Upcoming Events: Craft and story Saturdays at Whiting; River Artisans crafts; BRAM celebration; Rock Library party

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.

Nov. 30: Grandma Jeanne’s Craft and Story Hour Saturdays at Whiting

Grandma Jeanne returns to the Whiting for Saturday stories and crafts.

Whiting Library, 117 Main St. in Chester, is offering a new program for children and their caregivers at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Grandma Jeanne’s Craft and Story Hour features puppets and games, songs, crafts and playtime for children of all ages.

Jeanne Waldren, aka Grandma Jeanne, ran the library’s summer program with such flair she was asked to start an on-going Saturday program. Waldren has been teaching kids from pre-school through third grade since 1986, creating imaginative ways for them to learn and explore their own creativity.

Refreshments are served for kids and their adult friends. Caregivers are encouraged to enjoy a cup of coffee and a little adult conversation time, too. Please contact the library for more details at 875-2277.

Dec. 4: River Artisans Coop Open House and holiday crafts

Create snowman ornaments Dec. 5.

The River Artisans Cooperative presents its December classes and a holiday event. On Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 5–7 p.m., the River Artisan Cooperative (formerly the Jelly Bean Tree Crafts Cooperative) invites the public to its Holiday Open House held at the 26B Main St., Saxtons River shop. Join with members in celebrating the beginning of the holiday season. Attendees will be eligible for member-donated door prizes that will be drawn throughout the event. The open house is free and light refreshments will be served.

The store will be open during the event for anyone interested in purchasing something special for themselves or others.

The RAC’s “Make It a Handmade Holiday” series finishes with three December workshops. Taught by member artisans, classes have a fee of $20 and some workshops have a small materials fee. The class size is limited to eight students, so students must pre-register.

• The first workshop, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 is creating a hand-painted snowman ornament. Coop member Debbi Wetzel will teach this painting class and decorated project. Materials fee: $5

• The next is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, creating an elfish ornament. Fashion an elf shoe ornament during this class. Bring in snippets your own of fabric, lace and ribbon or pre-order a kit for $5.

• Finishing off the series from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 will be a gift tag workshop. Once finished with holiday crafting and shopping, all that’s left is to tag everything. Stamp, glitter, glue and design some unique tags for your gifts. Materials fee: $5.

The River Artisans is a cooperative organization dedicated to promoting local artists and craftsmen and the store gives members a place to market their goods. The group always welcomes new artists and application forms are available in the shop.

To register or for more information on the River Artisans, classes or up-coming events, call 802-869-2099, e-mail shop@riverartisans.com, or visit the shop or its website www.riverartisans.com. Become The River Artisans’ friend at www.facebook.com/RiverArtisans for current news and up-coming events.

Molly Ferris, seated, along with, standing from left,  Tom Field, Balley Matteson, Aprille Blanchard, Anna Kendall and Scott Stearns present ‘Foiled By An Innocent Maid’ at BRAM’s ninth annual Christmas celebration.

Dec. 6: BRAM celebrates Christmas

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7 at 6:30 p.m., the Black River Academy Museum will hold its ninth annual Christmas Celebration in the museum at 14 High St., Ludlow, Vt.

During the event ,the Springfield Players will perform “Foiled By An Innocent Maid,” a one-act melodrama directed by Stephanie Rowe. This typical vaudeville skit is the story of an innocent maid, a stalwart young man and a mustache-twirling villain who tries to steal the family fortune.

The singing group Voices About Town will serenade guest with holiday songs before and after the play.

Refreshments will be served. Admission is by donation. For more information call 802-228-5050, email glbrehm@tds.net or visit the museum’s web site www.bramvt.org.

Dec. 7: Friends of the Rock Library party and raffle

The Friends of the Rockingham Library invite the community to celebrate the 2013 holiday season at the newly renovated Rockingham Free Public Library at 65 Westminster St. from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. There will be refreshments, raffle drawings, music and holiday cheer. The party is free and open to the public.

This year’s holiday raffle offers donations from local businesses and community members: 2014 Roots on the River Festival passes; a Kobo Arc e-reader, gift certificates and more. Anyone can enter the raffle by purchasing tickets at the library for $1 each or 6 for $5.

For more information, call the library at 802-463-4270 or go online to rockinghamlibrary.org.

— Compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson