Rockingham Vermont Community Reading Projects

Family-oriented one book programs

Fall 2007: Counting on Grace- Told by a 12-year-old girl, Counting on Grace evokes life in New England mills in 1910. Grace Forcier and her friend, Arthur, must leave school to work in a dangerous, air-polluted mill in their poor French Canadian community. Their teacher fights back by helping the children write to the National Child Labor Committee. Real-life photographer Lewis Hine arrives to photograph the children surreptitiously, and sets in motion a chain of unanticipated events.  Books will be read at Central Elementary School, Saxtons River Elementary School, Bellows Falls Middle School, Compass School.  Public copies of the book will also be available at the Rockingham Library and Village Square Booksellers.

Nov 14- Rockingham Library Program on the Mills

Fall 2006:  As Long as There Are Mountains by Vermont author Natalie Kinsey-Warnock tells the story of Iris, a thirteen-year-old who loves the life, the atmosphere, everything about her family farm in northern Vermont.  Unlike her brother, Lucien, who can't wait to get out, Iris feels deeply and happily rooted.  Then, tragedy strikes.  With a burned-down barn and a father who may be permanently injured, Iris's world topples.  If Lucien takes over the farm, it will ruin his dreams of college and being a writer.  But if Lucien leaves, Iris's parents will have to sell the property.  Can Iris change their minds before she is forced to give up everything she loves?

(Penguin Puffin $4.99)

Rockingham has received a grant of 75 copies of the book as part of Vermont Reads 2006, which will be distributed at Central Elementary School, Bellows Falls Middle School, Rockingham Free Public Library, and Village Square Booksellers. (Coordinator: Central School Librarian-Kathy Michel- 802-463-4346)

Rockingham's events will include a Salute to Family Farming, as well as reading group discussions in the schools & library, a Forum on Family Farming at the Library, book events focusing on family farming in conjunction with Village Square Booksellers & the Bellows Falls Farmer's Market & an author school visit and appearance at the Rockingham Free Public Library.

VS Books Salute to Family Farming:

Fri Oct 6- 4:30-6:30pm: Crescent Dragonwagon at the Farmer's Market- demo'ing recipes from her books plus book signing

Wed Oct 11, 7pm: Linda Faillace- Mad Sheep- The True Story Behind the USDA's War on a Family Farm

Oct 15 4-6pm: Cheese tasting with Boccelli's on the Canal cafe- Benefit for Boys & Girls Club- featuring "Murray's Cheese Handbook" & a selection of Wine, Cheeses, Olive Oils & artisanal breads.  $25 per person (Vermont cheeses)

Wed Oct 25, 7pm: Sy Montgomery- The Good Good Pig- Boys & Girls Club Benefit- 20% of all sales to Boys & Girls Club

Reading Group discussions at Central School, Bellows Falls Middle School:

November 16, 3-4pm:  Central School Students

November 16, 6:30-7:30pm: Central School Family

Rockingham Free Public Library (November):

November 9, 6pm: Evening book discussion- Family Book Group

November 16, 3:30: Something Cool After School Program

Nov 1, 7pm- Future of Family Farming Forum - Cider & cookies from Friends of the Library

November 4: Open Farm Day 2006—locations and Activities- Family Farming Tour & Program ---Rockingham Library in conjunction with the Bellows Falls Farmer's Market

Five of the Bellows Falls Farmers' Market vendors will be participating in a farm tour on November 4th. Please see below for details about this exciting event!

Rockingham Free Public Library- The Windham County Farm Bureau Learning Barn Exhibit will be on display in the Youth Department. Copies of the Community Reads book, "As Long as there are Mountains" by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, will be available as supplies last. Directions to Rockingham Free Public Library: Located on Main Street in Bellows Falls, Route 5.

Brookfield Farm- Join the Gowdy family at their farm where they raise organic beef & forages. Family activities will be available at the farm. Old Drewsville Road, Walpole, NH Directions to Brookfield Farm: From Bellows Falls, take NH Route 12 South. Follow the detour for NH Route 123. From 123, take a right onto Valley road. Go ½ mile and take a right onto Old Drewsville Road. The farm is a ½ mile on the left. Sign at the end of driveway says Brookfield Farm. If you are traveling North on NH 123, take a Right onto the Old Drewsville Road ¼ mile past the Drewsville Store (just before the Whitcomb Construction Offices) travel ½ mile straight across theValley road, we are ½ mile on the Left. Sign at the end of driveway Brookfield Farm.

Dayspring Farm- Dayspring Farm is livestock farm specializing in registered miniature cattle. They raise Australian Lowline and Irish Dexter cattle as well as honey bees. Join Rod and Marilyn Hewitt on their picturesque hill farm and learn about these unusual cattle and the honey bee operation. 217 Darby Hill, Rockingham, VT Directions to Dayspring Farm: From Bellows Falls, take Route 5 North. Go past Joy Wah and take the next Left onto Darby Hill. Go 1.7 miles. You will see a sign for the farm on the right.

