Upcoming events: Daniloff discusses espionage; discover flight at Rock Library; Kleeman opens Chester Music Series; comedy takes center stage at Weston; McLaughlin performs at St. Luke’s; Bonnie celebrates 46th anniversary; ‘Northern Borders’ screened at playhouse; Sensible Shoes at Proctorsville; and writing workshops announced

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.

July 15: Daniloff explores espionage, U.S.-Russian relations

Nick Daniloff, newly retired Northeastern University professor and resident of Andover, will return to Misty Valley Books, on the Green in Chester, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 15 and July 22 for the third and fourth segments of his four-part series on the New Cold War.

On July 15, he will talk this time about espionage, then and now.

In the last of a four-part series, he will give his thoughts on the future of U.S.–Russian relations.  Are there indications that there might be a new Cold War?

Daniloff has been professor of journalism at Northeastern for the last 25 years. Prior to that, he spent his journalism career covering the Cold War from Washington and Moscow.

July 16: Discover physics of flight at Rock Library

Discover the Physics of Flight with the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16 at the Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St., in Bellows Falls.

The Physics of Flight is an all-ages program that will present an explanation with hands-on exploration of the science behind bird, insect and human flight. Topics will include the laws of aerodynamics and why human-sized wings won’t work. The museum is bringing live birds to this program to help demonstrate flight.

This program is presented as part of the “Fizz! Boom! Read!” summer reading program. For more information call the library at 802-463-4270, email sam@rockinghamlibrary.org, or go online to rockinghamlibrary.org.

July 17: Chris Kleeman Band opens
Chester concert series

The Chris Kleeman Band will open the five-week Chester Summer Concert Series at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17. Kleeman and his band will be performing some of Chris’ own tunes, old traditional and Chicago style blues on the lawn of the Academy Building across from the Green. This free concert, sponsored in part by The Chester Telegraph, runs to 8 p.m.

Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and be prepared to sit back and listen to great music on a summer night right in downtown Chester.  In case of inclement weather, concerts will move to the Stone Hearth Inn on Route 11 West. All concerts are free. For more information contact 802-875-3400.

Kleeman is an internationally acclaimed blues artist and has played with such icons as BB King, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal and many others. Along with virtuoso 12-string guitar instrumentals, on drums you’ll find the pride of Springfield, Bobby G., and rounding out this powerful trio is Brian Hobbs from Pittsford on bass and harmonica.

David Bonanno, Amelia White, Susan Haefner, and Brandon Drea. Photo by Tim Fort.

July 17: Comedy takes center stage at Weston Playhouse

The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company brings the 2013 Tony Award Winner for Best Play, Christopher Durang’s “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” to area audiences July 17–26 at the Weston Playhouse, on the Village Green at 12 Park St. in Weston.

Producing Artistic Director Steve Stettler directs David Bonanno, Amelia White and Susan Haefner as three middle-aged siblings who grapple with their lives and relationships over a weekend in the country. Deonna Bouye, Brandon Drea and Haley Bond round out the cast as a soothsaying cleaning woman, a sexy boy toy and a starstuck ingénue. The play skewers everything from the Internet to real estate to Hollywood spin-offs in this look at modern society.

Show times are Tuesdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Pre-show dinner is available at the theater’s own restaurant, the Café at the Falls. Tickets to the show start at $25 and can be purchased by calling 802-824-5288 or online at westonplayhouse.org. Tickets for the post-show cabaret are $12.

July 18: ‘802 Experience’ features
Jacob McLaughlin at St. Luke’s

Chester resident and St. Luke’s church musician Jacob McLaughlin will perform an evening of his original music at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 18 at St. Luke’s Church, 313 Main St., in Chester.

Experience striking piano, colorful singing, rhythmic guitar and ukulele through a mixture of jazz, rock, pop, folk and other genres.

 Suggested donation is $10. Refreshments will be served in Willard Hall. Attendees will be able to purchase a copy of “802 Experience” at the performance.

July 19: Time line doll event marks
Bonnie Watters’ anniversary

Celebrate Bonnie’s Bundles Dolls in the 46th year of Bonnie Watters’ doll making career with a special event. A historic timeline will be created adjacent to the doll mural on the Watters’ garage in the Stone Village in Chester on Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Help Bonnie mark the big moments in the life of her many creations. There are baskets of noteworthy moments to share and add to the timeline. A fun activity recommended for the whole family with ongoing refreshments and activities. If you missed the mural wheat-pasting event in June, you can paste your favorite doll too.

July 21: ‘Northern Borders’ to be screened at playhouse

Director Jay Craven will present his most recent Vermont film, “Northern Borders,” at 7:30 p.m., Monday, July 21 at the Weston Playhouse at 703 Main St., Weston, and again on Thursday, Aug. 14 at the Paramount Theater, 30 Center St., in Rutland. The screening will include an introduction and post-film discussion led by director Craven. Tickets are $12 adults; $10 seniors; $5 students.

Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick and Bruce Dern as Austin and his grandpa in “Northern Borders”

“Northern Borders” stars Bruce Dern and Geneviève Bujold. Shot in Vermont and New Hampshire, the story is based on the award-winning Howard Frank Mosher novel. It tells the story of 10- year-old Austen Kittredge, played by Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, who is sent to live on his grandparents’ Kingdom County Vermont farm, where he has wild adventures and uncovers long-festering family secrets. A humorous and sometimes startling coming-of-age story, “Northern Borders” evokes Vermont’s wildness, its sublime beauty, a haunted past and an aura of enchantment. The movie was produced by Jay Craven’s non-profit Kingdom County Productions and Marlboro College, where Craven teaches film.

Tickets will be available at the door. More information can be found at westonplayhouse.org. For information about Kingdom County Productions visit KingdomCounty.org. Information about the Movies from Marlboro program is available by contacting director Jay Craven at jcraven@marlboro.edu.

July 23:  Sensible Shoes performs in Proctorsville

Sensible Shoes

The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association invites everyone to spend an evening listening to the sounds of Sensible Shoes on the Proctorsville Green at 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 23 sponsored by the Golden Stage Inn and Old Cavendish Products.

Songwriter, keyboard player and singer Barbara Blaisdell brings her New Orleans-inspired rhythm piano to the stage. Lead guitarist and singer Tim Utt, with Pooh Sprague on bass, guitar and vocals, and drummer and singer Steve Drebber fill out the band.

CCCA encourages all area residents and visitors to join their friends and neighbors in front of the gazebo on the green. Bring a blanket or a comfortable chair, have a picnic, or relax on the grass.

The concerts are free and open to all. For information call Robin at 802-226-7736.

Oct. 3: Brattleboro Literary Festival fall workshops announced

The Brattleboro Literary Festival, in collaboration with Marlboro College, announces three new writing workshops to kick-off the 2014 festival. The workshops feature choices in both fiction and nonfiction, led by authors Leslie Jamison, Julia Fierro and Pamela Painter.

The Brattleboro Literary Festival workshops will take place on Friday, Oct. 3, from 1 to 4:45 p.m., at the Marlboro College Graduate Center at 28 Vernon St. in downtown Brattleboro. The fee for each workshop is $75. Space will be limited to 12 students in each class. Attendees will submit relevant original works for discussion and revision. Details and registration may be found at www.brattleboroliteraryfestival.org/writing-workshops

. For more information, contact the Marlboro College marketing & communication office at 802.251.7644 or mbarone@marlboro.edu.

— Compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson