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ADDISON COUNTY

FALL GUIDE 2015

Where to go & What to see... FOLIAGE TOURS • LOCAL ORCHARDS • TOWN EVENTS CULTURAL & RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

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B SECTION

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS • DINING GUIDE A special publication of the Addison Independent

PAGE 2A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

Fall Guide Welcome It seems to happen suddenly each year. One night you’re sweating on top of the sheets and can’t seem to get enough of the cool mountain streams. The next you’re pulling the quilt back out of the closet and once again clutching the coffee mug for warmth. While it’s easy to lament the end of long summer days packed with family outings and frozen treats, there is something refreshing and frank about fall that makes it feel like the most characteristic of Vermont’s four distinct seasons. Cold weather is coming, it warns. It’s harvest season, hunting season, slaughtering season. It’s time to cut the hay, prepare the fields and brace yourself for winter. But before you retreat, reap the benefits of your summer labors. It’s time to gather fruits from the trees, vegetables from the vines. It’s time for canning and preserving in attempts to savor these flavors well into the winter. But don’t work too hard. Make sure to take a drive or hop on a bike and ride into the hills. Absorb the col-

Inside the Guide

ors of fall, rich enough to carry us through the whitewash of winter. Enjoy the fields and vistas, covered bridges and mountain gaps. Pick your own apples and pumpkins, and get lost in a corn maze. Celebrate the natural bounty that attracted the earliest settlers to Vermont’s landscape. Pop in for a coffee or mulled cider and browse through a quaint, downtown shop. Pick up a sandwich or sit down for a relaxing meal at one of the excellent local restaurants featuring local produce and pouring local taps. Chat with storeowners, hear their passionate tales and dig into the reasons they are proud to call Addison County home. Flip through the pages of this publication; find an event to attend or a restaurant to try out. Let this be a curated guide to fall in Addison County and an invitation to discover this place, even if you have lived here all your life. There are new stories, new faces and new products to discover with each changing season. Enjoy! ~ the editors

A Section: p.3-4 — Make way for squash p.5 — Middlebury’s Spooktacular p.6 — Country Stores of Addison County p.7-10 — Cultural/Historic and Recreation/ Destination attractions p.12-13 — What brews character? Area alcohol producers’ give their perspective p.14-15 — Foliage driving tours p.16-17 — Vergennes area news & events p.18-19 — Brandon area news & events p.20-21 — Bristol area news & events p.22-23 — Hot Spots of Addison County p.24 — Local orchards

B Section: p.1-11 — Community Calendar p.10-28 — Area dining guide & restaurant pages

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A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015 — PAGE 3A

Hey apples… Make way for squash

By CHRISTY LYNN Sure, apples are a terrific fall treat that is widely available in Vermont, but another local food that is almost as iconic and even more varied is the humble squash. A typical scene in the Green Mountain State includes pumpkin, butternut and acorn squash standing in rows or piled in mounds at orchards and farm stands along our country roads. And the traditional cornucopia seen on autumn dinner tables usually includes an assortment of gourds and smaller squash spilling out in a riot of shapes and colors. Squash and gourds belong to the Cucurbita genus within the incredibly large and diverse Cucurbitaceae family, which contains more than 700 species of plants that have been providing humans with food and utilitarian objects since before recorded history. According to “The Nibble” magazine’s online “Squash Glossary,” gourds are the hollowed, dried shell of a fruit in the Cucurbitaceae family, to which squash belong. Edible gourds are referred to as squash, while non-edible gourd varieties are used as vessels, musical instruments and decorations. Gourds are believed to be the earliest plant domesticated by humankind. In Africa they were used as bowls and bottles. Men and women have long used gourds as percussion instruments by rattling seeds inside the dried shells. These dried gourds are also used as resonating chambers on stringed instruments, like the West African kora and drums. Squashes and gourds can be found growing around the world in many environments. Most are large plants that grow easily with good sunlight and well draining soil. They do best with soil rich in compost and other organic matter and plenty of space to spread out.

In the United States, any round, orange squash is commonly referred to as a pumpkin, even though the term “pumpkin” has no official botanical meaning and varietals each truly belong to the general squash family. Squash can be generally divided into two large sub-categories: summer squash and winter squash. Fall is a time of year when Vermonters get to enjoy the best of both worlds — the last of the summer squash and the early harvest of winter squash. Summer squash have a relatively thin skin that bruises easily. Flesh inside has a higher moisture content than winter squash varieties and a milder flavor. They should be chosen for smooth, firm, blemish free and taut skin. Zucchini, yellow squash, and pattypan squash are some of the most common varieties. Summer squash

can be cooked or eaten raw and tend to last about a week in the refrigerator before wrinkling and turning soft. Winter squash, by contrast, have thick, hard skin and can be kept for months before they spoil. Winter squash flesh has a nuttier flavor that can range from stringy like a spaghetti squash to buttery and smooth like a butternut squash. While it’s common to consider squash a vegetable — and find it categorized as such in the grocery store — squash and gourds are actually fruits. (Botanically speaking, fruits are seed-bearing structures that develop from the ovary of a flowering plant.) While some harder varieties require cooking, others (like zucchini and cucumbers) can be prepared in every conceivable way: raw, sautéed, grilled, steamed, pickled, boiled, broiled, baked, fried, microwaved or freezedried. RAW Cucumbers aren’t always considered squash, but they do belong to the Cucurbita genus and are certainly the most popular raw variety. Zucchini and other summer squash are also commonly eaten raw in salads or on platters with other chopped veggies. SOUPS AND STEWS Puréed winter squash soup such as butternut or even pumpkin spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg is popularly served as a first course to a rich harvest meal. Cubed squash can also be added to any stew or ratatouille to add a nutty, fibrous texture that’s great for absorbing flavor. GRILLED Cubed summer squash can be added to grilling skewers along with onions, peppers and

mushrooms or any meat. PIES, CAKES AND BREADS Zucchini bread and pumpkin pie are undoubtedly the two most common sweet baked dishes derived from squash, but many varieties can be substituted or used to add an alternative flavor, color or texture to your baked favorites. SEEDS Toasted squash seeds seasoned with salt, curry or any other favorite flavor offer the perfect fall snack-food while processing a winter squash. While it’s a little more work to separate the seeds out of the inner pulp, it’s well worth the effort! BLOSSOMS Fortunately most squash plant varieties produce a very high yield, meaning it’s may be OK to pick some of the blossoms before they fruit. Squash blossoms have become a delicacy in some restaurants where they are typically lightly battered and fried, you can prepare them relatively easily at home, too.

Squash varieties A-Z Acorn — Can be found in green, white or yellow varieties. Each are naturally sweet and commonly served cut in two with the inner seeds and pulp carved out and baked in their own skin. Ambercup — A compact variety that looks like a squat pumpkin. Dark orange in color and comparable to buttercup squash in flavor, only slightly drier (therefore good for cooking into soups, stuffing or pilaf because water content is minimal). Autumn Cup — A small and squat winter squash with dark forest green shell and sparse green stripes or speckles. Features a very flavorful dark yellow flesh with a velvety texture. Australian Blue (aka Queensland Blue winter squash or Jarrahdale pumpkin) — Very similar in flavor and texture to a pumpkin, but with a dull teal-grey skin. Banana — One of the largest squash varieties, the log-shaped banana squash ranges from two to three feet long and weighs 10-12 pounds (although hobby farmers popularly grow specimens that can get up to 40-50 pounds). Typically has

a pale cream or peach color exterior and golden orange flesh. Buttercup — A squat and green winter squash with grey or pale green vertical stripes and orange flesh with a flavor like a sweet potato. Butternut — One of the most popular winter squash, known for it’s nutty flavor and smooth, creamy flesh that’s great for soups and stews. Skin has a creamy peach color and the gourd has a bottleneck shape. Calabash — Recognizable for its smooth pale green skin with speckles, this bottle gourd has a distinct bulbous shape and white flesh. It is both commonly eaten in Chinese stir-fries hollowed out and dried for use as bowls, containers, birdhouses, or ornaments. Maracas are musical percussion instruments made from the dried gourd with the seeds rattling inside. Calabash gourds are also commonly used as drums as well as for the bodies of string instruments. (See Squash varieties, Page 4A)

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PAGE 4A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

Squash varieties… (Continued from Page 3A) Calabaza — A popular variety in the Caribbean, this squash is round or pear-shaped with bumpy, uneven surface and a flavor similar to butternut squash. Carnival — A small winter squash with a festive pattern featuring brush-like stripes of orange, green and beige. Meat inside is golden yellow like butternut squash, but often is creamier and sweeter. Chayote Squash (aka vegetable pear) — This summer squash variety looks like a pear in shape and color, with a mild and refreshing flavor that’s tender like a zucchini but crisp like an apple. Can be eaten raw, deep fried or cooked in almost any other way. Cheese Wheels (aka Cheese Pumpkin or Long Island Cheese pumpkin) — Large, squat variety that is shaped like a round wheel of cheese. Crookneck squash — A yellow squash with thin, curved neck, this variety can be either smooth-skinned or warty-skinned. Despite being a summer squash variety, taste is more akin to winter squash. Cucumber — The most popular raw variety and available in many varieties, cucumbers are a favorite for many gardeners. Differences in varietals mainly distinguish skin thickness and seediness. Cucumbers are typically eaten raw or are pickled. Cucuzza/Italian Squash (Aka bottle gourd) — Cucuzza is the Italian term for squash and refers to the long, curved variety with a thick bottom. Similar in style and preparation to zucchini. Cushaw — A striking white squash with mottled and attractive green and grey stripes and crookneck shape. Flesh inside is deep yellow, similar to a pumpkin. Delicata (aka sweet potato squash or Bohemian squash) — Features pale yellow skin and dark green or orange pinstripes and shaped similarly to butternut squash. Fairytale pumpkin — A large flat-shaped winter squash (cheese-wheel-shaped) with deep ribs. Can grow up to 20 pounds and features an orange-brown rind with dark green at the stem. Flesh is deep orange, tender and sweet, making it both decorative and delicious. Gold nugget — A palm-sized pumpkin, this squash is dark orange on the outside and in. Its bland taste adapts itself to whatever seasoning it’s cooked in. Gooseneck squash — This winter squash variety is similar to calabash with dark green skin

and horizontal light green/white speckles. Distinctive shape features neck naturally bent in the shape of a gooseneck Hubbard — One of the largest winter varieties, hubbard squash can range in color from dark orange to greyish blue and have hard, nubby skin and the shape of a fat, misshapen teardrop Indian Bitter Melon — Cucumber’s bumpy, warty cousin, this variety features grooved yellowgreen skin and a fibrous, seed-filled core. Its bitter flavor often combines well with garlic or chili and can be used in soups, curries or stirfries. Kabocha — Kabocha is the Japanese term for squash. This variety features dark jade green skin with light green stripes and pale orange meat whose flavor is subtle, sweet and buttery, not stringy like pumpkin’s. Luffa (aka Chinese okra, silk melon) — While many people know luffa in the shower as a sponge alternative, when the fruit is picked young it is also a tasty alternative to zucchini (with steep ridges). If left on the vine in regions with a long growing season, the fruit ages and matures and the flesh disappears, leaving just the fibrous skeleton and seeds of the fruit, which can be easily shaken out. Lumina squash — Commonly called a white pumpkin, this round white squash can be carved like a pumpkin for decoration or used in any other way similar to it’s orange cousins. Mo Qua Squash — Chinese relative of winter m e l o n , Mo Qua looks like zucchini with green skin and fuzzy white hairs. Like zucchini, it is most commonly stir-fried, braised, boiled and added to soups. Pattypan (aka Sunburst or baby summer squash) — This cute summer squash variety comes in the shape of a dreidel and can be yellow, green or white. Each has scalloped edges and a thin skin, perfect for grilling or sautéing. Pumpkins — There are dozens of squash varieties classified as pumpkins, ranging widely in size and shape. Pumpkins have a drier, courser and more flavorful flesh than most other squash and thick skin. While they are mostly ornamental and popularly carved for Halloween, they can certainly can be cooked and made into many tasty meals too!

Red Kuri — A teardrop-shaped squash with an intense sunset-colored rind and pronounced chestnut flavor that makes great soup. Sweet Dumpling — This cream- or peachcolored winter squash has with thick walls and deep ribs, lined with green or orange. Its small size and sweet and tender flesh gives it the name. Spaghetti Squash — Another popular variety, spaghetti squash are large and watermelon-shaped with stringy flesh that separates into strands like spaghetti. Orangetti Squash is an orange-fleshed cousin of spaghetti squash with same quality. Turban Squash (aka Turkish Turban) — Distinctively shaped like a sultan’s turban and strikingly colored with a dark orange top and green, white, red and orange splotches below. Their small size allows for perfect opportunity to be hollowed out and stuffed for individual servings. Yellow Squash (aka yellow zucchini) — This summer squash comes in many varieties including crookneck, straightneck, pattypan, gold ball or yellow zucchini. Each has an edible, thin skin and mild, tender flavor. Zucchini — One of the most popular summer squashes, zucchini can be eaten in almost any way imaginable and has a spongy, mild flavor.

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A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015 — PAGE 5A

Get your costume ready for

Spooktacular

MIDDLEBURY — Once again, the Better Middlebury Partnership and the town of Middlebury bring an outstanding Halloween event for kids of all ages and adults to the town of Middlebury. Hay bales, festive games, and costumes will decorate the town green on Sunday, Oct. 25, for the eighth annual Middlebury Spooktacular. Rain or shine, the green will be alive with music, dancing, costumes and games for all ages. Festivities will kick off at 1 p.m. and will conclude with a children’s trick-or-treat parade along Main Street led by the legendary Spooktacular Witch. The children’s Main Street trick-or-treat sidewalk parade will leave the green at 2:30 p.m. Accompanied by parents and Spooktacular volunteers, the procession will cross to the Post Office and continue along Main Street to Cannon Park, where the parade will cross and go back up the street to the town green. Happy Valley Orchard will be on hand selling their delicious cider and doughnuts and Monument Farms Dairy will be serving their tasty chocolate milk throughout the event. So, start planning your costume and get your candy bags ready. For more information, visit www.experiencemiddlebury.com.

Sheldon Museum offering a unique view into the private world of Warren Kimble

MIDDLEBURY — An exhibit at Middlebury’s Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History this year has on display an exhibit that highlights the career of an internationally known local artist. Painter and sculptor Warren Kimble of Brandon came to prominence for his folk art, but since then has concentrated on diverse themes, inspired in part by his residencies at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson. These themes include his “Sunshine” series, his “Widows of War” paintings and sculpture, and more recent “House of Cards” and “Into the Box,” open faced boxes

that feature found objects and architectural assemblages. The show “Warren Kimble All-American Artist: An Eclectic Retrospective” opened at the Sheldon this past summer and is on exhibition through Oct. 18. In addition to displaying Kimble’s own work, as a tribute to the public and the Sheldon Museum Warren Kimble and his wife, Lorraine, have agreed to display their personal collection of folk art by other artists, which are located throughout the Sheldon’s historic rooms. This will be a unique opportunity to enter the private world of Warren Kimble. In conjunction with the exhibit, Kimble has been offering a series of Wednesday gallery talks. The last one of the series will take place on Oct. 7 beginning at noon. Warren’s sense of humor and enthusiastic flair will enhance your

appreciation of this wide-ranging exhibit that traces his long artistic career. The talks are free with museum admission. The Sheldon Museum, located at 1 Park St. across from the Ilsley Library, includes 10 rooms of Vermont history, an art gallery, gardens and a shop. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and cheaper for others. For more information on the exhibit or gallery talks, call the Sheldon at 802-388-2117 or visit www.HenrySheldonMuseum.org. THE WORK OF Brandon’s Warren Kimble is part of a career retrospective on display at the Sheldon Museum in Middlebury through Oct. 18. Independent photos/Trent Campbell

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PAGE 6A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

Visit a Classic

Vermont Country Store

on your foliage tour

D F

C Ripton

Are you planning a leaf-peeping road trip this fall? Don’t worry about packing a lunch or forgetting something at home, because you’ll want an excuse to stop at the wide variety of Country Stores along the way. Whether you need a sandwich, a gas stop, directions, keepsakes, or are just dying to stop in and meet a local Vermonter, these featured shops will give you just what you’re looking BUXTON’S STORE for! Check out the map on this page for a Full Service directory of Country Stores, and make sure Full Deli to add in a stop on your foliage tour. Local products

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A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015 — PAGE 7A

cultural.historic.sites Visit the Middlebury College Museum of Art The Art of Storytelling: Five Tales from Asia, Then and Now September 8 – December 13, 2015

For as long as stories have been told, they have also been illustrated. Although technical advances such as printing and the advent of the computer have transformed illustration over time, many important artistic techniques and conventions have remained unchanged, even today. The Art of Storytelling compares the ways in which artists over the last five hundred years have retold and reinterpreted five epic works of Asian literature: the Mahabharata and Ramayana from India, Shahnameh from Iran, Journey to the West from China, and Tale of Genji from Japan. The traditional paintings, woodblock prints, and books in this exhibition have been drawn from the collections of the Middlebury College Museum of Art, as well as the Harvard Art Museums, the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth, and HarvardYenching Library. Paired with the historical works are five contemporary retellings, all created in the last ten years by Asian and Asian-American comic book artists, graphic designers, illustrators, and animators. The last section of the exhibition is an interactive space in which visitors can create and display their own comics.

Mahaney Center for the Arts 72 Porter Field Road, Middlebury Tu-Fri, 10am-5pm • Sat& Sun Noon-5pm Closed Mondays & all College Holidays

Naked Truth: Approaches to the Body in Early-Twentieth-Century German and Austrian Art September 18 – December 13, 2015

Co-curated by professors Eliza Garrison (History of Art and Architecture), Bettina Matthias (German) and the students in their spring 2015 course “The Body in German and Austrian Art,” this show explores depictions of the body that revolutionized the millennia-old tradition of the nude in Western art and remain just as controversial and thoughtprovoking today as they were a century ago. Featuring works on paper by ﬁfteen artists including Gustav Klimt, Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, George Grosz, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Käthe Kollwitz, and Egon Schiele, the exhibition explores the conceptions of the human body and the manner of its visualization in the period leading up to and following the First World War, which changed the world’s notions of ﬂesh and blood forever. Naked Truth is the second installment in a series of three exhibitions organized in collaboration with the Serge Sabarsky Foundation. As a part of this three-year initiative, the Foundation has made works from its large collection of German and Austrian art available to Middlebury students and faculty so that a class taught in the spring semester would have a chance to work directly with the art and to have a voice in the curation of an exhibition to open the following fall. For this exhibition, students made innovative use of digital media to create “Dress the Nude” projects, which explore the relationship between clothed and naked bodies, in addition to a series of digital tours, which provide visitors with the opportunity to learn about various themes that run throughout the exhibition. The projects will be installed on iPads for all visitors to enjoy.

PAGE 8A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

cultural.historic.sites

The National Museum of the Morgan Horse (NMMH), located on Main Street in Middlebury, educates the public about the history of the Morgan horse through exhibits and programming. They are also currently digitizing their collection of artifacts and archives, most of which are housed in Middlebury College Library’s Special Collections. These items include brochures, broadsides, breeding pamphlets, books, club newsletters, saddles, carriages, and more. A visit to the NMMH tells the story of the Morgan horse including its origins as farm work horse in New England, its involvement in the Civil War, its history as a racing horse, and how it was bred by the United States Department of Agriculture in Weybridge. The Museum also hosts local artists who specialize in equine art. On display this fall will be Stacey Stanhope Dundon’s oil paintings, functional pottery, and full size horse heads. In addition, local artist Gayl Braisted’s paintings of barns will be on exhibit. Morgan horse history is closely entwined with the history of Vermont, New England, and America. A trip to the NMMH allows visitors a glimpse into the story of “America’s First Breed.” Their Museum also features a gift shop full of Morgan horse t-shirts, books, and posters. Follow the Museum on Facebook to see images from the collection and The National Museum of the Morgan Horse is located in Middlebury at 34 Main Street. find out the latest information about events and exhibits.

A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015 — PAGE 9A

cultural.historic.sites

cultural.historic.sites There’s Still Time to Get Out on the Lake with

Thomas Danforth II opened a pewter workshop in colonial Connecticut in 1755. 220 years later, founders Fred & Judi Danforth revived Danforth Pewter in Vermont, and forty years on, we’re still handcrafting pewter in our Middlebury workshop. We make everything from fun, colorful jewelry to elegant oil lamps as we work to keep American craft alive and dynamic. Visit our ﬂagship Workshop & Store between 9:30AM and 3PM during the week to watch our artisans working their magic. At other times, the workshop observation windows, a video of the processes, and our store hosts will give you a full understanding of how we work the metal. Visit our Middlebury Workshop & Store to see how we handcraft each piece!