Abenaki Springs Farm- The Bickford family raises organic vegetables, hogs & turkeys. See what a diversified farm looks like and take a moment to feed the hogs. 188 Upper Walple Road, Walpole, NH Directions to Abenaki Springs Farm: From Bellows Falls, take NH route 12 South. Go past the Shaws Shopping Complex and take the first left onto the Upper Walpole Road. The farm is down the road and on the right. Look for a vegetable cart in the front yard.

Ware Farm- Visit this small family farm that raises horses and goats. The Ware family invites you to come and take a look. Clark Street, North Westminster, VT Directions to Ware Farm: From Bellows Falls, take VT Route 121 West (towards Saxtons River). 1.5 miles from the light take a right onto Sabins Road. Take quick right onto Alden Street. Go about 100 yards and take a right onto Clark Street. The house is at the end of the street at the top of the hill.

Basin Farm- This diversified community farm grows spelt and grinds it into flour. They also raise and use draft horses and free range chickens. Forest Road, North Westminster, VT Planned Activities: They will be offering free horse drawn wagon rides around the farm every hour on the half hour (10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30 & 2:30). There will be samples of their Yerba Mate hot tea and spelt cookies made from the spelt on their farm. Directions to Basin Farm: From Bellows Falls, take VT Route 121 West (toward Saxtons River). 4/10ths of a mile after the traffic light, take a left onto Forest Road. Slowly, follow the narrow, winding dirt road. Take the first left onto Basin Farm Road (you will see a sign for the farm). Head towards the river and take a left to head towards the house.

Nov 28th- School visits with Natalie Kinsey-Warnock & author event at the Rockingham Library in conjunction with Village Square Booksellers

Seedfolks Rockingham 2005

Rockingham received a grant from the Vermont Humanities Council Vermont Reads 2005, for a community read project on the book Seedfolks, by Paul Fleischman.  The grant is being administered by Kathy Michel, Children's Librarian at Central School.  802-463-4346.  75 copies of the books are available for our community. Check out a copy of the book at Rockingham Youth Library (Samantha Maskell) or Village Square Booksellers ahead of time.

June 6-10:   

Community Plantings during the afternoon.  Contact Mary Lou Massuco for details on the planting project, 869-3238. 

July 7  3:30 pm

Rockingham Library Youth Library 55 Westminster Street Bellows Falls, Vermont 802-463-4270  

Seedfolks Read aloud for kids  8 and Up! Bag Lunch Read Aloud. Enjoy a light bag lunch (donated by local farmers) while listening to a reading of this year's Community Read, "Seedfolks" by Paul Fleischman. 

July 12

Rockingham Library Youth Library 55 Westminster Street Bellows Falls, Vermont 802-463-4270 .  

Seedfolks Book discussion & activities

Date TBD

Rockingham Library 55 Westminster Street Bellows Falls, Vermont 802-463-4270. 

Adult Literacy Support Group.  Seedfolks Reading & book discussion.

July  18-   Masonic Temple   7pm

"The Rockingham Children's Library and The Front Porch Theater Company of Bellows Falls will be co-sponsoring a staged reading of "Seedfolks" on July 18 at 7:00pm.  Call for details: Samantha Maskell @ 802 463-4270 or Jeanie Levesque @ 802 463-9791. Thirteen very different voices- old, young, Asian, Hispanic, tough, haunted, hopeful- tell one amazing story about a garden that transforms a neighborhood. Free admission.

Rockingham Library Youth Library 55 Westminster Street Bellows Falls, Vermont 802-463-4270 

Staged reading of Seedfolks in conjunction with the Our Town Front Porch Theater Vompany & Wool Radio.  

July 23, 2-4 pm

Village Square Booksellers, 32 The Square Bellows Falls, Vermont 802-463-9404 

Seedfolks book discussion in conjunction with Vermont Reads 2005 Seedfolks Rockingham. Check out a copy of the book at Rockingham Youth Library or Village Square Booksellers ahead of time. Co-sponsored by VS Books & Bellows Falls Literary Guild

July 26, 6-8 pm

Parks Place, Barbara Ternes, 44 School Street Bellows Falls, VT 802-463-9927

Seedfolks Garden Party in conjunction with Vermont Reads 2005 Seedfolks Rockingham. Co-sponsored by Parks Place & Rockingham Youth Library.

August 5   5-7pm: 

Waypoint Center- Depot Street Bellows Falls, Vermont. Mary Lou Massuco. 869-3238.  

Seedfolks Art Activities in conjunction with Vermont Reads 2

Webpage created by Village Square Booksellers 32 The Square, Bellows Falls, Vermont   802-463-9404    vsbooks@sover.net  

Pat Paltiel Fowler
Last Edited Sunday, November 11, 2007 11:34 AM