Issuu

Real Estate

Calendar

Health

Entertainment

Reviews

Feature Interviews

ARTS+LEISURE

November 17, 2016

The Addison Independent

Sas Carey's full-length film “Migration” comes to the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury this Friday.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO/TRENT CAMPBELL

Filmmaker on the move with ‘Migration’

as Carey’s favorite part of filming “Migration” — her third feature-length film that will have its east coast premiere at Town Hall Theater on Friday — was riding reindeer through the mountains of northern Mongolia.

This time, Carey brought her friend and fellow filmmaker Fred Thodal (also a Middlebury resident) to capture a specific part of the Dukha’s nomadic life: migration. The Dukha center their lives around reindeer, following the tradition of their ancestors. They ride the reindeer, pack them with goods and drink their milk, which they consider sacred. Occasionally, the reindeer are honored and sacrificed for meat. But in the summer, the weather becomes too warm, and the reindeer get restless and begin to move. When that happens, the Dukha follow.

Carey, a Middlebury resident who has dabbled in energy healing, nursing, teaching and more recently, filmmaking, has been traveling to Mongolia since 1994. She met the Dukha reindeer herders while working for an organization called Nomidicare, a non-profit “IT’S A WAY OF LIFE that aims to help perpetuate nomadic cultures in Mongolia. THAT’S DISAPPEARING.”

BY EMMA COTTON

Since that first visit, Carey has been returning consistently.

— Sas Carey

“I watched a lot of changes over those years,” she said. “I made the first movie, ‘Gobi Women’s Song,’ in 2005, and I shot it from 2001 to 2004. When I went back in 2013, none of them were herders anymore. That inspired me to make a movie about people who are still nomadic on the planet, because there really aren’t that many. It’s a way of life that’s disappearing — maybe. I hope not, but it’s endangered.”

The migration is only 14 miles long, but with considerable elevation gain. The Dukha tribe — and last June, Carey and Thodal — ride on the backs of reindeer for the duration of the 8,000foot ascent into the mountains.

“It was very cold,” Carey said. “When we got to the summer camp, I was so tired that the wranglers put up my tent for me and I just got in it. The wind was amazing. It was 11 degrees at night when we were sleeping in the tent.” Still, she said, “It was so much fun.” Over the years, Carey has fostered personal relationships with members of the Dukha family. The tribe was wary of photography, SEE MIGRATION ON PAGE 3

PAGE 2 — Addison Independent

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016

Hannah Sessions ON EXHIBIT AT EDGEWATER GALLERY AT THE MIDDLEBURY FALLS

annah Sessions’ Blue Ledge Farm cheese is a staple of the local, artisanal food of Addison County. As an artist, she is a keystone of Edgewater Gallery. Since Edgewater opened in 2009 her portrayals of goats, chickens, cows and pigs, as well as the fresh, illumined landscapes of the fields they roam, have made her a favorite for visitors, and staff as well.

BY ISABEL LOWER

As part of Edgewater’s “7 Artists for Our 7th Birthday” show (on view now at Edgewater Gallery at the Falls), Sessions has submitted six new works, ranging from 8- by 10-inches to 12- by 16-inches, and priced from $400 to $720. “For this small works show,” Sessions said, “I went back to chickens primarily. Chickens alone, and in groups, always with that rich late-afternoon light casting shadows.” These delightful new works are not all that she has been up to recently, and in a recent email interview Sessions reflected on the interconnectedness of her different roles in life, what first drew her to painting, and what brings her back to the canvas every time. What do you still find that is new in painting? How do you find your style has changed? The challenge for me as a painter is this: how to convey an idea with the least number of paint strokes so that the viewer fills in the rest. This leads to a conversation between artist and viewer, and allows the piece to change and have

a life of its own. As an artist, I am not particularly interested recording something exactly as I see it- although I totally respect and admire the craftsmanship and skill of those who do paint this way. I like surprises, spontaneity, in my work. I go into a painting with an idea of what I would like to say, but often times things happen in the process that I go with. There are certain rules to painting that work, but within that framework I try to be loose, confident and have fun. With time comes confidence, so I see my technique getting looser and me becoming more confident with each brushstroke as more time goes by.

“I TRY TO BE LOOSE, CONFIDENT AND HAVE FUN.” — Hannah Sessions

HANNAH SESSIONS

and it’s no coincidence that those have been the colors of our most recent bucks. How do you balance family, farming and cheesemaking, and working in the studio?

In the past you’ve described how farming has influenced your painting. Do you ever find that the opposite is true?

It is fairly relentless and there is very little “down” time, but some of us operate the best this way. David Mallet says in his song “The Artist in Me”:

These two parts of my life are so intrinsically linked it is hard to separate the two. Certainly, my connection with my animals and this landscape comes through in my paintings. I find that my artistic eye also influences my farm decisions. For example, I choose my breed of laying hens based on color more than production, and color is a factor every time I select a new breeding buck on the farm because chances are good that they will produce offspring of their color. White and black goats are my favorite to paint,

“Why am I amazed at the wonder of it all Guess it’s just the artist in me. Why am I my best when I’m right down to a crawl I guess it’s just the artist in me” Certain times of the year I don’t paint at all (February through September) because the needs of the farm are too great and I am unable to create the physical or mental space for it. This can be frustrating, but when I do get in the SEE SESSIONS ON PAGE 10

Addison Independent

MIGRATION

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016 — PAGE 3

“EVERYBODY IN THIS MOVIE IS A FRIEND OF MINE.” — Sas Carey

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

but the connections that Carey created helped her win trust when filming. “I’ve been working with that group, with the reindeer herders, since 2003,” she said. “So I know almost all of them. They let me take pictures, and they answer me, so I really have access to them, unlike somebody who would just decide to go over and make a story about it. Everybody in this movie is a friend of mine.” So far, Carey and Thodal have shown the film in San Francisco at the Earth Day Film Festival, where it won the top honor — the Earth’s Choice Award. It won again at the Parnü Film Festival in July. But perhaps the showing that impacted Carey most was in Mongolia, in the town nearest to the nomads. “When we were showing the movie in Mongolia, right near where the reindeer herders live in the local town, we realized: it showed them as such a proud people. When they’re in town, they’re marginalized. So that was one very interesting thing.” Carey is excited to bring “Migration” to the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury, where her friends and family can see the project she’s spent so much of her life creating, all the way on the other side of the world. A welcome reception kicks the

Dukha reindeer herders and Middlebury's Sas Carey and Fred Thodal make the 8,000-foot ascent into the mountains of northern Mongolia last June. Carey and Thodal were filming for "Migration" — a film showing at Town Hall Theater on Friday.

evening off at 7 p.m., showtime’s at 8 p.m. and Q&A follows. “People just have no clue — how can they even imagine?” she said. “They can’t. So that makes me really happy, to think that I can share that part of my life, and my friends on one side of the world with my friends here.” “I feel very strongly about this movie,” she added.

“I feel like it’s sort of my life work.” Tickets for Friday’s showing cost $20 and can be purchased at Town Hall Theater’s website or box office. Proceeds from the film will support Nomadicare.

HURRY! Order byst Nov. 21

DELICIOUS Healthy Gifts! Starting from just $17.99

Bristol, VT Homeowner Recommends Bristol Electronics We are so pleased with our electric solar panels that we want to tell everyone about our great experience! The wonderful team at Bristol Electronics installed the ground-mount array last fall. We had them put in our solar hot water system several years prior and had established a good working relationship with them. We already knew them to be reliable and quick to fix any problems that arose. We enjoy the idea of being a part of protecting the environment so when it came time to deciding on what type of solar panels to install for electricity, we contacted Bristol Electronics first, while also considering other companies and products as well. There’s a big world out there with a variety of choices and it was hard to know whose product was actually best for our needs. Finally in the end, we decided on choosing Bristol Electronics because of their reliability, best price, the best installment time frame and most efficient system using micro-inverters instead of the conventional less expensive string inverters. The team provided very professional and pleasant service all the way from the planning stages to final clean-up. When we finally made the decision to “break ground”, they were exceptionally fast, professional and easy to work with. From start to finish, we were making electricity in about 2 weeks. Indeed, our yard looks better now than before they started! In the end, we are saving a lot of money on both our solar hot water and solar electric systems. Thank you Bristol Electronics for your excellent service in meeting our hopes and expectations! Sincerely, Ed & Emily Hilbert – Bristol, VT

802 . 453 . 2500 BristolElectronicsVT.com FREE SITE EVALUATIONS

Pre-Order Your

Holiday Citrus Now! Oranges • Grapefruit Tangerines Mixed Citrus Small cases available Pick up the week of December 5th-9th Order forms available in-store or at www.middleburyagway.com

Place Your Order

TODAY!

MIDDLEBURY AGWAY 338 Exchange St., • 388-4937 Mon. - Fri. 8-6, Sat. 8-5, Sun. 9-4 Open 7 Days

YOUR YARD, GARDEN AND PET PLACE™

PAGE 4 â€” Addison Independent

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016

IN TOWN

Local artists shine JACKSON GALLERY HOSTS ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW

he Jackson Gallery will be host 22 regional artists whose work represents a wide variety of media and styles. In addition, there will be stained glass panels by New York state guest artist Michael Hart as well as a special display of handcrafted items from Mongolia presented by documentary filmmaker Sas Carey. Works in the exhibit will include paintings in oil and watercolor ranging from the highly detailed representational works of Mike Mayone and Gayl Braisted to more impressionistic and abstract works like those of Gabrielle McDermit and Carol Calhoun. Joan Curtis will present fanciful colored pencil drawings and Ray Hudson will display his expertly crafted wood block prints.

Paintings by artists Jennifer Cole, Phyllis Demong, Peter Langrock, Mimi Love, Molly Hawley, Barbara Nelson, Sarah Wesson and Yinglei Zhang contribute to the eclectic mix. Fiber artist Deanna Shapiro displays her unique imagery through mixed media, while Deborah Sharpe-Lunstead uses paper pulp as the medium for her painted images. Hope Johnson creates exquisitely crafted quilted pieces on the theme of bees. Hand crafted wood furniture by Richard Steele and jewelry by Meg Madden will round out this exciting exhibit. An opening reception will be held Saturday, Nov. 19 from 5-7 p.m. The exhibit continues through Dec. 31. The Jackson Gallery is located in the lower level of Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. Info: (802) 382-9222 or visit www.townhalltheater.org.

"Out to Pasture" by Mike Mayone.

"Loon" by Barbara Nelson.

Michael Hart lamp.

Addison Independent

EXHIBITS 7 ARTISTS FOR OUR 7TH BIRTHDAY: A SMALL WORKS SHOW. On exhibit Nov. 1-Dec. 31 featuring the works of Sara Katz, Patty Sgrecci, Irma Cerese, Hannah Sessions, Amy Brnger, Michael Egan and CJ Hockett. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls, 1 Mill Street, Middlebury. 802458-0098. ADDISON COUNTY IN PROFILE: SILHOUETTES FROM THE HENRY SHELDON MUSEUM ARCHIVES. On exhibit through December at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, 1 Park St., Middlebury. 3882117 or www.henrysheldonmuseum.org. BLOOM AND DOOM: VISUAL EXPRESSIONS AND REFORM IN VIENNA 1900. On exhibit through Dec. 11 at the Middlebury College Museum of Art, Overbrook Gallery. 72 Porter Field Road, Middlebury. (802) 4435007. INDEPENDENCE MUST BE WON: THE ART OF ELLEN VIERECK. On exhibit for 2016 at Mount Independence State Historic Site. 497 Mount Independence Road, Orwell. 802-948-2000 or  www.historicsites. vermont.gov/MountIndependence. MADONNAS MAKE YOU BRAVE. On exhibit through Nov. 27 featuring work by Anne Cady and Pamela Smith. Northern Daughters Gallery. 221 Main Street, Vergennes. Thursday-Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 877-2173. POST POP: PRINTS OF KEITH HARING. On exhibit through Dec. 11. Following the illustrious career of Keith Haring from 1982, when he made his first silkscreen prints, to his death from AIDS related complications in 1990. Middlebury College Museum of Art, 72 Porter Field Road, Middlebury. (802) 443-5007. ‘PEACE ON EARTH.’ On exhibit Nov. 4-Jan. 7 featuring the good in people, the beauty of this world, and that as human beings, we are all in this together. The exhibit was an open call to artists for that which celebrates and strengthens the ideals of 善eace on Earth’. The resulting compilation of work presents an eclectic view of the theme. Compass Center, 333 Jones Drive, Brandon. (802) 247-4295. PERSONAL NARRATIVE. On exhibit Nov. 2-25, featuring 75 images selected by Susan Burnstine that through symbolism, metaphor and personal stories, are ultimately an exploration of self. Opening reception on Friday, Nov. 11, 5-7 p.m. PhotoPlace Gallery, 3 Park Street, Middlebury. (802) 388-4500. QUAKER MADE: VERMONT FURNITURE, 1820-1835. On exhibit starting Sunday, July 10 at the Rokeby Museum. Route 7, Ferrisburgh. 877-3406. SILKSCREEN PRINTS. On exhibit Nov. 29-Dec. 6, featuring work by Middlebury College students. Students addressed various technical and conceptual challenges, resulting in a wide array of imagery, both observed from life and from their own imagination. The silkscreen process is refined through composition, drawing and computer manipulation. Johnson Memorial Building, Middlebury College. Free. (802) 443-3168. THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON: MY FAVORITE THINGS. On exhibit Nov. 4-Jan. 31 featuring a holiday themed show by the ensemble company of the Brandon Artists Guild. An opening reception will be held 5-7 p.m. on Nov. 4. All are welcome. Brandon Artists Guild, 7 Center Street, Brandon. (802) 247-4956. HAVE AN EXHIBIT YOU WANT PUBLISHED?

let us know

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016 — PAGE 5

T HEATER

OWN HALL

Merchants Row, Middlebury, VT Tickets: 802-382-9222 • www.townhalltheater.org Fri 11/18 8pm $20

MIGRATION A FILM BY SAS CAREY

This experiential film will immerse you in the arduous annual journey of nomadic reindeer herders trekking through Mongolian wilderness from the Taiga forest to the rich pastures of the summer camp in the tundra. 7pm reception; Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Sat 11/19 7pm $17/$10 Students

NT LIVE: FRANKENSTEIN

Academy Award®-winner Danny Boyle directs Benedict Cumberbatch (Creature) and Johnny Lee Miller (Frankenstein) in this thrilling production.

Sat 11/19 5-7pm Opening Reception

NINTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW of Original Works by Local Artists (Pictured right Out to Pasture by Mike Mayone)

Sat 11/26 2pm & 5pm $10/ $5 students

THE INTERNET CAT VIDEO FESTIVAL III

A new compilation of the internet’s best cat videos. Suitable for all ages. Proceeds to benefit Homeward Bound and Town Hall Theater.

Sun 11/27 7pm $45-$60

PETER YARROW

Grammy®-winning singer, songwriter and member of Peter, Paul and Mary brings to the stage more than five decades of performance experience. Peter Yarrow’s gift for song writing and story telling has produced some of the most moving and beloved songs of our culture and times.

Wed & Thu 11/30 & 12/1 7:30pm $18*

WARREN MILLER’S HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE The 67th annual Warren Miller ski film celebrates everything snowsports. *Group ticket price: 10 or more $15

Wed 12/7 11am $10/$5 Students GREAT ART WEDNESDAYS

RENOIR: REVERED AND REVILED

A fresh new biography of this artistic giant. NEWS@ADDISONINDEPENDENT.COM

PAGE 6 — Addison Independent

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016

CALENDAR kids pick

If you’re in the market for moving, grooving, and making music, here is an exciting and free activity that’s baby, toddler and preschooler friendly. Swing by Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center Monday mornings at 10:15 for a music centered inter-generational playgroup for children age birth to 5+. — Eliza Eaton, MiniBury.com

ANIMALS HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT ALPACA FARM IN BRANDON. Saturday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Nov. 27, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Maple View Farm. Visit Maple View Farm and Vermont Fiber Miller & Studio in Brandon. Learn about alpacas and their luxurious fiber, then tour the fiber mill. Info: www. mapleviewfarmalpacas.com.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NOVEMBER 17-27, 2016

ARTS

OPENING RECEPTION IN MIDDLEBURY. Saturday, Nov. 19, 5-7 p.m., Jackson Gallery at Town Hall Theater. Ninth annual holiday show of original works by local artists. The exhibit features twenty-two regional artists whose works represent a wide variety of media and styles. Info: 382-9222 or www.townhalltheater.org.

CRAFTS TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES CRAFT SALE IN MIDDLEBURY. Friday, Nov. 18, 3-6 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Memorial Baptist Church, 97 South Pleasant St. 25th annual Ten Thousand Villages craft sale featuring gifts, home décor art pieces and accessories handcrafted by fairly paid artisans around the world. Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of the Mennonite Central Committee. All proceeds are sent back to the program. Handicap accessible. Cash and check sales only.

FILM FOOD AND FILM SERIES IN MIDDLEBURY. Friday, Nov. 18, 5-9 p.m., Stonecutter Spirits, 1197 Exchange St. Relive

Addison Independent

all your favorite John Hughes memories while enjoying delicious tacos and treats from Taco Truck All Stars. Special Breakfast Club-inspired cocktail menu for the night and a complimentary drink ticket for the first 15 people. “Breakfast Club” screening begins at 7 p.m. “MIGRATION” IN MIDDLEBURY. Friday, Nov. 18, 8-10 p.m., Town Hall Theater. “Migration,” an immersive film about the lives of Mongolia’s reindeer herders, will have its East Coast premiere at Town Hall Theater. The evening begins with a reception at 7 p.m. and ends with a Q&A with director Sas Carey. $20. Info: www.townhalltheater.org or 382-9222. “RIGHT NOW, WRONG THEN” IN MIDDLEBURY. Saturday, Nov. 19, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Dana Auditorium. A film director arrives in town a day early, meets a fledgling artist, and they start to fall for each other. Then, quite unexpectedly, the story begins again, but things appear different. In Korean with English subtitles. Info: www.middlebury.edu/arts or 802-443-3168. INTERNET CAT VIDEO FEST III IN MIDDLEBURY. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Town Hall Theater. A selection of hilarious cat videos with proceeds to benefit Homeward Bound and Town Hall Theater. $10/$5 students.

MUSIC PIANO RECITAL IN MIDDLEBURY. Thursday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Robison Hall. The fall piano concert by Diana Fanning’s students. Info: www. middlebury.edu/arts or 802-443-3168. LADIES’ NIGHT OUT WOMEN’S CHORUS CONCERT IN MIDDLEBURY. Friday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m., Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society. The ladies’ night out women’s chorus 7th annual advent concert with harpist Heidi Soons will feature Gustav Holst’s “4 Hymns from the Rig Veda.” A $10 free will offering is requested. MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE COMMUNITY CHORUS THANKSGIVING CONCERT. Saturday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 20, 3 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Robison Hall. One hundred singers offer songs of celebration, thanksgiving and peace, with uplifting classical choruses by Mozart and Handel, and breathtaking contemporary works composed during the past 10 years, with words that reflect the changing seasons and a longing for peace. Free. BLUEGRASS GOSPEL PROJECT IN VERGENNES. Saturday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., Vergennes Opera House. Beautiful voices and unforgettable melodies will once again fill the Vergennes Opera House to the rafters. Tickets and information: www.vergennesoperahouse.org. PETER YARROW IN MIDDLEBURY. Sunday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m., Town Hall Theater. Grammy award-winning singersongwriter best known as one-third of Peter, Paul and Mary will perform at Town Hall Theater. Tickets $45-60 plus tax go on sale Friday, Aug. 26. Info: 382-9222 or www.townhalltheater.org.

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016 — PAGE 7

SHOP SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IN BRANDON. Saturday, Nov. 26, all day. Small business Saturday is the day to kick start the holiday shopping season. SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IN BRISTOL. Saturday, Nov. 26, all day, downtown Bristol. Small business Saturday is the day to start the holiday shopping season. Stop by the Bristol CORE tent on Main Street to pick up your free #ShopSmall tote bag, balloons for the kids and other goodies!

SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES SISTER-TO-SISTER SUMMIT IN MIDDLEBURY. Saturday, Nov. 19, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Kirk Alumni Center, Middlebury College. Sister-to-Sister Summit with workshops such as improv theater, a capella singing, dancing, yoga and cupcake decorating. All events are free and include breakfast, lunch and snacks. To register or organize transportation contact Karin Hanta 443-5937.

THEATER “GREASE” IN VERGENNES. Thursday, Nov. 17, Friday, Nov. 18,

top pick THEATER NIGHT! VERGENNES, MOUNT ABE AND MIDDLEBURY HIGH SCHOOLS ARE PUTTING ON THEIR FALL MUSICALS THIS WEEKEND. CHECK OUT “GREASE,” “MARY POPPINS-THE MUSICAL” OR “LITTLE MERMAID.” BONUS POINTS IF YOU MAKE IT TO ALL THREE!

SEE CALENDAR ON PAGE 13

SKI & WINTER SPORTS SALE FRIDAY SATURDAY 11/19 9 A.M. - 4 P.M. 11/18 4:30 - 8 P.M.

McCULLOUGH CREST ROOM MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SKIS, BOOTS, BINDINGS, POLES, SNOWBOARDS, TELEMARK, AND CROSS COUNTRY SKI GEAR, CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES, SKATES, BIKES, SNOWSHOES AND MUCH MORE! BENEFITS THE MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SNOW BOWL SKI PATROL CONTACT: SEAN GRZYB, SGRZYB@MIDDLEBURY.EDU

PAGE 8 — Addison Independent

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016

Meet the chef

Mike Cooley from Fire & Ice in Middlebury

BY EMMA COTTON

ike Cooley, Fire & Ice’s head chef, hasn’t always envisioned himself in a kitchen. As an undergraduate, he studied English literature and pre-law at Frostburg University in Maryland. But one day, during a dishwashing gig at a local saloon he took to earn some extra cash, the head chef put him on the line.

“I had worked as a dishwasher for two and a half hours, and then they put me on the line because the fryer cook quit,” he said in an interview this week. “Two months later, I had learned the entire kitchen.” For Cooley, that was the beginning of it all. Slowly, he realized that his passion for cooking trumped his desire to finish school. He began working 60 hours a week, “I LOVE WORKING and eventually IN THIS AREA. transferred to an IT COMBINES A Italian restaurant, Guiseppe’s, where LOT OF FRESH, he learned the AWESOME true value of food INGREDIENTS, AND from a Tuscan head-chef who PEOPLE WHO... ARE urged him to ‘keep REALLY OPEN TO it fresh, keep it simple.’ EXPERIMENTATION.”

— Mike Cooley

“I just really liked the cooking life, working at night, fast-paced, highstress,” he said while slicing the fat from a filet of salmon. “You couldn’t really let your mind wander.”

Looking back, he realizes that cooking has always been a passion. At 14 years old, Cooley cooked for his mother while she was pregnant with her second son. Sometimes, he wishes he realized his love for food earlier. “If I had realized how much I actually liked doing this, and actually concentrated on it, I could have gone to culinary school right after high school and saved a lot of time,” he said. When Cooley’s girlfriend, who works for the Parks Department, got a job in Vermont in 2008, Cooley CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Chef Mike Cooley stands in the main dining room at Fire and Ice, where he is the head chef. INDEPENDENT PHOTO/TRENT CAMPBELL

Addison Independent

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016 — PAGE 9

P IZZA WE MAKE IT FRESH!

CHICKEN BROCCOLI ALFREDO PIZZA

Meatlovers • Mexican • Taco

followed with plans to attend the New England Culinary Institute. Soon, though, he realized that swinging a full-time class schedule was unrealistic. In Middlebury, he found Rosie’s diner, where he worked for three years before making his way to Fire & Ice. He took a job as a cook, transitioned to head chef after two years, and the rest is history. “I’ve worked in a lot of different restaurants, and I love working here,” he said. “I love working in this area. It combines a lot of fresh, awesome ingredients, and people who come in are really open to experimentation with these ingredients.” Cooley is particularly excited about a special Thanksgiving menu, made with entirely local ingredients including turkey from Misty Knoll, root vegetables and some killer local potatoes. “As far as potatoes go — and I know potatoes aren’t usually anything that people get excited about — but the flavor profile of these potatoes is awesome,” he said. “They’re, like, the upper echelon of potato.” (For those who’d like to try the potatoes on Cooley’s menu, along with the Thanksgiving regulars — cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy from local favorites like Lewis Creek Farm, Monument Farms and Cabot Creamery — reservations are highly recommended.) Fire & Ice’s normal menu hosts surf and turf cuisine, but Cooley said he’s added touches of Asian and Southwestern influence. On the menu, his favorite dish to prepare is prime rib. At home, he lives for barbecue. “I love slow and low,” he said. “You have to exercise a lot of patience. The fast stuff, like hard sautéing and searing, that’s good, but I really like the slow and low, and letting the flavor develop.”

ARTS+LEISURE The Addison Independent

Who should we meet? Send us your suggestions for the next chef. Email: news@addisonindependent.com

Z Special • Veggie • Hawaiian Thin or Greek style crust, our dough is made daily from King Arthur Flour.

Gluten-Free Crust Available

JERK CHICKEN Chef Mike Cooley of Fire and Ice, Middlebury

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup soy sauce 1 cup vegetable oil Juice from 1 lime 2 bunches on chopped scallions 2 whole habenero peppers 2 tbsp chopped garlic 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme 1 tbsp allspice Salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION: Take all ingredients and combine in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Cover four half-chickens with marinade and let sit for four hours in refrigerator. Preheat oven to 325 F. Place marinated chicken in baking pan and cover with aluminum foil. Cook chicken for 1 hour, then remove foil, drain pan and cook for an additional 15 minutes to crisp the chicken skin.

Pizza • Pasta • Subs • Soups • Salads • Calzones

DINE-IN & TAKE-OUT 802-388-3164 Fresh, convenient and local since 1982 WASHINGTON ST • MIDDLEBURY GreenPeppersRestaurant.com

Buy one entree, get the second entree – FREE Locally sourced burgers from

GREEN PASTURE MEATS

Not valid Friday, Saturday & Holidays, or with gift certificates or other discounts. Expires 12/1/16

Fire & Ice Restaurant 802.388.7166 • 26 Seymour Street • Middlebury, VT

PAGE 10 — Addison Independent

SESSIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

studio in the fall I am very productive and it feels very fresh after a long break. I literally and figuratively

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016 brush out the cobwebs and get to work, putting down on canvas the things that I have been inspired by during the past few months. Everything on a farm has a season.The important thing, like the quote above says, is to carry a sense of wonder throughout. Whether watching your family grow, making cheese, working with

animals, time with friends, wonder is the continuous thread. And, as someone who juggles many passions, I try to forgive myself for the many ways I fall short of perfection! What do you think of painting on this scale? Small works fit really well into my current lifestyle. I am

lucky to get six hours per week in the studio and I find it challenging to go back to a painting more than a few times. I approach a painting with an image in my mind of what i want to say and how I want to say it and that gets diluted and stale over time. My favorite way to work is to complete a painting in one sitting. I love the texture of wet oil paint and I love the intensity and purity of vision that comes from small works completed in one or two sittings. Clearly, small works are not the pathway to a financially sustainable career as an artist, but on the other hand it is nice knowing that I am creating art that is affordable to most folks. In future years when I have more time and patience I look forward to painting big! What do you hope to convey through your art? I have always found solace in animal companionship. I did not grow up on a farm, but I went to summer camp at age nine and spent the entire month there in the barn in an attempt to soothe my homesickness. Low and behold, I came home from camp with two sheep (kudos to my parents for being willing), and the rest is history. I still feel grounded and calm in the presence of animals. I think animals make us feel connected with a part of ourselves which is non-verbal, timeless, unrestrained. We bring

school groups to our farm and even the most insecure, distant teenagers break down in the presence of baby goats and revert to being an excitable kid again! It is a wonderful thing to witness. That is what I hope to convey with my paintings, that animals are beings of value, they are reminders of joyful, simple relationships, and as such that they can bring out the best in ourselves. Why did you want to become an artist? I was a drawer before a painter. I became a prolific drawer around age ten, mostly horses and human portraits, and was fortunate to have two wonderful and talented teachers in Joe Bolger and Marshall Eddy while a student and Middlebury Union High School. At Bates College I learned about simplifying one’s pallet, studied in Florence, Italy, and took the next step incorporating art into my life’s plans. I don’t know that one really chooses to be an artist, it just happens that a day feels fully lived only when one is able to paint, draw, write, or somehow record that they were witness to it. To me, being an artist is simply having a desire to say “I was here and this is my experience” and to actually commit to the hard work of saying it.

Group of Three - 12” x 16” - oil on linen.

Addison Independent

MUSIC

MCCC hosts annual concert

ne hundred singers will soon take their places on stage in the Robison Concert Hall at the Mahaney Center for the Arts as the Middlebury College Community Chorus presents its annual Thanksgiving concert. These free, hour-long programs take place in a special performance on Saturday evening, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. and an encore presentation on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. This season’s program includes historical works from the European choral tradition alongside breathtaking contemporary works written during the past decade. The songs feature celebratory psalm texts with a Thanksgiving theme, as well as music with words that reflect the changing seasons and a longing for justice and peace, important to so many people at this time. Conductor Jeff Rehbach notes that this program offers to listeners and performers alike vivid, dramatic, and expressive writing for chorus, piano and chamber music ensemble. Local teachers who play with the Vermont Symphony, Champlain Philharmonic, and Burlington Civic Symphony orchestras join the chorus for this performance. Rehbach is in his 17th season as

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016 — PAGE 11

SPIN UNITED You SPIN, We All Win. Join us for this FUNdraising event to raise money to assist our friends, families, and neighbors with shelter, food, access to health care, educational opportunities, and financial services.

Jeff Rehbach will lead the Middlebury College Community Chorus at the annual Thanksgiving concert this Saturday and Sunday. PHOTO/ANASTASIYA PROKHORENKO, MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE ’19

Jan. 22, 2017 CREATE A TEAM!

FREE Massage Therapist on site!

SPIN AS AN INDIVIDUAL!

conductor of the College Community Chorus, and Timothy Guiles serves as the ensemble’s remarkable accompanist. The group welcomes without audition all singers who delight in participating in this 150-year-old community tradition, hosted by Middlebury College.

Create a team of 6 and compete to raise the most money. The top 3 winning teams will get to choose which of our funded partners they will donate to! $300 Registration Fee

Compete to raise the most money. The top 3 winning teams will get to choose which of our funded partners they will donate to! $50 Registration Fee

For up-to-date information, visit go.middlebury.edu/communitychorus or contact director Jeff Rehbach at (802) 989-7355.

REGISTRATION IS EASY.

GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE LIVE UNITED!

live music

You can register and create a team by TEXT or ONLINE TEXT: spinunited to 71777 Or online; http://app.mobilecause. com/vf/spinunited

Event Goal $10,000 WE CAN DO IT WITH YOUR HELP!

Stuck in the Middle. Thursday, Nov. 17, 7-8 p.m., 51 Main, Middlebury. Mamajamas. Thursday, Nov. 17, 8:30-9:30 p.m., 51 Main, Middlebury. Left Eye Jump. Friday, Nov. 18, 8-10 p.m., 51 Main, Middlebury. The Good Parts Band. Saturday, Nov. 19, 8-10 p.m., 51 Main, Middlebury. Michelle Fay Band. Friday, Dec. 2, 8-10 p.m., 51 Main, Middlebury. Jory Nash. Saturday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Ripton Community Coffee House. The Doughboys. Saturday, Dec. 3, 8-11 p.m., 51 Main, Middlebury. Mimi Bain and Friends. Thursday, Dec. 8, 7-9 p.m., 51 Main, Middlebury. Conquer Root. Friday, Dec. 9, 8-10 p.m., 51 Main, Middlebury.

Hosted and sponsored by Middlebury Fitness 175 Wilson Rd., Middlebury 48 Court Street, PO Box 555 Middlebury, VT 05753 802-388-7189 OF Contact: info@unitedwayaddisoncounty.org

ADDISON COUNTY

PAGE 12 — Addison Independent

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016

the movie INFERNO — RUNNING TIME: 2:01 — RATING: PG-13 No one will go to Ron Howard’s “Inferno” expecting the best, but the promise of Tom Hanks racing through Italy, Hungary and Turkey is, for many, irresistible. As Harvard art historian Robert Langdon, he is the All-American guy trying to set things right at a moment in history when humanity is the disease and inferno is the cure. Professor Langdon (Tom Hanks) regains consciousness in a hospital in Florence with no idea of how he sustained a serious head wound. He and his doctor, Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), are forced to flee suddenly by the appearance of uniformed assassin Vayentha (Ana Ularu). After they learn that nutcase Bertrand Zobrist (Ben Foster) has decided to solve the overcrowding of the planet by killing half the world’s population with a plague, the pair sets out to find the poisonous vial. They race through Europe following clues that Langdon translates from Dante’s Inferno. They have 24 hours to destroy the vial and save the world. As preposterous as this sounds, there is fun aplenty in watching the professor and Dr. Brooks pursue the clues in a race against time through the beauty of the art that holds all the secrets. The clues to the location of the vial are confusing. Best solution: relax and enjoy the race through Florence, Venice and Istanbul on every imaginable manner of transportation in order to save the world. Watch a preposterous two hour run on bikes, motorcycles, cars, planes, and trains through European crowds to a properly scary score. After dismounting from crushed vehicles, they run at a fast clip through beautiful art collections. Will they find the plague in time? Will Dante’s prophecy be fulfilled? Could Tom Hanks lose? The filming and lighting are subtle and beautiful, the art tour terrific; the plot and its machinations are absolutely ludicrous. But wait. Aren’t movies based on popular novels supposed to be the equivalent of junk food at McDonald’s? And when you build all this around Tom Hanks and Felicity

Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones in Inferno (2016).

Jones with a gang of bad guys played by good actors, things can’t be all bad. Add an especially warm performance by Sidse Babett Knudsen as head of the World Health Organization and what you have is a good plate of junk food. In a welcome invitation, Knudsen delivers the promise of a next movie in the series. Suggestion: If you sink into it, it’s fun, if you analyze it, it’s ridiculous. In spite of the nearly universal belief in any Tom Hanks character, he’s vulnerable here surrounded as he is by a cast of good actors who join in creating the deadly story. We are treated to the explosive end of the Hollywood tradition that women in movies must look pretty but can’t do anything. These women are gorgeous and very capable of dispatching any male enemy they see as a threat. Good music, great scenery, silly story, many surprises — a nice interruption in your busy life.

the book

―— Reviewed by Joan Ellis

NEW BOOKS IN PAPERBACK

BORN A CRIME ―— BY TREVOR NOAH

Not Just Jane, by Shelley Dewees Custer’s Trials, by TJ Stiles

Trevor Noah is a successful comedian and current host of The Daily Show, the long-running late-night talk show on Comedy Central, and now he needs to add accomplished author to the list. Noah’s witty and smart depictions of his experiences growing up in South Africa are compelling, informative, and entertaining. The chapters are headed by short epigraphs introducing what will be addressed in the stories that follow. These are honest accounts, seemingly free from bias, but likely not so, and offer a real glimpse of what it must have been like for Noah to grow up, a mischievous child born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. His mother emerges as an incredibly strong yet flawed person who, despite the oppression surrounding her on all sides, made choices that shaped her life and her son’s life. The great thing about this book is the spot-on delivery, which I suppose one should expect from a comedian, that makes this book so readable. This book is hilarious and highly affecting.― — Reviewed by Jenny Lyons of the Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury.

The Slow Waltz of Turtles, by Katherine Pancol Only Love Can Break Your Heart, by Ed Tarkington Boys in the Trees, by Carly Simon A Doubter’s Almanac, by Ethan Canin Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist, by Sunil Yapa Pacific, by Simon Winchester The Givenness of Things, by Marilynne Robinson

Addison Independent

7 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 19, 3 p.m., Vergennes Union High CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 School. VUHS presents their fall musical “Grease.” Tickets are available at Everywhere for Everybody in Vergennes and the VUHS auditorium lobby MondayFriday 11 a.m.-noon and evenings. $12 adults; $10 students. Info: 877-2938.

CALENDAR

“PUSS IN BOOTS” IN VERGENNES. Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m., Vergennes Opera House. Bald Mountain Theater presents their original, all-ages adaptation of “Puss in Boots” or “How to get ahead in the world.” Suitable for ages six and older. Tickets available at the door. $15 adults; $10 under age 10 or over 65; $40 family of four. Info: www.baldmountaintheater.org or 767-4800. “MARY POPPINS-THE MUSICAL” IN BRISTOL. Thursday, Nov. 17, Friday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m. matinee and 7:30 p.m., Mount Abraham Union High School. MAUHS presents “Mary Poppins-the Musical” for its fall show. Tickets are available at Martin’s Hardware on West Street in Bristol. All seats are reserved. $12 adults; $8 senior citizens/kids under age 12. “AMERICAN SUNRISE/SUNSET” IN MIDDLEBURY. Thursday, Nov. 17, Friday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m. matinee and 7:30 p.m., Seeler

Keep it cool. Every Thursday.

ARTS+LEISURE 802-388-4944 ads@addisonindependent.com

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016 — PAGE 13

Studio Theatre, Middlebury College. The 24-person company explores the American present through song, story and some gymnastics. Directed by Cheryl Faraone. $12 public; $10 college ID holders; $6 students. Info: www.middlebury.edu/arts or 802-4433168. “THE LITTLE MERMAID” IN MIDDLEBURY. Friday, Nov. 18, Saturday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m., Middlebury Union High School. Based on the Disney movie featuring beloved songs and characters, over 60 students are involved in this production, which is directed by Shannon Bohler. Tickets $10 adults; $8 students/seniors. Call 382-1192 after 11/14 to reserve tickets or purchase at the door. “FRANKENSTEIN” IN MIDDLEBURY. Saturday, Nov. 19, 7-10 p.m., Town Hall Theater. Due to popular demand, Town Hall Theater is bringing back the National Theater’s production of “Frankenstein” starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller. $17/$10 students. Info: www.townhalltheater.org or 382-9222. AUDITIONS FOR “GOOD PEOPLE” IN MIDDLEBURY. Monday, Nov. 21 and Tuesday, Nov. 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Town Hall Theater. Town Hall Theater will hold auditions for its February 2017 show, “Good People,” directed by Kristen Ginsburg. Info: kgins@ comcast.net.

top pick CAT VIDEOS — WE ALL LOVE THEM. DON'T DENY YOURSELF TICKETS TO THIS YEAR'S INTERNET CAT VIDEO FEST AT TOWN HALL THEATER IN MIDDLEBURY. BENEFITS HOMEWARD BOUND (IN CASE YOU NEED AN EXCUSE).

PAGE 14 — Addison Independent

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016

realestate

ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE.

CALL 802-388-4944

70 Court Street, Middlebury, VT

802-989-7522

champlainvalleyproperty.com

NEW

LISTING

BillBeck.com EW

$95,000

NEW LISTINGS FOR SINGLEFAMILY HOMES IN ADDISON COUNTY WERE DOWN BY 40% FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. THERE WERE 35 NEW LISTINGS IN OCTOBER 2015 AND ONLY 21 NEW LISTINGS LAST MONTH.

RIPTON

home values

Charming 4 season retreat in the woods of Frost Mountain. This cabin is located on 2.5 private wooded acres, perfect for a hunting camp, artist studio or just a place to get back to nature.

For more information visit www.acbor.org or www.houselogic.com

LEICESTER: Take a walk to the Fern Lake beach from this 3 bedroom, 2 bath well done doublewide on over 2 acres. Two story barn/workshop makes the handy person happy. Wooded location makes the privacy person happy. All this for only $117,000

BRIDPORT

$269,500

This charming home features sun-filled open living space, plus a fabulous detached studio that has 4 sides of windows, cathedral ceiling and tile floors. The solar panels supply all the electricity this home uses plus extra. The 3-car garage and a lovely 10 acre lot make this a wonderful property.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY BRIDPORT: Enjoy the sunsets from this cottage on Giard’s Bay in Bridport. Great decks, 2 bedrooms, nice view from dining area. New kitchen floor, all rooms with tongue and groove walls, Tri-town water. Swim, fish, boat and just enjoy the water. Now only $139,900

NEW HAVEN

$129,500

Beautiful country setting with level open space, bordered by trees. 5.8 acres with mountain views and a 3 bedroom septic permit approved. New driveway put in leading to a wonderful, picturesque building site.

ADDISON: Enjoy panoramic lake & mtn. views from this 4-BR/2.5-BA log home with stone patio, in-ground pool, newly added sunroom & screened gazebo overlooking lake, where you’ll own 140’ of frontage. Living room boasts a stone fireplace. 6.9 acre parcel is at the end of a private, dead-end road. Ample storage with 2-car garage & outbuildings. $625,000

802-388-7983 Bill Beck Real Estate

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or persons receiving public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD Toll-free at 1-800-424-8590. For the Washington, DC area please call HUD at 426-3500.

Addison Independent

| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, November 17, 2016 â€” PAGE 15

share your thanks Submit today! www.addisonindependent.com/thanks