Workshop & Store, 52 Seymour St • (802) 388-0098 Also visit our boutique at 46 Main St • (802) 989-7310

Deal of the Season! The Museum and Basin Harbor Club offer Museum admission, lunch at the Red Mill Restaurant, and a narrated lake tour aboard cruise boat Escape, all for $35 per person (Museum members $29). Available daily through October 11 (weather permitting). Ticket for each venue can be used on separate days. Sixty Minute Experiences 60 to 90 minute mini-workshops and on-water experiences that allow you to try something new: Blacksmithing, Longboat Rowing, Quest for Fire, Copper forming or Rope work. Call for availability and to reserve your spot: 802 475-2022. Special Exhibits History in Miniature – the Maritime Models of Bill Kissam On view through October 11, this exhibit features intricately detailed scale replicas of Lake Champlain vessels by Bill Kissam of Westport, NY, including War of 1812 and steamboat models from LCMM and yacht and canal schooner models from private collections. The model maker talks about his work in a video interview. Parley & Protocol, Abenaki Diplomacy Past and Present On view through October 11, this exhibit from the Elnu Abenaki tribe and the Vermont Abenaki Artists Association presents pieces by living artists inspired by historic research and connections to their ancestors. These replicas of ceremonial items reflect Abenaki diplomacy, etiquette and treaty-making procedures still in use today. On-Water Ecology Programs are available by reservation for groups of up to 28 participants, Tuesday through Friday. Choose a two-hour or five-hour program with a focus on Human Impact, Invasive Species, or Interacting with Wildlife. Suitable for students Grade 5 and up, and adults. Advance registration required, call Samantha Williams 802 475-2022. Community Rowing Club – Thursday evening rowing on the Lake and Otter Creek continues through October 1. It’s free to try out – call Lisa Percival to register, 802 4752022. The racing season goes on into November with the James Wakefield Rescue Row in Burlington Oct. 10 and Otter Creek Challenge Nov. 7; LCMM teams also travel to Hull MA for Head of the Weir on Oct. 24 and Boston Harbor for the Icebreaker on Nov. 21. Basic Bladesmithing with instructor Robert Bordeaux, Sept 26-27 or Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Forge a hidden-tang blade and go home from this two-day course with a completed knife. Each class is limited to 5 participants. Register online at http://www.lcmm.org/ education/blacksmith.html Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, 7 miles from Vergennes, across from the Basin Harbor Club. Open daily from 10-5 through October 11. LCMM Members and children 5 and under get in free. For information call (802) 475-2022 or visit www.lcmm.org.

PAGE 10A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

recreation.destination

cultural.historic.sites Visit the Henry Sheldon Museum and view recent gifts to the art collection.

Come and see it being made!

Need to buy a housewarming present, birthday gift, or wedding gift? Like to support local businesses by shopping local and buying locally made? Maple Landmark Woodcraft offers great visitor and gift giving experiences. Our showroom hosts hundreds of products and our seconds area is chock-full of discounted and discontinued items. We offer full factory tours, weekdays at 10 am and 1 pm. Our guided tours are right out on the shop ﬂoor where visitors can see how things are made, learn our history, talk with employees and see what it takes to be “America’s Wooden Toy Company.” We are handicapped accessible.

Sheldon Museum presents its annual Rollicking Raffle with Gala Drawing Party on September 27

Buy your tickets for the Sheldon Museum’s 2015 Rollicking Raffle! Proceeds benefit museum education, research center, and exhibits. Drawing and Gala Reception on Sunday, September 27, 2015, 4-6 pm at historic Glen Dale Farm, 1455 Cider Mill Road, Cornwall. You do not need to be present to win. Tickets are $100, and may be purchased online at www.HenrySheldonMuseum.org or at the Sheldon Museum, One Park Street, Middlebury. All prizes are valued at $100 or more and include: one week at a 2-bedroom vacation home in Dolores, This whimsical dog woodcarving by Colorado valued at $1,000; a four-day stay at Norton Latourelle, valued at $250, is one of Naples Beach the prizes in the Sheldon’s Rollicking Raffle. Club and Golf Course and meals at Ridgway Bar & Grill and Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar, valued at $1,300; a weekend at a Burlington waterfront condo, with dinner, valued at $700; a walking tour of Middlebury for up to 30 guests with Glenn Andres and a copy of his book, Vermont Included in the recent gifts to the art collection are: Architecture valued at $350; a painting by two works by J.B. Bristol, a painting of the Middlebury Congregational Church, and Middlebury from Otter Gayl Braisted valued at $500+; a Hubbardton Creek, pictured here. Both on permanent loan from the Middlebury Community House. Forge table lamp and shade valued at $490 and many more valuable prizes! One Park Street, Middlebury VT 05753 802-388-2117 • www.HenrySheldonMuseum.org

Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History

Fall is the perfect time for a visit to the Sheldon Museum – featuring fine and folk paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. The Museum’s current exhibit, Warren Kimble All-American Artist: An Eclectic Retrospective is on view through December, 2015. The exhibit highlights the career of internationallyknown Brandon, Vermont artist Warren Kimble, who came to prominence for his folk art, but since has concentrated on diverse themes, inspired in part by his residencies at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont. In addition, Warren and his wife Lorraine have agreed to display selections from their personal collection of folk art by other artists, which will be located throughout the Sheldon’s historic rooms. This is a unique opportunity to enter the private world of Warren Kimble. While at the Museum, browse in our revitalized Museum Shop or picnic in the garden designed and tended by the Middlebury Garden Club.

Vermont Cow, Warren Kimble

Have company coming and need to ﬁnd things to do?

Museum Hours: Tues - Sat 10am-5pm, and Sun 1-5pm (through Oct. 18th) Research Center: Thurs & Fri 1-5pm, or by appointment

One Park Street, Middlebury VT 05753 802-388-2117 • www.HenrySheldonMuseum.org

A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015 — PAGE 11A

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PAGE 12A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2014 — PAGE 13A

What brews personality?

By CHRISTY LYNN Vermont is a maker’s place where creativity is rewarded and innovation is celebrated. Craftspeople have been refining, perfecting and dismissing old ways and discovering new for eons, whether in gardening, building, music, digital technology, or booze. This is particularly true with craft alcohol producers. A decade ago there were just a handful Ryan Miller, Champlain Orchards Cidery At Champlain Orchards Cidery, we are rediscovering the lost art of cider making. We’re an orchard, so we grow all our own fruit on location and can experiment with different varieties. Recently, we created a limited release Honey Plum hard cider using local methley plums grown here on the grounds. The plums provide an extraordinary rose color and add sweetness in a unique way. We believe that location matters with cider making. This land where we grow our apples has been an orchard for over 75 years. Addison County — and Shoreham in particular — has been farming these lands for hundreds of years. That culture and tradition guides us with each of our ciders. For example, we’re experimenting with wild fermented ciders where the indigenous, local yeasts on the skins of the apples are used in the fermentation process. Our land is literally shaping the flavor of our cider.

of microbreweries in the region, an even smaller number of vineyards and only a very few distilleries known around the state. Today, there are more than a dozen alcohol manufacturers in Addison County and Brandon alone. Why? Some credit the incredible access to fresh and local ingredients like apples, grapes and grains. But some say it’s more than that. Some say that the flavor comes at least equally from a more fundamental essence of Vermont. In a filtered beer or an even-bodied wine you can taste the personal dedication that went into its production; the cold winters endured maybe, or the careful tinkering that’s finally been called complete.

Chuck Burkins, Appalachian Gap Our spirits are very much reflections of the owners of Appalachian Gap Distillery. Our spirits are shaped by our perfectionism and by our unwillingness to accept anything other than the best. We work hard to design spirits whose flavors are utterly unique and pleasing to our own demanding standards: they make us happy. I think we share that with other makers of fine wines, beers, and spirits here in Middlebury: we’re not trying to make the same thing in the same way, we all have our own quirky and unique excellence.

David Dolginow, Shacksbury Cider Our Lost and Found cider is made from some of the very apples that homesteaders planted in the 1800s. When you drink this cider, knowing that people hundreds of years ago were drinking cider from the very same apples, it feels like you are drinking history. Not just studying it, or contemplating it, or observing it, but experiencing it through your taste buds. In addition to the apples, we ferment this cider with native yeast, meaning the yeast that occurs naturally on the skin of the apples and the air around us. That yeast is different than the yeast anywhere else in the world. And yeast has an immense effect on character. So, there again, you are not only tasting history because of the apples, you are also tasting the character of our county.

You can taste the brewer’s passion for the craft or the distiller’s playful spin on an old recipe. While pondering this concept, we decided to go straight to the source and ask some of the local producers some tricky questions. Can you taste the personality of your product and where does that taste come from? What part of that flavor comes from the raw ingredients and what part comes from you, the inventor and craftsperson? How is that flavor specific to this place and why could you be nowhere else in the world but Addison County, Vermont? Here’s what we got.

Steve Parkes, Drop In Brewery I’ve been working on a project for years now which is an attempt to define what “craft” actually is. I’m not any closer to defining the indefinable than I was when I started, but it’s been an educational journey, and so has been rewarding. For me, it’s a lot about knowledge and experience. I have been brewing using traditional ingredients for 33 years and have attained a unique perspective having lived and participated in the entire history of a movement. That all fits the dictionary definition of a craftsman. Since 2007, I’ve used my knowledge and experience to train others how to brew professionally and to start their own breweries through the American Brewer’s Guild. That expands on the definition and begins to involve concepts such as mentoring, apprenticeships, crafts guilds and the earliest models of mass manufacture. I agree that “character” makes its way into a product like beer that is derived from societal influences including history, pop culture, politics, mood and aesthetics. I spend time making the names of my beers fun and entertaining. It is vitally important to me that my beers look beautiful as well as taste delicious. Our politics guide the way we price our beers, treat those who help us, and donate to charitable causes. History guides the process I use to create our beers. And finally contentment plays a role in craftsmanship. Being happy where you live allows you to get up in the morning looking forward to the opportunity to do good work.

Pick-Your-Own & Farm Market Open 9 - 5 Daily 100+ Varieties of Ecologically Grown Apples

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Sas Stewart, Stonecutter Spirits In our barrel-aged process, we quite literally bring the outside inside. We open the doors to the climate, introducing barometric variation and allowing for each season to influence the batches in progress slightly differently. We get some crazy swings in seasons here in Vermont, which means the barrels age faster or slower and with minor nuances each time and with each season. For gin, we don’t want it to age too long, but want it just long enough. We’re always looking for the sweet spot, but we’re constantly monitoring and testing with all the senses. For craft producers, this isn’t a science, it’s an art. You’re going for a consistently high quality, while knowing that your product won’t be exactly the same each time. When you’re not dealing with mechanization, you want the variation — that’s what it means to be hand-crafted. When it comes to making food and alcohol, place is very important. In flavor and in camaraderie, Vermont is a rich place. Producers here are all friends. We share, we collaborate, we trust each other and ask each other for advice and guidance. I think that character is very specific to Vermont — farmers have a long history of sharing in Vermont, and it’s passed along to many other craftspeople. I can’t imagine having the same relationship to other producers in a large city — it would be so much more competitive and protective.

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PAGE 14A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

Discover Addison County’s Ripton/Lincoln Tour — 1 Hour: From Middlebury, travel south on Route 7, then east on Route 125, passing the Waybury Inn. Travel up the mountain, turn left at the Ripton Country Store and follow this road north to Lincoln (take your time, part of this stretch is a dirt road). Lincoln Road turns into Ripton Road. When you get to River Road in Lincoln Village, turn left and head west out of Lincoln down the mountain to Route 17. Travel Route 17 west through the quaint village of Bristol (where you may like to stop for lunch at a variety of dining establishments) and on to Route 7. Turn left on Route 7 traveling south back to Middlebury.

Chimney Point Drive — 2 Hours: Leaving Middlebury, take Route 125 west to Chimney Point, the site of the beautiful Lake Champlain Bridge, finished in November 2011. A short trip across the bridge to Crown Point in New York will offer great views back to Vermont, and is a great place for a picnic or tour around a major historic landmark. Another stop along this route is the nearby DAR John Strong Mansion Museum and State Park. From the Vermont side of the bridge, take Route 17 east to Addison, where you will pick up Route 22A and head north into Vergennes, the smallest city in the United States. Note: Vergennes has some of the most interesting buildings in Victorian architecture. If you have time, get out of your car, wander in the Bixby Memorial Library on Main Street, and gaze up at the glass ceiling in the center of the building. In Vergennes, take Monkton Road east. Cross Route 7 and continue east to the village of Monkton Ridge. At Monkton Ridge turn right onto Bristol Monkton Road, heading south, and continue to Bristol. In Bristol take Route 17 west to Route 7 and head south on Route 7 back to Middlebury.

A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015 — PAGE 15A

Fall Foliage Road Trips Champlain Lookout — 3 Hours:

Mad River Valley Tour — 3-4 Hours:

From Middlebury, take Route 30 south to Sudbury, where you pick up Route 73 and travel west to Larrabee’s Point on Lake Champlain. You may want to cruise the lake at Mount Independence leaving from Larrabee’s Point, which is home to the Fort Ticonderoga ferry. Continue north on Route 74 passing through historic Shoreham. Take Route 22A heading north. In Bridport take Route 125 west to Chimney Point on Lake Champlain, where you can admire the Lake Champlain Bridge, which opened in November 2011. Follow Route 17 east. At the West Addison General Store, known locally as WAGS, bear left off Route 17 and, staying along Lake Champlain, head north on Jersey Street. Take a left on Button Bay Road and head north, passing beautiful Button Bay State Park, where one might want to stop and picnic, down past the Basin Harbor Resort. A right on Basin Harbor Road toward Vergennes will bring you back to Route 22A, where you’ll travel south to Addison. Take Route 17 east to Route 23 and Route 23 south through Weybridge and back into Middlebury.

From Middlebury, take Route 7 south to Route 125. Route 125 east through East Middlebury and Ripton, passing the Robert Frost Wayside Recreation Area, the famous Middlebury College Bread Loaf campus, crossing over the Middlebury Gap (elevation 2,149 feet). Proceed down the mountain (also known as the Robert Frost Memorial Drive), into the town of Hancock. Take Route 100 north through the town of Granville, watching on your left for the beautiful Moss Glen Falls. Continue north into Waitsfield, where you will pick up Route 17, and follow it west over the Appalachian Gap (elevation 2,365 feet). When you get to the bottom of the other side, you’ll take a left and Route 17 and Route 116 will run together for several miles, including through the village of Bristol. Just past the village, Route 116 peels off south but you should stay on Route 17 westbound through New Haven until you come to Route 7. Take Route 7 south back to Middlebury.

Capital City Cruise — Day Trip:

From Middlebury, take Route 7 south to Route 125, Route 125 east over the mountains to Route 100 in Hancock. Take Route 100 south to Stockbridge, where you pick up Route 107 and drive east to Bethel. In Bethel take Interstate 89 (known as one of the most beautiful interstates in the country) and head north, passing Vermont’s capital city, Montpelier. Get off the interstate at Middlesex (Exit 9) and take Route 100B south to the town of Waitsfield. In Waitsfield, bear right on Route 17 and head west over the Appalachian Gap (elevation 2,365 feet) to Route 7. Follow Route 7 south back to Middlebury.

PAGE 16A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

Vergennes marches through fall with events for all VERGENNES — Vergennes may be the smallest city in Vermont, but its size doesn’t speak for its character. The picturesque downtown built around a town green with several classic historic buildings has become hip with great cafés, coffee shops, boutiques and restaurants to meet up with a friend. A budding arts scene in the city has attracted young people and new businesses to town, making it feel busy, energetic and fun. Vergennes’ downtown is home to the historic Vergennes Opera House, offering regular music concerts, movies, special events and even on occasion an opera. Built originally in 1897, it remains a central draw for downtown entertainment. A fall highlight at the Vergennes Opera House

will be the Sept. 26 stop for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s “Made in Vermont Music Festival.” In addition, see a great community theater production when the Little City Players present Neil Simon’s classic comedy “The Odd Couple” on Oct. 8-11. Bixby Memorial Library is another treasure of downtown Vergennes. With a memorable stained-glass domed ceiling, the library is well worth a detour. The library hosts several public programs and series, including the weekly children’s story hour, on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Another fun downtown event is the Vergennes Arts Walk, which wraps up its summer series on Friday, Sept. 25. The monthly event, (See Pumpkins, Page 17A)

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141A Main Street, Vergennes • 877-6200 Open Mon - Sat, 10am - 5pm & Sundays 12-4pm www.sweetcharityvt.com •info@sweetcharityvt.com

THE BIXBY MEMORIAL Library includes many beautiful architectural features, including this stained-glass dome ceiling.

History event planned at Kingsland Bay FERRISBURGH — All are invited to Kingsland State Park in Ferrisburgh on Sunday, Oct. 11, to hear about its history during an event sponsored by the Ferrisburgh Historical Society. Much of the 264 acres along the shores of Lake Champlain remains as a natural area. The historic Hawley House, built in 1790, is part of the complex. This property dates back

to the first settlers in Ferrisburgh and has been home to Ecole Champlain, an exclusive girls’ camp, until the late 1960s. The park ranger along with Janet and Carl Cole will recap its history. The visit runs from 2 to 4 p.m. A picnic will follow the presentation. All are welcome to this free event. For more information call Silas at 425-3380.

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A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015 — PAGE 17A

THE PUMPKIN GLOW in City Park is always a highlight of pre-Halloween festivities during the Pumpkins in the Park event in Vergennes.

Pumpkins

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tion went to press, but it is where the Otter Creek passexpected that annual Great At the end of the es through the city and waPumpkin Cook-Off will take celebration pumpkins ter-powered sawmills once place during the celebration will be lit and lined up reigned. This is also the site in the City Park. Entries of all for entry into a contest where Commodore Thomas ages and abilities are asked to Macdonough built the ships use pumpkin instead of garlic with great prizes to win he used to defeat the British in an important battle in the to ward off any passing vam- and people to impress in the annual Pumpkin War of 1812. pires. There are beautiful views Typically, at the end of the Glow on the green. of the falls from either side celebration pumpkins will be of the basin down below at lit and lined up for entry into a contest with great prizes to win and people to the city docks on one side of the creek and at impress in the annual Pumpkin Glow on the Falls Park on the other. green. Check vergennes.org for up-to-date inIn addition to Falls Park, you can also visit formation. Settlers Park above the falls. Both are an easy Just west of downtown, the Vergennes Falls is stroll from downtown.

For a slightly more adventurous jaunt, travelers can visit Button Bay and Kingsland Bay state parks on the shores of Lake Champlain in Ferrisburgh or Chimney Point State Historic Site in Addison. All three of these parks are relatively close by and offer a great site for a fall picnic by the lake or cruise in a kayak or a canoe. For the cyclist in the bunch, let Vergennes be your start and end point and enjoy a ride between these lakeside parks along nice and relatively flat roads. Also to the west on the shores of the lake is the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, which offers activities and displays for all ages to explore the history and culture surrounding the lake.

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(Continued from Page 16A) from 5 to 7 p.m., offers a variety of opportunities for the public to interact with artists, and for artists to interact with local business owners. The walk is produced in collaboration with the Vergennes Partnership and Creative Space Gallery. At the conclusion of the Sept. 25 Walk, the opera house will host a free community concert on Friday, Sept. 25, with the Irish-American band O’hAnleigh at 7 p.m. Pumpkins in the Park is an annual event that calls all the creative, spooky, goofy or strange jack-o-lanterns to the town green for a Halloween ball. Hosted by the Vergennes Partnership on Saturday, Oct. 24, festivities begin at 4 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m. Plans were being finalized as this publica-

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Stone Block Antiques 219 Main Street, Vergennes Greg Hamilton, Owner

sbainc57@yahoo.com shop 802-877-3359 • Cell 802-989-1159 Fridays 9-9 or by chance

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PAGE 18A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

Brandon Town Hall is offering ‘Chiller Theater’ and live comedy BRANDON — The Brandon Town Hall is a beautiful, historic building whose towering front pillars are an easily recognizable downtown feature. Built in 1861, the building is a community center for concerts, lectures, auctions, theater productions, meetings and dances. The Friends of Brandon Town Hall have planned several cultural events for this iconic structure at 2 Conant Square this fall. First, the Brandon Town Players will stage Neil Simon’s hilarious comedy On Oct. 9, “The Female Version of The Odd Middlebury Couple” on FriCollege’s premier day and Saturday, a cappella group, Sept. 25 and 26, the Dissipated at 7:30 p.m., and Eight, will present Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. Unger a concert at the and Madison are town hall at 7 p.m. at it again! Florence Unger and Olive Madison, that is, in this contemporary comic classic. Instead of a poker party that begins the original version, Ms. Madison has invited the girls over for an evening of Trivial Pursuit. The Pidgeon sisters have been replaced by the two Constanzuela brothers, but the hilarity remains the same. The play is directed by Dennis Marden. Tickets are: adults, $8, seniors/students/active mili-

Harvest people to adorn the Brandon streets

ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S SILENT movie classic “The Lodger” will be screened at the historic Brandon Town Hall this October.

tary, $6, and can be purchased at Carr’s Florist & Gifts or at the door. On Oct. 9, Middlebury College’s premier a cappella group, the Dissipated Eight, will present a concert at the town hall at 7 p.m. The group was founded as a combination of two all-male quartets in 1952, singing traditional barbershop music. They are currently the fourth-oldest a cappella in the nation and sing a range of songs, from modern day pop to traditional barbershop songs. The group prides itself in its history and aims to preserve it while adding new material from the modern age to its repertoire. Tickets

are $6 for adults, and $4 for seniors/students/ active military. Finally, the summer series of silent movie screenings wraps up on Saturday, Oct. 17, with “Chiller Theater,” a program to catch the spirit of the season. Alfred Hitchcock’s silent classic “The Lodger” will be screened with accompanying organ music. The antique theater is unheated so bring your hats, mittens and blankets to watch the search for the man responsible for a series of murders in fog-shrouded London. This is not for the faint of heart! Free-will offering.

