Upcoming events: Learn Italian; cartoonist at Misty Valley; senior flu clinic; bullying awareness; films by FOLA; BRAM dinner

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.

Oct. 17: Italian classes begin at Misty Valley Books

Misty Valley Books will offer two-levels of Italian language classes beginning this month. The first is an advance class that begins 7–8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, meeting for six consecutive Thursdays. A beginner’s class starts 7–8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, and will also continue for six weeks. The beginner’s course is recommended for people with little or no experience with Italian. The advanced course will teach intermediate Italian grammar. The classes meet at the bookstore, 58 Common St., in Chester. Luci Fortunato, professor emerita of History from Bridgewater State University (MA) will teach both sessions.

Course fee for either class is $100. Contact Misty Valley Books to register. Call 875-3400 or visit www.mvbooks.com.

Oct. 18: All hands on deck for Operation Christmas Child

A workshop to prepare boxes for Operation Christmas Child, an outreach ministry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Main Street in Chester, will be held in Willard Hall from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18. Refreshments will be served, so come for an hour or longer to cut, paste, color and decorate.

Cartoonist Rick Stromoski

Oct. 20: ‘Soup To Nutz’ cartoonist at Misty Valley

Click to enlarge

Rick Stromoski, cartoonist and author of the syndicated comic strip Soup to Nutz , will visit Misty Valley Books at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, to discuss his book A Second Helping. Stromoski has illustrated for Scholastic, Parent’s Magazine, McGraw Hill, and other well-known publishers. His cartoon strip appears nationally.

Stromoski will show how he creates a cartoon and will do some interactive cartooning with the audience. Bring the whole family for a fascinating and funny afternoon.

The event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow Stromoski’s discussion. For more information call (802) 875-3400 or visit www.mvbooks.com.

Oct. 21: Chester Senior Citizens luncheon and flu shot clinic

Chester Senior Citizens Club meets for its monthly luncheon meeting 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21, at the Chester First Baptist Church at 162 Main St. A Chinese Auction is planned. Attendees are asked to bring their treasures for auction in addition to a dish to share, a place setting, and friends.

An annual flu shot clinic will be held prior to the meeting from 9 to 11 a.m.

Oct. 24: Local organizations raise awareness against bullying

This year, more than 13 million American kids will be bullied at school, online, on the bus, at home, through their cell phones, and on the streets of their towns, making it the most common form of violence young people in this country experience.

At 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 the Bellows Falls Police Department, Early Education Services, Greater Falls Connections, Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Vermont, Rockingham Free Public Library and the Vermont Family Network present a free screening of the documentary Bully followed by a discussion at the Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St., Bellows Falls. Refreshments will be provided.

The documentary, Bully, shows how we’ve all been affected by bullying, whether we’ve been victims, perpetrators, or stood as silent witness. This film is rated PG-13 and contains graphic images, language and content that may be upsetting to younger viewers.

This program is presented free of charge. For more information about the program, please contact the Rockingham Free Public Library at 802-463-4270, email bfyouth@sover.net, or online at rockinghamlibrary.org.

 Oct. 26: Ludlow Auditorium installs new movie screen

From left, Ralph Pace and David Almond stand in front of the new giant screen at the Ludlow Auditorium. Photo provided.

Friends of Ludlow Auditorium, FOLA, with the help of North American Theatrix and Ludlow Electric Department, has installed a larger movie screen in the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium, 37 Depot St. The screen, about twice the size of the previous screen, operates electronically and retracts into a container hidden above the proscenium arch of the auditorium’s stage.

The auditorium’s three new projectionists – David Almond, Bill Kneebone and Andy Ohotnicky — debuted the screen during the showing of the musical Les Miserables.

FOLA is presenting a Halloween special for kids showing Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, which co-stars Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolf Man, and the Invisible Man at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct 26. Popcorn supplied by Berkshire Bank.

Other movies scheduled include:

• Nov. 2: Beasts of the Southern Wild; showtime: 7 p.m.

• Nov. 8: Black River Area Community Coalition presents The Hungry Heart; call 802- 228-7239 for showtimes

• Dec. 7: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; showtime: 7 p.m.

Admission is free but donations are encouraged. For more information about the FOLA and its events, visit www.fola.us or call 802-228-7239.

Nov. 7: Black River Academy Museum’s annual dinner meeting

Museum members from left, Jim and Anita Alic show off the museum to their out-of-town guests this summer. Photo provided.

Black River Academy Museum’s annual meeting will be held 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 7 Depot St., Ludlow. Members are asked to bring a potluck dish for the shared dinner.

There will be a short business meeting to vote on trustees to the board, officers of the board and revisions to the by-laws, which are on the web site.

The highlight of the evening will be David Hoeh’s and Brigid Sullivan’s presentation of their trip to China.

All members are encouraged to attend. Those interested in the Black River Academy Museum can learn about the organization by attending the event. As a non-member guest, you do not need to bring a potluck dish. For more information call 802-228-5050, email glbrehm@tds.net or visit the web site, www.bramvt.org.

— Compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson