Misty Valley celebrates New Voices; volunteer at Family Center; Hymn Sing at St. Luke’s;

 19th Annual New Voices at Misty Valley Books

Author Maryanne O’Hara.

Misty Valley Books’ presents its 19th annual New Voices literary event at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the First Universalist Church, on North Street in Chester’s Stone Village. Following the event, there will be a book signing and reception.

Tickets are $10 and are only available at Misty Valley Books, 58 The Common in Chester, prior to the event. Seating is limited and no tickets will be sold at the door.

This year’s group includes neurosurgeon Dr. Eben Alexander, whose Proof of Heaven tells his story of returning to life from clinical death and the extraordinary things he experienced; Jessica Maria Tuccelli’s novel Glow, named a 2012 Okra Pick by The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance;

Author and neurosurgeon Eben Alexander.

Maryanne O’Hara’s Cascade, a fascinating look at what may have happened to a town swallowed by the Quabbin Reservoir ; Kieran Shields’ The Truth of All Things, a grisly new witch hunt in Maine in the summer of 1892; and The Unruly Passions of Eugénie R. by Carole DeSanti, set in France on the eve of the Franco-Prussian War.

In addition to the readings at the Stone Church, on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 26, the public is invited to cross-country ski or snowshoe with the authors at Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center, (802) 843-2231. Participants will pay a trail fee. There are snowshoes and skis available for rent at Grafton Pond.

Following the readings Saturday afternoon, the public may join the authors at the Fullerton Inn for drinks and/or dinner. The Inn is located on the Green next door to Misty Valley Books. A full-course meal is $28. Dinner reservations are recommended. Call (802) 875-2444 to reserve a table.

For more information stop by the bookstore, call (802) 875-3400, or visit www.mvbooks.com or on Facebook.

Volunteer at the Chester-Andover Family Center

The Chester-Andover Family Center has volunteer opportunities available in its Thrift Shop and Food Shelf and welcomes short- or long-term commitments.

The Chester-Andover Family Center, located at 908 VT Rte. 103 S., works with local agencies and organizations to reach out to area handicapped and elderly residents plus low-income families and victims of disasters. Thrift Shop sales are used to help those in need of financial assistance and to help pay center expenses. In addition to food assistance, the center offers emergency assistance with rent, heating fuel and utility bills.

The Food Shelf is collecting donations of the following items: fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, canned fruit and applesauce. Donations may be dropped off between noon and 1 p.m. Thursdays or during Thrift Shop hours on Wednesdays.

Thrift Shop hours are: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday and Friday; 1–7 p.m. Wednesday; and 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday. Food Shelf hours are 1–6 p.m. Thursday.

Reach the center by calling (802) 875-3236, emailing cafc302@gmail.com, or visiting its website. 

St. Luke’s Church Hymn Sing

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 313 Main St. in Chester, presents a Hymn Sing from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday Jan. 20. Church organist and choir director Martha Stretton will lead singers through hymn selections picked randomly from a collection of submitted titles. This family event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.stlukesepiscopalvt.org.