BRANDON — Visitors and townspeople, old and young, enjoy making “harvest people,” also known as stick figures, scarecrows or leaf people. At Brandon’s annual fall HarvestFest on Sunday, Oct. 4, the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce will supply all materials, accessories, and instruction on how to make your very own harvest person. This event, which will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at Central Park off Route 7 in downtown Brandon (in the Methodist church if it’s raining), is a great way for people to be creative and let imaginations run wild. Event goers choose clothes, a hat, shoes, and embellishments to personalize their own “person.” Bring your own clothes or choose from an assortment provided by the chamber. Volunteers help with the finishing touches. The first “Harvest Person” per family is free of charge. After that, they are only $5 each. Besides making harvest people, the event includes hayrides and pumpkins provided by the Harvest Program, delicious grilled food prepared by the Lions Club, Brandon Republicans’ famous apple pies, and coffee, cider and doughnuts offered by St. Mary’s Church. ARTIST OPEN STUDIOS Oct. 3 and 4 is also the weekend when artists in the Brandon area will open their studios for people to see how they work. Studios are open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. The Brandon Artists Guild at 7 Center St. is a great place to start your tour. You can see (See Brandon, Page 19A)

A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015 — PAGE 19A

“HARVEST PEOPLE”

Brandon (Continued from Page 18A) what artwork the guild’s members have on display, then pick up local and state maps there and visit three local artists within walking distance of the gallery before traveling to artists further outside town. Participating local artists include mixedmedia artist Joan Curtis, whose sculptures, drawings and paintings can be described as “visionary”; Patty Sgrecci, whose kinetic sculpture and hanging mobiles are a wonder to behold; and Robin Kent, who makes wonderful, whimsical assemblages, in addition to paintings and sculpture. Look for the iconic bright yellow “Open Studio” signs posted along the roads to guide visitors to the studios.

OPEN STUDIO JOAN CURTIS

OPEN STUDIO ROBIN KENT

Jamaican Hymn Sing to be held Sept. 27 SHOREHAM — The annual Jamaican Hymn Sing will be held on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Shoreham Congregational Church, 28 School Road, Shoreham. Many of the Jamaicans who come to pick

apples in the area gather for a festive evening of worship through song. It is always a joyous occasion, and refreshments will be served. A free-will offering goes to benefit various mission work in Jamaica.

PAGE 20A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

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BRISTOL — The Bristol Recreation staff has been working at putting together a number of fall events and classes for the community, working to keep Bristol a hub of cultural life in Addison County. The last weekend of September will be a busy one in Bristol, with two events bringing visitors and area residents to downtown Bristol. The Bristol Harvest Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, on the green, and the Better L8 Than Never Car Show will be held the next day, Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Bristol Recreation Field. The annual Bristol Harvest Festival is co-hosted by the Addison County Chamber of Commerce and the Bristol Recreation Department. Activities are scheduled to begin on Saturday at 10 a.m. when the village green will come alive with 60-plus crafters and vendors, and bandstand entertainment. In addition, this year’s Tour de Farms bike ride is being held in conjunction with the Bristol Harvest Festival. Also that Saturday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Art on Main will hold a silent auction on the Bristol town green. Stop by during the Harvest Festival to bid on fine art and craft, local services and gift certificates, soft goods and the wares of talented local vendors. Proceeds further Art on Main’s mission to support the arts, local artists and the engagement of local creative communities. The Snake Mountain Cruisers and Addison County Chamber will co-host the 12th annual Better L8 Than Never Car Show on Sunday at the Bristol Recreation Field. The car show runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 200 vehicles are expected, with trophies to be awarded in multiple classes. Admission for spectators is free (donations are accepted for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta) and vehicle registration is only $15-20 per vehicle. Even after the Harvest Festival and car show, Bristol remains a great hub for leaf peeping and

DOWNTOWN BRISTOL generally getting to know the area. For instance, the Green Mountain Club will host a hike in Bristol on Saturday, Oct. 3; time and meeting place are yet to be announced. This will be a moderate but steep hike to the Bristol Ledges — two miles round trip, 960-foot ascent. Park at Bristol green and walk 10 minutes to the trailhead on Mountain Street. Hikers will be rewarded with great views of Bristol and the Champlain Valley. Bring water and snack. For more information call 802388-5407 or email ruthpenfield@gmail.com. Beyond Bristol but close by there are fun things to do in Lincoln and New Haven. The Ladies Aide Industria rummage sale in Lincoln will be held on Oct. 3 and 4, 8 a.m.-noon, at Burnham Hall. Sunday will feature good stuff for $2 per bag. And in New Haven, the local fire department will host its annual chicken barbecue at the firehouse on Route 17 on Sept. 26, 5-7 p.m. The New Haven Fire Department serves up a barbecued Misty Knoll half-chicken, potato salad, baked beans, chips, rolls and drinks for $12 per serving.

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A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015 — PAGE 21A

Tour de Farms blends biking and local foods BRISTOL — The 2015 Tour de Farms bike ride, which this year is centered around Bristol, is the longest route with the highest number of participating farms and restaurants in its eight-year history. Covering 37 miles of Addison County’s bucolic rolling farmlands, stopping at eight farm stands and showcasing over 25 local food producers and purveyors, this cycling farm tour has become one of our region’s iconic fall events. Addison County is Vermont’s primary agriculture region, and the Tour de Farms highlights the best of this year’s harvest. With local farm owners and chefs whipping up innovative, seasonal dishes such as Bar Antidote’s South African-inspired vegetarian Bunny Chow, a curried vegetable dish incorporating Last Resort’s organic vegetables, and Bobcat Café’s BBQ Brisket Chili featuring Smith Family Farm’s grass-fed beef, the Tour de Farms is a local food smorgasbord, without the guilt. It is also a unique opportunity to meet farmers who typically don’t have their doors open to the public, providing a glimpse into the dedicated work of bringing nutritious food to our local markets and home pantries. The Tour de Farms will launch out of Bristol on Saturday, Sept. 26, starting at Mount Abraham Union High School and ending at the Bristol Harvest Festival on the green. Day-of registration will be between 8:30-10:30 a.m. and the last farm will stop sampling at 4:15 p.m. Cyclists who have registered will bike from

TOUR DE FARMS farm to farm, stopping as they like to taste great local foods that were made on the farms or from area restaurants and chefs. Riders in the tour may taste 3-4 ounce samples from more than two dozen establishments. Among them are: Aqua ViTea Organic Kombucha, Boyer’s Orchard, Farmhouse Chocolates and Ice Cream, Last Resort Farm, Norris Berry Farm, Orb Weaver Farm and Tourterelle Inn and Restaurant. The tour is the main fundraiser for ACORN, the Addison County Relocalization Network,

which works to promote local food and agriculture in the southern Champlain Valley as well as Farm to School initiatives. This is the first year that one-quarter of the proceeds from advance registration will go to participating farms on the Tour. The 2015 tour runs through Bristol, New Haven, Monkton, Hinesburg and Starksboro and will showcase the wonderful diversity of farms and local foods in this lesser known part of Addison County. The terrain is hilly with a mix of paved and dirt roads so a mountain

bike or road bike with wide tires is recommended. A route map, a list of participating farms, and other tour information is available at: http://acornvt.org/portfolio/2015tour-defarms/. A shorter, alternate route (27 miles) is also available, but riders are requested to leave after 9:30 a.m. to ensure all farm stops will be open for their arrival! The on-site registration fee the day of the event is $55 for adults and $30 for kids. For questions about the tour, contact ACORN at info@acornvt.org or (802) 382-0401.

