions. This assessment will also include opportunity for quarterly input regarding current programs, unmet needs, and suggestions regarding services provided by the SMCS Community Health Team.

Comments are welcome at any time by contacting Anna Smith at annasmith@springfieldmed.org, 802-885-7621, or the Community Health Team at CHT@springfieldmed.org, 802-886-8998.

Join SMCS’s Adivisory Committee and work together to create healthier communities. For more information about SMCS and its services, please visit www.springfieldmed.org.

July 14: End of life plans discussed at Rock Library

From 5:30–7:30 p.m, on Tuesday, July 14, Brattleboro Area Hospice will host a community discussion on end-of-life plans and programs for the Greater Falls Region at the Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St., Bellows Falls.

The evening will begin with a brief presentation to include a summary of last year’s survey about people’s needs for end of life information and support. An overview of their Hospice program will be presented, along with what programs are currently popular and effective.

This overview will be followed by a brainstorming session discussing what might be meaningful and useful to the Greater Falls region. Hospice is interested in local input to help to tailor services to the needs of the area. Exciting programs in the planning stages will be shared with the group.

A light dinner will be provided. RSVP to Brattleboro Area Hospice so they can plan accordingly. Call 802-460-1142 or 802-257-0775. For questions or to RSVP contact Andrea Livermore at extension 109 or by e-mail at andrea.livermore@brattleborohospice.org. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Visit www.brattleborohospice.org for more information.

— Compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson