Interested in recording the stories of your family and neighbors

in the wake of Hurricane Irene?

Not sure where to begin?
The Vermont Folklife Center is hosting an

INTERVIEWING

WORKSHOP

STOCKBRIDGE CENTRAL SCHOOL

ROUTE 107, STOCKBRIDGE, VT

THURSDAY, DEC 1ST

6 to 9 PM


The workshop is FREE and open to the public.

On Thursday, November 3, at 6:30 PM the Vermont Folklife Center will host a public
meeting at the Stockbridge Central School on VT Route 107 to brainstorm ideas for
documenting and sharing the personal and community stories of Hurricane Irene, its
aftermath, and the community response.

The purpose of this meeting is to bring together people from the White River Valley
who are interested in or who are already working on documentation projects about the
experience of Hurricane Irene. We envision this as an opportunity for community members
to draw inspiration from others by sharing their ideas, work and vision. Together we can
explore possibilities for collaboration — between towns, individuals, institutions and
community organizations.

As a public service the Vermont Folklife Center is available to partner with individuals and
community groups in the White River Valley to offer mentorship for people as they begin
projects of their own design.

Shortly after the hurricane we were contacted by a Stockbridge resident who was moved
to create a record for future generations of both the flood’s devastation and the acts of
heroism and community spirit that followed in its wake.

“At the Stockbridge Historical Society we only have one first-hand account of the legendary
1927 flood,” she told us. “One woman sat down and wrote about her experience as it
happened. It’s a remarkable story, but it’s only a small window into that time.”

“It’s the personal accounts that are going to make the Hurricane Irene experience come
alive and make it real as we move forward,” she said. Her thought was to begin capturing
these important stories on tape, but she wasn’t sure where to begin.

“We were glad she called,” notes VFC Executive Director, Brent Bjorkman. “Through
her contact and many others, we realized that we could offer our expertise in helping
communities initiate and execute locally-organized storytelling projects. In addition to
serving as a historical record, we strongly believe that these projects have the opportunity
to serve hard-hit communities in the present moment as they come together to rebuild.”

The Vermont Folklife Center has over 25 years of experience conducting and recording
interviews and then drawing on these materials to create media pieces that are shared with
a larger public audience. Stories take shape through radio broadcast, multimedia exhibits,
and such web-based media as audio slide shows or blog.

We routinely share these skills and expertise in schools around the state by partnering
with teachers, offering workshops, and mentoring student projects. This community
meeting is an important first step — an opportunity to find out what documentation work
is already underway, to hear about what stories need to be told, and to learn how we at the
Vermont Folklife Center can best help to facilitate projects as they unfold.

Everyone is welcome. We hope you will attend. For additional information contact

the Vermont Folklife Center by calling 802-388-4964 or e-mail Aylie Baker at
abaker@vermontfolklifecenter.org.

For residents of Pittsfield and the surrounding towns. Get answers to pressing questions about repair and rebuilding for energy efficiency, heath and safety including mold, moisture and insulation. There will be a presentation by a BPI (Building Performance Institute) certified contractor and additional experts will be on hand to answer questions about dealing with drying walls and basements, addressing mold, and improving building efficiency while rebuilding.

The program is free and plenty of information will be available about the various support programs available to flood-affected residents from Efficiency Vermont and Central Vermont Community Action Council.


Other Efficiency Vermont Irene Relief resources HERE, including free flood repair assessments.

Pittsfield Vermont Town Hall 7pm October 26th

Here are a few items from the Pittsfield Vermont News.  Subscribe at their web site www.pittsfieldvermontnews.com
Get Rid of Your Flood Damaged Stuff
There is a dumpster at the Yoga Center for use by anyone needing to get rid of flood debris - please do not leave items outside of the dumpster or bring your regular trash. Contact Angelique Lee at 746-9910 or by email if you have any questions about dumpster use or you need help getting your things to the dumpster. The Library is funding this program. As you may have heard, dumpsters are very expensive and we may need several dumpsters to take care of everyone. Your donations can be dropped off in the Local Flood Relief jars at the Pittstop or General Store. Please contact Angelique if you would like to be on a roster of volunteers to help those who need to get items to the dumpster. Thank you everyone!

