Upcoming events: Lunch panel on women’s history month; adult gaming group forms at Rock Library; ‘Orwell in America’ at Northern Stage; noted music documentary screened; music at Christian coffeehouse; Clift hosts writing workshop; and Senior Citizens luncheon next Monday

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.

Is women’s history still relevant? to be discussed in Montpelier during Women’s History Month.

March 11: Lunch Panel: Do We Still Need Women’s History?

Celebrate Women’s History Month at lunch with a panel of historians and scholars addressing questions facing women’s history in the 21st century, from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 at Vermont History Museum, Pavilion Building, 109 State St., in Montpelier.

Moderated by Cary Brown, executive director of the Vermont Commission on Women, panelists include: Dr. Felicia Kornbluh, director of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at the University of Vermont; Dr. Marilyn Blackwell, independent historian; and Holly Allen, assistant professor of American Studies at Middlebury College. The program is free and open to the public, thanks to sponsorship from Clute Wealth Management, the Vermont Commission on Women and co-sponsorship by Cabot Creamery Cooperative and Key Bank. For more information call 802-828-2180.

March 11: New adult gaming group at Rock Library

The Rockingham Free Public Library is starting up a new social gaming group for adults, the Rockingham Library for Role-Playing Game League, which will meet on Wednesdays, 5:30 to .–9 p.m. from March 11 to April 22 in the library at 65 Westminster St., Bellows Falls. This free gaming program is open to adult gamers of all levels—whether you haven’t played for years, are currently gaming or just want to try something new.

RPG is best described as interactive storytelling games. Each player takes on a character and, under the guidance of a Game Master who narrates the story, tells their part of the story through the game’s process of decision-making. One of the most famous games is Dungeons & Dragons, which was first published in 1974.

Currently, the RPG League is seeking players to join an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Ravenloft game and a Pathfinder game. However, more games will be added as numbers and interest allow. In addition to the RPG League, the Teen RPG Night, continues to meet Friday evenings from 5:30–9 p.m.

For more information and to sign up, call the library at 802-463-4270, email sam@rockinghamlibrary.org or go online to rockinghamlibrary.org.

Rehearsal for Orwell in America performances run March 11–29.

March 11: Northern Stage premieres  ‘Orwell in America’

Written by playwright Joe Sutton, Orwell in America will be presented March 11 through March 29 at the Briggs Opera House, 4 S. Main St. in White River Junction.
In the first years after World War II, George Orwell, author of Animal Farm, is chaperoned on an American book tour by a fetching young woman, provided by the publisher, whose job is to dissuade Orwell from telling America why he is a proud socialist.

This drama was first presented in a staged reading at Northern Stage’s inaugural New Works Now festival last season.

Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays; sponsored by A.B. Guile Inc., Lake Sunapee Bank, and Summit Wealth Group. A companion event, Athena Lecture “The Playwright’s Journey: A Conversation with Joe Sutton” will be held at the Briggs Opera House from 3:30–4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15.  This conversation is free and open to the public.

Discounted tickets are available for March 11 through 13 preview performances. New this season is a $20 Tuesday on March 17 (all tickets $20), a $15 Anytime Student ticket, available for any performance, and lower top ticket prices. A complimentary post-show reception with the cast follows the opening night performance on Saturday, March 14. For tickets and information, call 802-296-7000 or visit www.northernstage.org.

Using music to combat memory loss at Rock Library

March 12: Music documentary screened at Rock Library

The 2014 Sundance Film Festival documentary audience award winner,  Alive Inside, will be screened at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 the Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St. in Bellows Falls.

This rare opportunity was made possible by the dedication of Bellows Falls Union High School senior Bridgette Hartman and Tammy Mellish, health careers facilitator at Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center who sponsored the screening.

Alive Inside is a cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to awaken souls and uncover the deepest part of humanity. Follow social worker Dan Cohen as he fights a broken healthcare system to demonstrate music’s ability to combat memory loss and a deep sense of self to those suffering from it. To view a short clip from the documentary, go to: http://www.aliveinside.us/#trailer.

After the film, learn more about how a local Music & Memory project could enhance the lives of your family and friends who are recovering from a stroke or a traumatic brain injury, suffering from depression, or living with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

Coordinators are asking for donations of iTunes cards or old/new iPod(s) to the Music & Memory Project and will ensure that these items will be forwarded to the www.musicandmemory.org where they will be cleaned, outfitted with headphones and distributed to nursing homes in our region.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information about this event, call 802-463-4270, email anne@rockinghamlibrary.org or stop by the library.

Grounded to perform at Grounded for Life

March 13: Grounded4Life’s house band headlines

Grounded4Life’s house band, Grounded, will present an evening of song, music and praise focused around a theme of hope at 7 p.m. Friday, March 13. Grounded4LIFE coffee house is located  down under at the First Baptist Church at 162 Main St., Chester. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Events are always free.

The group features: Andy Brothers, guitar and lead vocal; Beth Brothers, keyboard and vocals; Mark Pomeroy, electric guitar; Chris Thayer, bass guitar and Ron Griffen on the drums. Enjoy the usual selection of snacks and lattes (decaf or full strength) for an evening of food, music and conversation. The coffee bar and refreshments will be ready when you arrive.

For more information heck out the Grounded4Life Facebook page at their facebook page or contact John Nunnikhoven at john4ns@fastmail.fm.

Elayne Clift to offer workshop on writing your life story

March 14: Writing workshop at Rock Library

On Saturday March 14 from 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., local author Elayne Clift will offer a writers’ workshop “Life Stories: Memories of Love, Action and Thought” at the Rockingham Free Public Library at 65 Westminster St. in Bellows Falls.

Through interesting prompts and facilitated exercises, Clift will guide participants as they write and share stories. Come prepared to compose, share, laugh, and discover your inner writer. Bring a brown bag lunch and if you have one, your laptop.

This program is free and open to the public. Space is limited, early registration is recommended. For more information and to register, contact the library at 802-463-4270, email anne@rockinghamlibrary.org, go to www.rockinghamlibrary.org, or stop by the library.

March 16: Chester Seniors Citizens club luncheon meeting

Join the Chester Senior Citizens Club at their monthly luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 16, at the Chester First Baptist Church at 162 Main St. for good food and fellowship. Attendees will play cards and board games. Bring a place setting and invite a friend. If you need a ride, call 802-875-6242.

–Compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson