Whiting Library card signup; St. Luke’s hosts online auction; Lions club firewood raffle; Misty Valley presents poetry seminar; Finnish dancing in Ludlow; storytellers at UU church; and jazz to Raise the Roof

Sept. 16-21: Whiting Library card signup and more

The Whiting Library has announced Library Card Sign-Up Week through Saturday, Sept. 21. New patrons will receive a new library card and a goodie bag that includes a Get Out of Jail Free card good for one late fee, with some exceptions.

Through the end of 2013, all patrons of the library who present their Whiting Library card at Misty Valley Books on any Monday will receive a 10 percent discount on regularly priced books and merchandise. Stop by Misty Valley Books for more information.

Finally, the Whiting Library will celebrate National Banned Books Week Sept. 22-28. Visit the library to learn more about banned and challenged books, the Second Amendment, and to take out some banned books.

This upholstered rocker is for sale on Craigslist for St. Luke’s Sale on the Screen.

Sept. 21: St. Luke’s Church ‘Sale on the Screen’

St. Luke’s red doors will be open during this year’s Fall Festival on the Green Saturday, Sept. 21 but if you are hoping to shop its annual September Tag Sale, you’ll need to be online.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 313 Main St., has upgraded its annual tag sale by selling better items with higher value in an ongoing online auction. In place of the Fall Tag SaleSt. Luke’s is posting items for sale on Craigslist. Using your search window, enter: “St. Luke’s” to see all items for sale.
On Sept. 21 parishioners will be at the church serving coffee and free popcorn, inviting people to tour their historic sanctuary and Willard Hall.
Also, there will be a visual scavenger hunt at the church for kids from 10 a.m. to noon. The hunt is free and open to the public. Those who successfully complete the hunt will be entered into a drawing for a LEGO kit prize.
For more information and details of some of the items listed on craigslist visit the church website www.stlukesepiscopalvt.org and click on Special Events.

Sept. 21-22: Lions Club hosts firewood raffle

The Chester Lions Club will have a booth at Chester’s Fall Festival, which will take place Saturday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 22. Located across from the Green, the club will be holding a raffle for a cord of firewood. Tickets are $5 each or six for $25. The winning ticket will be drawn at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22.
All funds raised by the Lions Club goes directly into the community. Stop by the booth to learn more about the Lions and find out how to become a member.

Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart in Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window.’

Sept. 21: ‘Rear Window’ at Ludlow auditorium

Friends of Ludlow Auditorium in collaboration with the Friends of Fletcher Memorial Library, will present Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium, 37 Depot St.

Rear Window is a 1954 American suspense film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, written by John Michael Hayes and based on Cornell Woolrich’s 1942 short story “It Had to Be Murder.” Originally released by Paramount Pictures, the film stars James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr. The film is considered by many filmgoers, critics and scholars to be one of Hitchcock’s best.

After breaking his leg photographing a racetrack accident, professional photographer L.B. Jeff Jefferies (James Stewart) is confined in his Greenwich Village apartment, using a wheelchair while he recuperates. His rear window looks out onto a small courtyard and several other apartments. During a summer heat wave, he passes the time by watching his neighbors, who keep their windows open to stay cool.

The movie is free; donations are appreciated. Popcorn will be provided by Berkshire Bank, water by FOLA. For information, call 802-228-2414 or visit FOLA’s web site at www.fola.us.

Sept. 25: Misty Valley Books presents Palma on Hoffman, Poe and Crane

Poet Daniel Hoffman is the latest subject of Michael Palma’s seminars at Misty Valley Books.

Beginning Sept. 25 for four consecutive Wednesdays, Michael Palma will present a seminar on the poetry of Daniel Hoffman, along with the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen Crane at Misty Valley Books, on the Green in Chester.  The evenings begin at 7 p.m., are free of charge and open to the public.