OCTOBER 16 - PITTSFIELD Tweed River Clean Up - Save the Date
Angelique Lee and Jason Hayden are working with the White River Partnership to coordinate a Tweed River Clean Up. This is the very beginning of the river clean up process. More info will come shortly in a news bulletin, but for now the date is firm. We will need volunteers in trucks and ATVs who can haul debris from the pickers to the dumpsters. Contact Angelique Lee at 746-9910 or by email if you can help with any part of this project on the 16th: Feet on the ground picking out debris, ATV/truck drivers, making snack goodie bags for the volunteers. If you lost items in the flood that you want the clean up crew to keep an eye out for, please let us know.

Save the Date for an Upcoming Pittsfield Town Meeting
Scheduled for October 20th at 6pm at the church to discuss Irene recovery. A bulletin will be sent out with more details before the meeting.

Pittsfield Community Food Shelf Now Located at the Church
The church is hosting our local food shelf - it is filled with Irene relief donations from the Chittenden Volunteer Fire Department. It is open by appointment throughout the winter. Call Edna Gunter at 746-8698 to make an appointment.  

Vermont Legal Aid is coming to Pittsfield to offer a FREE legal clinic on Wednesday, October 5. Legal Aid has partnered with Legal Services Law Line, the Vermont Volunteer Lawyers Project, and the Vermont Bar Association to provide information, advocacy, and representation for individuals and families facing legal issues stemming from the disaster. Anyone with a flood-related legal issue, either from Pittsfield or neighboring towns, is encouraged to attend. Attorney Jessica Radbord will discuss the legal issues disaster victims are facing, and what sort of assistance may be available. Individuals and families needing greater assistance will be offered referrals to address their needs. If you are unable to attend, but have any legal concerns related to the flood, please call the Disaster Legal Assistance Hotline at 1-800-889-2047.

Issues to be addressed include:

· FEMA benefits, SBA Loans, disaster unemployment insurance, and other federal benefits available to disaster survivors

· Property insurance claims

· Home repair contracts and contractors, including price-gouging

· Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster

· Landlord-tenant problems

· Mortgage and foreclosure issues

Saturday September 17th 6pm Pittsfield Town Hall

Singer and researcher Linda Radtke joined by pianist Arthur Zorn bring Vermont history to life with engaging commentary about the songs found in the Vermont Historical Society's collection of sheet music.  Dressed in period costume, Ms. Radtke takes listeners through state history, using the songs Vermonters published in their communities.

Free, accessible to people with disabilities, and open to the public.

IMPORTANT TOWN MEETING SATURDAY 7:30 AM at the CHURCH

FEMA Information and Representatives will be on hand and...

USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) Information
A USDA Representative will explain this program, which offers help for eroded areas that will be vulnerable to future flooding that could cause personal property damage.

MAY 20 & 21 at 7pm and May 22 at 2pm PARAMOUNT THEATRE RUTLAND, BY RUTLAND YOUTH THEATRE, $8 students/seniors $10 adultswww.paramountvt.org or call (802) 775-0903
 
Presented by the Rutland Youth Theatre 

Tom Hanks' 1987 hit movie bursts onstage in this vibrant, funny and touching musical. When frustrated adolescent Josh Baskin wishes he were "big" and wakes up the next morning a 30-year-old man, he discovers there's much more to being an adult than he's bargained for. He learns we must all grow up at our own pace, in our own time. Original story is adapted to welcome all ages. Come join a cast of 50 local area talented actors and a youth orchestra this spring for some great fun and laughter!

Director - Saskia Hagen Groom
Musical Director - Jacob McLaughlin
Choregraphy - Zoë Marr