FVCT Auditions January 10

Every child who lives in Falls Village or attends the Lee H. Kellogg School is invited to audition for the Falls Village Children's Theatre's spring musical, Alice in Wonderland, at 2 PM on January 10 at the Senior Center.

Every child should bring a piece of music if they want to sing with piano accompaniment, and every child should be prepared to sing, dance and act out lines in a scene. Every child who wants to be in the show will be given a part. There is no fee to participate, but children must make a commitment to attend rehearsals every weekend through the end of March.

There will be a mandatory 10-minute meeting for parents at 2 PM to sign release forms. Information: FVCT or 824-4303

A Great Guy

Yes, that is our own Guy Rovezzi featured in Rural Intelligence this week. And, yes, that is our Lanny Mitchell in Rural Intelligence, who is directing The Wiz in Sheffield the first weekend of January, with our very own Dominic Sanchez, Emma Cohn and Rebecca Rovezzi.

Children First!

Christmas is really for children, and the best gift you could give the children of Falls Village is a donation toward the Falls Village Children's Theater spring production of Alice in Wonderland. One of the hallmarks of the FVCT since its founding three years ago has been the spring musical which every child in Falls Village can participate in for free. The "No Child Left Behind" doctrine is the spirit of the spring musical (and though it was conceived for the kindergartners through 8th graders several Kellogg alums who are now in high school plan to participate again this year. Where else do you see five-year-olds and 16-year-olds dancing and singing together in a small-town play with professional production values?)

Making this possible requires that local residents and businesses support this fourth spring musical (continuing in the tradition of The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella and Annie.) If you can, be an angel and write a check to the FVCT (and mail it to 25 Deer Road, FV CT 06031) to make sure that the show can go on.

The House That Jason Built*

Our elfin town baker, Jason Young (*with a major assist from Santa Sharon Hamilton), has built a spectacular gingerbread house that his Sweet William's Bakery donated to the David M. Hunt Library. You can buy a chance at the Hunt Library ($2 a piece) to win this wonderful and totally edible house. Even if you don't win, the library does.

Tree Lighting & Town Holiday Party, Nov. 30

The annual town Christmas Tree Lighting and community Christmas party takes place this Sunday, November 30, at the Senior Center at 5 PM.

Follow the FVCT to Torrington

FVCT "Rocks" Housy This Weekend

The Falls Village Children’s Theater Company will present the musical School House Rock Live Jr, on November 15 at 7pm and November 16th at 2pm, in the HVRHS auditorium. Like the classic television series, Schoolhouse Rock Live! Junior is a hip, entertaining and educational treat that shows young people that learning can be as fun as you choose to make it. Tom, a school teacher nervous about his first day of teaching, tries to relax by watching TV. Suddenly, the Schoolhouse Rock bunch appear in his rec room and proceed to show him how to win his students over with imagination and music, through beloved Schoolhouse Rock songs that cover a variety of subjects: math, science, history and grammar.

Directed and Choreographed by Lanny Mitchell, this show is sure to please. It will be performed by 25 kids from all across the Northwest Corner and beyond. It will include the hit songs ““I’m Just a Bill”, “Great American Pot”, “Three is a Magic Number” and who could forget “Conjunction Junction”? Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. For more information please call (860) 824-4303.

Support Our Fire Department

Yes We CANaan!

Yes we did. Falls Village (aka the town of Canaan) overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama with 429 votes (68%), while John McCain got 189.
According to the Hartford Courant, 69% of supported Chris Murphy with 408 votes and 166 voted for Cappiello.

Scenes From A Scarecrow Contest

A highly arbitrary selection of entries in the second annual Scarecrow Contest sponsored by the Falls Village Community & Cultural Center and the Falls Village Children's Theater--especially arbitrary because I accidentally erased two dozen photos from my camera. (And thanks to Ed Herrington for donating the lumber for the crossbars.) If you click on an individual picture, you can see a slightly larger version of it.

RAIN DELAY: Scarecrow Contest Rescheduled for Sunday Oct 26

If you click on the poster you can make it bigger and easier to read. You can start the day with the Falls Village Day Care's Pancake Breakfast at the Senior Center and spend the afternoon judging scarecrows, dancing in the street and chowing down on chile and donuts.

Donate Your Leaves to Chubby Bunny

Give your fall leaves a second life at Chubby Bunny Farm. Tracy and Dan Hayhurst (above) are currently accepting all of our backyard fall foliage for their leaf drop at the farm. They'll mix your leaves with manure in the magical composting process which will give them a fantastic local source of nutrients (known in some circles as Black Gold) come springtime. Their fields, animals and veggies will thank you. Come any time. There are signs on Undermountain Rod leading you to the farm and0 also signs at the farm to show you where to drop off your leaves.

Calendar Dinner Dazzles

Not all the tables for Saturday Night's Falls Village Fire Department Calendar Dinner fundraiser were set early on Saturday morning when I stopped by, but here are pictures of those that were by, in order, Toymakers Cafe (July), the Falls Village Historical Society (May), Falls Village Day Care (November), the Falls Village Children's Theater (January), and the Sweet William's centerpiece, his new jumbo gingerbread man for Christmas.

The Scarecrow Contest Returns

It's not too late to register. Call 824-5961 to find out how to get a crossbar and hay.

Christo in Connecticut?

I thought these new orange road signs were some sort of conceptual art project that I hadn't heard about. Well, I was way off base. Yesterday, when I crossed the Amesville Bridge, I discovered that they are detour blazes for the Appalachian Trail, because the Route 7 bridge is now closed to all foot traffic.

A New Look at the Library

The David M. Hunt Library has a new sign at the corner of Main Street and Beebe Hill Road. In this photo by Mary Elling, Friends of the Library president, Laura Munson, stands by the new sign, which is a gift from the Friends Association. Karl Munson and Kneeland deserves thanks for digging, sawing, leveling, cementing, and "planting" the sign for the ages.

Words & Music Library Benefit at Music Mountain

Like the Memorial Day parade and 8th grade graduation, the Words & Music benefit for the Hunt Library that is held at Music Mountain each fall embodies the essence and goodness of small-town life. It's always a community-minded evening of unparalleled joy.
(Click on the poster to see a bigger version.)

Hunt Library Auction: Saturday, Sept 20

Every year for one night only, Falls Village becomes a shopping mecca, when the David M Hunt Library holds it annual cocktail party and silent and live auctions. There are more than a hundred great items for sale, and you can do some early holiday shopping or treat yourself to an extravagance without guilt since every penny raised goes to help operate the library, which is brilliantly (and frugallly) run by Cookie Kubarek and Erica Joncyk . Sharon Hamilton and Garth Kobol have been working overtime to make this auction enticing, elegant and entertaining. It's the best form of retail therapy.

Our neighbors have donated generously as have local businesses. The items up for bid include:
--Four pressed glass bowls from Gilmor Glass in Millerton
--One night's lodging and breakfast for two at the Wake Robin Inn in Lakeville
--Full-day use of a Pontoon boat on the Twin Lakes from O' Hara's Landing
--Luncheon for ten in Bunny Williams's conservatory and a personal garden tour
--Two hours of Joshua Stone playing the piano at your next party or special event
--Ten yards of topsoil from Steven Dean Excavating
--Gift certificates to Toymaker's Cafe, Irving Farm Coffeehouse, Sweet William's Bakery, Old Inn on the Green, Smokin BBQ, Red Lion Inn

Auction in the Village
September 20
5- 7 PM
$25 per person
Tickets:824•7424

Peddlers Flea Market, September 13

The Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society will hold its annual Peddlers Flea Market on Saturday, September 13, from 9 AM to 3 PM at the South Canaan Meetinghouse, Routes 7 & 63. The raindate is Sunday, September 14. Antiques, books, flea market items and food will be for sale. Vendor space is still available for $20 per space. For more information or to reserve a space, call 860-824-5546 or 860-824-8226.

Saturday Night Live: "Seussical Jr" at HVRHS

The Falls Village Children's Theater Summer Workshop presents "Seussical Jr" on Saturday night, August 23, at 7 PM. As always, you will be amazed how director Lanny Mitchell can pull together a show in just three weeks. As always, you will be awed by the passion and determination of the two dozen youngsters in this FVCT production. As always, admission is free but donations for the not-for-profit Falls Village Children's Theater Company are gratefully accepted.

Free Family Day at Music Mountain

On Saturday August 16 from 11 - 4, Music Mountain will be brimming with jugglers, dancers, mimes, puppeteers (including Mark Alexander's Mortal Beasts & Deities), story tellers, with music ranging from folk and country to rock. There will be continuous performances in Gordon Hall, including the Bergonzi Quartet's unique interpretation of Prokofiev’s, Peter and the Wolf, an engaging introduction to the orchestra for children of all ages, at 2 PM. No admission charge, free parking. Picnicking on the lawns. The Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department will be selling hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks and baked goods.