This series celebrates the life and work of American poet and critic Daniel Hoffman, who died in April of this year days before his 90th birthday. His “An Armada of Thirty Whales,” published in 1954, was selected by W. H. Auden for the prestigious Yale Series of Younger Poets. In the 1970s, Hoffman served as consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress, the position now known as Poet Laureate of the United States.

As part of the tribute, there will also be discussions of the poetry of two classic American writers, Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen Crane, who were the subjects of definitive book-length studies by Hoffman. The seminar will conclude with a consideration of the poetry of Daniel Hoffman himself, who continued to produce work almost to the end of his life.
For more information, call Misty Valley Books at (802) 875-3400 or visit www.mvbooks.com.

Sept. 28: BRAM presents Finnish American dancers

The Black River Academy Museum will present the Ludlow-based Revontulet Dancers from the Finnish American Society of Vermont from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28.   They will perform and teach Finnish folk dances at the museum, 14 High St. in Ludlow. Wearing traditional costumes, dancing to authentic Finnish folk music, they will whirl across the dance floor and soon have you spinning on your toes.  All ages are welcome.
While at the museum, spend some time looking at the society’s Finnish Exhibit, which it permanently gave to BRAM last year.  Admission is by donation and refreshments will be served, including traditional Finnish desserts. Further information may be obtained by calling the museum, 802-228-5050 or email, glbrehm@tds.net .

Sept. 29: Storytellers Jennings and Ponder at Universalist Parish

Leanne Ponder and Tim Jennings will be at the First Universalist Parish Sunday, Sept. 29 to present ‘The Vampire Princess.’

The First Universalist Parish of Chester hosts master storytellers Tim Jennings and Leanne Ponder at 2 p.m., Sunday Sept. 29 in a performance of The Vampire Princess. The event will take place in the Old Stone Church, 211 North St. in Chester’s Stone Village.
Jennings and Ponder of Montpelier are considered to be among today’s best interpreters of the traditional oral tale.
The tale of The Vampire Princess was discovered about 200 years ago, circulating in the oral tradition of Gypsies in Bohemia. In a setting of forest, castle and crypt, the characters include a gypsy soldier near the end of his service, a treacherous king, his bloodthirsty daughter, an old beggar woman who knows a thing or two, the palace guard, and a mysterious and hungry beast.
Traditional Celtic music played on a harp and concertina intermingles with the tale as adapted and presented by Jennings and Ponder. The presentation offers drama, comedy, suspense and delight. The program is aimed at adults, teens and older children.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for youth, with a family maximum of $20. They are available at Misty Valley Books, 58 Common St. in Chester; The Gallery at the Vault, 68 Main St., Springfield; and at the door. For more information on the church, visit www.chestervtuu.org.

Oct. 6: Jazz vocalist at Raise the Roof series

Burlington blues and jazz artist Jenni Johnson will perform at Proctorsville’s Gethsemane Episcopal Church on Sunday, Oct. 6 as part of the

Blues and jazz vocalist Jenni Johnson

Raise the Roof concert series.  The well-tuned trio the Jazz Junketeers will provide soulful backup on guitar, bass and percussion for Johnson’s swinging sound. Johnson was born and raised in New York City, but now lives in Burlington.  While she is a regular presence around the Green Mountain State, her dusky rendition of “Moonlight in Vermont” has been heard in Paris, Montreal and Rostov, Russia.  Comfortable singing jazz, blues, swing and funk, Johnson claims that each performance teaches her how to refine the use of her instrument — her vocal chords.
Jenni Johnson & the Jazz Junketeers will perform at 4:30 p.m. in Gethsemane Church on Depot Street in Proctorsville (next to Crows Bakery Cafe).  Suggested donation of $10. at the door will support Raise the Roof in bringing more live music to the little church with  great acoustics.  Learn more about Jenni before the concert  by visiting jennijohnson.net.   Stay tuned about upcoming concerts by Liking us on Facebook at Raise the Roof Concert Series.

— Compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson