Community events: May 3 through May 8, 2016

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. Notices must be received by noon on Fridays to be eligible for publication the following week.

May 3: Parenting of Teens program, dinner at Whiting

The Collaborative and Windham County Partnership for Success will offer the new Active Parenting of Teens program for parents/caregivers of children ages 11–18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on five consecutive Wednesdays, May 3, 10, 19,  24 and 31. The program will be held at the Whiting Library at 117 Main St. in Chester. A dinner will be provided at 5 p.m.

This program combines video with discussion in an effort to help parents learn how to raise children who are cooperative, responsible and able to resist peer pressure. It also guides parents in dealing with sensitive issues such as drugs, sexuality and violence.

Pre-registration is required. Childcare will be provided with advanced notice. For more information about this program and/or to register, visit WindhamParentingEd.org, or call the Collaborative at 802-824-4200.

May 3 & 10: Film, discussion on Muhammad

As part of its focus on interfaith encounter and understanding, Immanuel Retreat Center will present “Muhammad: Legacy of the Prophet,” a documentary film previewed over two nights, Tuesdays, May 3 and 10, beginning at 7 p.m. in Currier Hall, 12 Church St., Bellows Falls.

The film is about the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad based on historical records and on the stories of living American Muslims who call Muhammad the Messenger of God. Discussion will follow each night led by the Rev. Bruce MacDuffie, an area Episcopal priest.

Register in advance by calling 802-460-0110 or visiting www.immanuelretreat.org.

May 5: Roots on the River’s Massucco
speaks at Chester Rotary

Chester Rotary Club hosts Ray Massucco, sponsor and organizer of the annual Roots on the River Festival in Rockingham. He will be the speaker at First Thursday Rotary on Thursday, May 5 at the Fullerton Inn, on the Green, in Chester. Doors open at 5 p.m. with light hors d’oeuvres and beverages. The program begins at 5:30 p.m.

In its 17th year, Roots on the River Festival is a three-day music event taking place on Friday, June 3 through Sunday June 6 at the Rodeway Inn at 593 Rockingham Road in Rockingham along with other venues in the area. More information about the festival can be found at www.rootsontheriver.com.

First Thursday Rotary is the monthly evening meeting of Chester Rotary Club at which programs of interest to the community are presented. The public is welcome. For further information, call Bill Dakin at 802-875-4000.

May 6: Chester Youth Group visits Grounded4Life

At 7 p.m. on Friday, May 6, the Youth Group of Chester will be featured a free event at Grounded4Life a coffeehouse in the lower level of the Chester Baptist Church, at 162 Main St., Chester. The evening will include a skit, a music video created by the youth, a discussion about SERVE (a short-term mission for youth), singing, instrumentals and interviews.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with food, coffee, fellowship and conversation. Check out the Grounded4Life Facebook page or contact John Nunnikhoven at john4ns@fastmail.fm.

May 6 & 7: Apple Blossom queens,
gowns on display

Portraits of past Apple Blossom queens along with a collection of gowns worn in past Apple Blossom Cotillions are on display on the third floor of Springfield Health Center in the 100 River St. building.

The gowns are from the collections of the Springfield Art & Historical Society and Springfield Hospital. Portraits include formal portraits of Apple Blossom queens since 1977 plus several private portraits donated by queens from 1957 to 1976. The portrait of this year’s queen, Alexis Roldan, is on display in the lobby of Springfield Hospital and will also be on view at the cotillion. Also on display are photographs of the contestants and their escorts for this year’s event.

The Cotillion Opening Night performance is on Friday, May 6 and the 60th Apple Blossom Queen crowning is on Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Riverside Gymnasium at 13 Fairground Road in Springfield. This year’s Cotillion features songs from all of its decades and will include a special recognition of the very first Apple Blossom queen, Joan Ryan Bishop, and members of the 1957 court.

Tickets for the Friday, May 6 performance cost $10 in advance; $12 at the door. Tickets for the Saturday, May 7 performance cost $15 in advance; $18 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at Tina’s Hallmark Store, 2 Chester Road, and at Boccaccio’s salon, 113 Clinton St. in Springfield.

For information, call Larry Kraft, 802-885-7644 or lkraft@springfieldmed.org.

May 7: Rock Library plant sale in Bellows Falls

On Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m.– 2 p.m., stop by 65 Westminster St. in Bellows Falls for Friends of the Rockingham Library’s annual plant sale. Perennials, annuals, fruit and vegetable starts, landscaping plants, along with herb plants, ground covers, trees, ornamental grasses and houseplants will be available. Windham County master gardeners will be on hand to answer any questions. Flat Iron Exchange will provide coffee and other refreshments will be available for purchase.

There will be free craft activities for children. Buy a chance to win one of three garden-themed raffle prizes, including a Robert McBride hand-painted planter and a Debbi Wetzel hand-painted child’s rocking chair.

For more information, call the library at 802-463-4270, visit rockinghamlibrary.org or stop by.

May 7: Just breathe at retreat’s workshop

Breath of the Heart: An Introduction to Somatic Breath Therapy is led by Kaiilama Morris, and presented by Immanuel Retreat Center on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Currier Hall, 12 Church St. in Bellows Falls.

Somatic Breath Therapy is a conscious intentional tool that assists the body to return to an open healthy breath. Through gentle “coaching” the body and mind learn to relax into a connected full belly breath allowing the healing of the breath system.

Attendees are asked to bring a small pillow, blanket and water bottle and wear loose, comfortable clothing.

Tuition is $65. Register in advance. For more information or to register call Immanuel Retreat Center at 802-460-0110 or visit www.immanuelretreat.org.

May 7: Tea with Willow Bascom at 103 Artisans Marketplace

On Saturday, May 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. enjoy afternoon tea with Willow Bascom at 103 Artisans Marketplace at 7 Pineview Drive in Chester.

Bascom is an author, artist and master teacher for the New England Quilt Museum. She will talk about how indigenous world art and textiles have inspired her own artistic journey.

She will be signing her new book, The Paisley Pig, and there will be a trunk show of her world textile collection. Her art will be for sale.

Visit the Green Leaf Café in the marketplace for Mother’s Day, Sunday May 8. Have lunch in the café and shop with 20 percent off for moms. Mention ‘Mom’s the word’ for the discount.

For more information call 802-875-7400 or visit its website.

May 8: VT Shakedown performs in Chester

The Pizza Stone at 291 Pleasant St. in Chester presents the VT Shakedown band from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 8. Listen and groove to world music and funk, eat pizza and dance with the kids. Admission is free.

For more information, visit the event page on facebook, the restaurant’s page or the band page.

May 8-14: Moyse Chorale holds auditions for Bach concert

The Blanche Moyse Chorale, a program of the Brattleboro Music Center, is scheduling auditions for new members.

The chorale is preparing a production of J.S. Bach’s Short Mass in F with two motets and orchestral works on Columbus Day weekend. Auditions for the performance will be scheduled during the week of May 8, with rehearsals to follow.

Those planning to audition should be experienced in choral singing, capable of learning music independently, and not be intimidated by foreign languages.

Weekly rehearsals are held on Sunday evenings at the Putney School at 418 Houghton Brook Road in Putney.

For further information, interested singers should contact Chorale representative Calvin Farwell at 802-257-0496 or email cfarwell@gmail.com by Saturday, May 7.

— Susan Lampe-Wilson