Swimming Lessons

The Falls Village Recreation Commission is offering swimming lessons through the Y at the new pool. Registration this week (until Aug. 10) for three, one-week sessions starting Aug 11, Aug 18, and Aug 25. The lessons are Monday thru Thursday from 10 to 11am. Please contact Northwest YMCA at 824-2790.

The FVCT "Little Kids" Perform Friday Night

The Falls Village Children's Theater Company Summer Theater Program presents, The Fuzzball Nobody, a musical with libretto and lyrics written by Joshua Stone and directed and choreographed by Lanny Mitchell. The story of Blueby, a bug on a journey to discover who he really is, is portrayed by children ages 4-9 who sing, act and dance through this wonderful adventure of bumblebees, centipedes, ants and all the creatures who live by the brook. This musical is a delight for kids and adults of all ages. August 1, 2008 at 6:30 pm. Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Warren Turnpike. Falls Village, CT. As always, admission is free but donations are greatly appreciated. For more info call 860-824-4303.

In Our Own Backyard

If you haven't been to Music Mountain recently, consider going this Saturday night at 6:30 when Betsy Howie's friend Joyce Lyons, a fabulous jazz artist, will sing from the American songbook. "I'll be there and would love to see some friendly faces," says Betsy. (And remember, children under 18 are admitted free when accompanied by a ticket holder.)

Everyone in the Pool!

The pool opened today as promised. If you don't know how to find it, the entrance is next to the transfer station on Route 63 (between Routes 126 & 7)

The Pool to Open on July 16

The word from the Rec Commission: Opening Day is Wednesday, July 16 at 11 AM.

The Children's Theater is Back!

If you've had FVCT withdrawal, you can cure that on Saturday night, July 12, at 7 PM at Housatonic Valley Regional High School

The story of Aladdin is set in Agrabah, City of Enchantment, where every beggar has a story and every camel has a tale! All the favorite characters are here in this stage adaptation of the Disney hit, including Aladdin, Jasmine, and of course, the Genie. This musical is filled with magic and mayhem and is certain to entertain an audience of all ages. The award-winning score includes “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me”.

Aladdin is presented by the children (age 10-16) in the first session of the Falls Village Children’s Theater Company’s summer theatre program. Not only do the children learn their lines, songs and dance routines, they also learn and practice the art of set and costume design.

As always, admission is always free but donations are gratefully accepted. For more information: call 824-4303.

Free Shakespeare!

Each year the Falls Village Children's Theatre is fortunate to be able to treat several children to a day of Shakespeare at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox. This year our program will be on August 9th. A bus will leave Kellogg School parking lot at approximately 11-ish and return approximately 7:30-ish. It is a wonderful day and the shows are unbelievable. Last year one five year old laughed so hard he fell off his seat (literally!) The final details have not been worked out but will include:
Arrival and a picnic lunch (packed by parents)
All will see Mad Pirates and the Mermaid,a spectacular show
Then the group will be split in two. Children entering 7th grade and older (NO exceptions) will see Othello on the main stage. Please review information about Othello to decide if its appropriate for your child.

Younger children will participate in interactive workshops with the Shakespeare actors and their education team. Go to Shakespeare.org for more information.

Admission to the theater and the programs that day are being donated by John Harney & Associates. The FVCT does ask that each child contribute a minimum of $5 for the bus.
Attendance is limited and is on a first come, first serve basis. Contact Denise Cohn before July 10.
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Look Familiar?

A new poster, 100 Doors in Falls Village, which, amazingly, originated as Sean Caiati's first grade "First 100 Days of School" project, is now for sale to benefit F.O.L.K.S. (Friends of Lee Kellogg School) for $10. You can even get it beautifully framed by Real Memories for $75. To purchase, contact Betsy Howie at 100Doors@comcast.net or go to Toymaker's Cafe between noon and 4 PM on Saturday and Sundays in July & August.

Click on the poster to see it bigger

A Few Good Men

At 6 PM on Sunday night, I drove over to look at the new pool and found Jim March and Tim Downs hard at work (when they could have been home having dinner with their families.) We should be thankful to them and all the other volunteers for their hard work trying to complete the pool project (which has to meet all sorts of health department and state requirements.) It's looking like it may still be ten more days before we'll be able to dive in . . .