June 14, 2014
Peasant Market: A Middlebury tradition By Kathryn Flagg newmarketpress@ denpubs.com
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Firefighters SONGS FROM THE HEART quench fire at Vt Soap By Lou Varricchio lou@addison-eagle.com
MIDDLEBURY — the annual Middlebury Peasant Market will take place this year on Saturday, July 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Middlebury town green. A Middlebury tradition for decades, Peasant Market got its start as a “women’s fair” shortly after St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1827. The market took on its current name in the 1940s, and has been a local tradition ever since. All proceeds are donated to area nonprofits and service organizations. Last year’s market raised more than $24,000. Among the highlights this year is a raffle for an 18-footwooden peace canoe crafted by volunteer boat wrights from the St. Stephen’s congregation. Assembled in Ed McGuire’s hangar in New Haven, the canoe is crafted out of mahogany and pine plywood and painted with a crescent moon design by Ceil Murdoch. McGuire describes the wide, stable bateau as a “very stylish” boat, ideal for a family looking to spend time on the water. “It’s got a nice feel to it,” said McGuire. “Tipping this thing over will require some doing.” Raffle tickets will be on sale for $10 each at St. Stephen’s Church, the Bristol 4th of July celebration and at Peasant Market. The drawing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the day of the market. Meanwhile, organizers at St. Stephen’s are combing through donated goods that will be on sale at the market. Items for sale this year include high quality antiques, CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
MIDDLEBURY — A fire at the Vermont Soap Company’s soapworks, located on Exchange Street in Middlebury, broke out around 9:10 p.m. June 4. Vermont State Fire investigation officials told reporters that local firefighters were able to dampen the flames with little difficulty. The building was empty at the time the fire broke out. According to Det. Sgt. David Sutton of the Vermont State Police, “Damage was considered minimal due to the rapid response of the fire department. The investigation revealed the cause of the fire to be undetermined, but it is not considered suspicious.” Fire investigators from the Vermont State Police, as well as from the Vermont Division of Fire Safety, were requested shortly after the fire call for an origin and cause finding. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact Det. Sgt. Sutton at 802-773-9101 or the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program (VATAP) at 1-800-32-ARSON.
Vermonter Shannon Hawley will perfrom at Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury, June 14, at 9 p.m. Imagine Regina Spector and Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeff Mangum’s child with Tom Waits as a nanny—you’d get Shannon Hawley. The Burlington performer lures audiences in with her sweet voice, imagistic lyrics, and spitfire stage-presence. Her performances touch on pain and joy, and sometimes both at once. Photo provided
Hubbarton to honor 200th birthday of ‘Star Spangled Banner’ By Lou Varricchio lou@addison-eagle.com HUBBARDTON – On Saturday, June 14, the Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site in Hubbardton is celebrating Flag Day, as part of Vermont Days weekend, June 14-15, when admission to the Vermont State Historic Sites and day use State Parks is free. To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the “star-spangled banner,” our national anthem, site interpreter Carl Fuller will give a short illustrated program at 1 p.m on the history of the American flag. This will be followed by children’s flag activities, through 3 p.m. If you’re at the site at 4 p.m., lift your voices to sing the national anthem, as part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History celebration of this bicentennial. Americans around the world are encouraged to sing, wherever they are, at 4 p.m. “The Star-Spangled Banner” is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from “Defence of Fort M’Henry”, Flag Day celebrations at Hubbardton Battlefield will be held June 14-15. Admission is free.
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