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PAGE 22A â€” A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

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A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015 — PAGE 23A

s t o p s t o h

Rokeby Museum,, Route 7, Ferrisburgh. Underground Railroad site and prominent Quaker family farm. www.rokeby.org. Open through Oct. 25. Kingsland Bay State Park,, Ferrisburgh. Day use, nature path. www.vtstateparks. com/htm/kingsland.htm. Open through Oct. 12. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Ferrisburgh. Traces the history of Lake Champlain, extensive indoor and outdoor exhibits, including boats. www.lcmm.org. Button Bay State Park, Ferrisburgh. Overnight camping, nature trails. www. vtstateparks.com/htm/buttonbay.htm. Open through Oct. 12. Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, Route 17, Addison. Home to migrating waterfowl, walking paths, and boat launches. www.vtfishandwildlife.com/wmaguide. cfm. Bixby Library, 258 Main St., Vergennes. Stained glass ceiling illuminates historic library and extensive collection of early arrowheads and other artifacts. www. bixbylibrary.org. Lord’s Prayer Rock, Bristol. In 1891, Joseph C. Greene paid a carver to engrave the Lord’s Prayer on a huge rock sitting next to what is today Route 116. It’s still an unusual roadside attraction. Snake Mountain. Parking lot on Mountain Road in Addison. Family-friendly hike to beautiful vistas of Champlain Valley and Adirondacks. Don’t leave valuables in the car. www.vtfishandwildlife.com/wmaguide.cfm. Mount Abraham trail access, Long Trail, Lincoln. Summit includes 360-degree panorama. www.greenmountainclub.org. University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm, Morgan Horse Farm Road, Weybridge. Beautiful grounds featuring a leading breeding program for state’s official animal. Tours daily. www.uvm.edu/morgan. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, 1 Park St., downtown Middlebury. Tour the Judd Harris House, ongoing exhibits and events. Fall show of Arthur Healy watercolors. www.henrysheldonmuseum.org. Vermont Folklife Center, 88 Main St., Middlebury. Rotating exhibits. www. vermontfolklifecenter.org. Middlebury College. Campus tours available at admissions office. Event listings available at arts center ticket office. www.middlebury.edu. Green Mountain National Forest Ranger Station, Route 7 South, Middlebury. Extensive material available about hiking and camping in the GMNF. www.fs.fed.us/ r9/gmfl. Trail Around Middlebury. The “TAM” is a 16-mile footpath that encircles Middlebury and links several hundred acres of town land, conserved properties and other local landmarks. www.maltvt.org/tam.html. Falls of Lana, Rattlesnake Cliffs, Silver Lake trails access, Salisbury-Leicester town line. www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/vermont.php. Branbury State Park, Salisbury. Day use and overnight camping, kid-friendly sandy beach and extensive grass lawn, boat rentals. www.vtstateparks.com/htm/branbury. htm. Open through Oct. 12. Spirit in Nature Path, Goshen Road, Ripton. Immerse yourself in nature by walking any of the 11 different paths. www.spiritinnature.com. DAR State Park & Chimney Point State Historic Site, Addison. Overnight camping in tent sites plus historic DAR John Strong Mansion Museum close to state park. www.vtstateparks.com/htm/dar.cfm. Chimney Point is the site of Native American, early French, and Revolutionary War-era settlement. Historic tavern was an important meeting place. Ongoing exhibits and tours. www.historicsites.vermont. gov/chimneypoint. Open through Oct. 12. Fort Ticonderoga(across ferry in New York). Preserved Revolutionary War fort with extensive interpretation, guides, re-enactors, gift shop and many events. www.fortticonderoga.org. Open through Nov. 1. Mount Independence State Historic Site, Orwell. A largely undisturbed Revolutionary War site. Visitors center with extensive exhibits and many interpretive trails. http://historicsites.vermont.gov/directory/mount_independence. Open through Oct. 12. Brandon Museum at the Stephen A. Douglas Birthplace, Route 7, Brandon. Town of Brandon museum located in historic birthplace of statesman Steven A. Douglas. Enjoy local history including architecture, industry, business, tourism, and immigration. http://brandon.org/the-brandon-museum. Brandon Artists Guild, 7 Center St., Brandon. Gallery shows work from a diverse group of more than 50 artists in various media. brandonartistsguild.org.

Back in time

A VINTAGE CADILLAC exits the Rattling Bridge into New Haven as fall leaves provide a splash of color last year.

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

Vermont lays claim to ‘World’s Best Foliage’ MONTPELIER — After years of watching other states attempt to position themselves as autumn destinations, Vermont has thrown down the gauntlet and declared itself the home of the World’s Best Foliage. “No one does foliage better than Vermont,” declared Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin. “Three-quarters of our state is forested, and we have the highest percentage of maple trees in the country. With our ﬂaming reds, blazing oranges and glowing yellows, we have the most vibrant fall colors in the world.” In previous years, states as far away as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona have claimed their fall season was as pretty as Vermont’s. “Clearly, we’re the bar,” said Megan Smith, Commissioner for the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. “Our fall advertising campaign will articulate the myriad reasons we have the World’s Best Foliage. Our hope is that people will be inspired to come see it for themselves.” Smith added that Vermont’s fall campaign isn’t just about bragging rights. Visitors spend $460 million during the foliage season, which represents about a quarter of overall visitor spending each year. Nearly 3.5 million people travel to Vermont in the fall to experience its

unique working landscape of bucolic villages, pastoral meadows, and forested hillsides. To help visitors plan their trip during “peak” season, the state’s official tourism website, www.VermontVacation. com, will offer weekly foliage reports, Best Bets for driving tours, and a foliage tracker. The website will rely on information from the state’s Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and its commissioner, Michael Snyder. Snyder is a well-regarded forester, and with over 30 years of professional experience, has earned the title of Vermont’s official Foliage Forecaster. “Predicting fall’s color changes is part science and part luck,” admitted Snyder. “We know the science of color change and the factors that influence it, but we don’t know exactly how it will unfold in any given year. The good news is, our foliage is like a day on the slopes — when it’s good, it’s great. And even when it’s a bit off, it’s still really good.” Snyder says Vermont’s abundant spring rain and summer sunshine have created the right conditions for a spectacular fall in 2015. To see the top reasons why Vermont has the World’s Best Foliage, go to www. VermontVacation.com/worldsbestfoliage.

PAGE 24A — A Special Publication of The Addison Independent, Fall, 2015

Addison County

Orchards

Pick-Your-Own & Farm Market Open 9 - 5 Daily 100+ Varieties of Ecologically Grown Apples

Bakery, Cider Mill & Cidery Freshly Baked Pies & Cider Donuts Sweet, Hard & Ice Ciders

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• Farmstand at the Orchard Sunday Afternoons in October

Honey • Maple Syrup • VT Cheese Garden Veggies • Jams & Jellies Cider Donuts • Baked Goods Fresh Pressed Cider • Garden Mums

1491 Route 30, Cornwall, VT www.windfallorchardvt.com

Open 7 days a week • 9:30 – 5:30 1823 Monkton Road 453-2676

DOUGLAS ORCHARDS & CIDER MILL Pick-Your-Own Apples

or enjoy ready-picked apples at our Farm Stand.

We’re open until November 25th! Macs • Empires • Cortlands • Honey Crisps Red and Golden Delicious • Macouns Northern Spy • Pumpkins • Maple Syrup Varieties available as they ripen

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