Circus Smirkus performers sit with former President George Bush Sr., right, and former First Lady Barbara Bush, August 2, 2010.(Circus Smirkus handout photo)

KENNEBUNKPORT, Me. – August 2, 2010 -  Circus-goers may expect calliope music, but at a Circus Smirkus performance here last night Hail to the Chief filled the Big Top as President George H.W. Bush and his wife entered the tent.

The invitation to the Bush family was extended last month by Circus Smirkus, the 23-year-old, award-winning, international youth circus based in Greensboro, Vt. Kids ages 11 to 18 are stars, on high wire and trapeze, as jugglers, clowns and acrobats.

“It was amazing,” said a smiling,15-year-old Noah Nielsen of Montpelier, VT, who was part of a diabolo juggling act. “It made us realize that what we do is really important, to have a president and his wife in the audience.”

“It was incredible — just a joy and an honor to have them here,” said 18-year-old juggler Aaron Dewitt of Buckfield, ME. Aerialist Daniel Sullivan’s family, from Denver, CO, was seeing the show for the first time. “To have my family, and President Bush in the audience at the same time . . . it was incredible, an adrenaline rush,” said the 17-year-old performer.

Each summer, Circus Smirkus travels the Northeast with its Big Top Tour. This summer, the troupe is performing 70 shows in 16 cities and towns in a seven-week period. It is the only traveling youth circus in the nation to tour under canvas (that is, with its own big top tent).

This marks the fifth year that the circus has performed in Kennebunkport, sponsored by the Kennebunkport Consolidated School Parent-Teacher Association. According to Jeni Kingston, a volunteer active with the PTA, the group has raised $75,000 by presenting Circus Smirkus, and has used the funds for many projects at the elementary school including extensive renovations to the gymnasium/auditorium, field trips, artist-in-residency programs, visiting authors and more.

Mr. and Mrs. Bush appeared to thoroughly enjoy the show, posing with performers and crew for photos at intermission. When the two-man Smirkus band — composer Tristan Moore and percussionist Ryan Gray hammered out Hail to the Chief from their perch high above the ring as Mr. Bush entered, the former president smiled with apparent delight and the audience rose to its feet, applauding. Mr. and Mrs. Bush beamed and clapped as the young Smirkus troupers performed as jugglers, clowns and acrobats. “We’ll be back,” said President Bush as he left the tent.
Circus Smirkus Executive Director Ed LeClair said he was thrilled. Smirkus has been honored to host a number of well-known visitors over the years, he said, citing guests like chef Julia Child, actor Michael J. Fox and renowned mime Marcel Marceau. But a presidential visit is an honor like no other.

Circus Smirkus finishes the 2010 Big Top Tour with additional shows in Kennebunkport today (Aug. 3), in Freeport, ME (Aug 5 & 6), Revere, MA (Aug. 8 & 9), Montpelier, VT (Aug 11 & 12) and Greensboro, VT (August 14 & 15). Tickets and information at 1-877-SMIRKUS (1-877-764-7587) and at www.smirkus.org

-Circus Smirkus press release

From 2p.m. to 4 p.m., Main Street and Merchants’ Row will overflow with chili  as more than 40 restaurants, caterers and amateurs from around the state participate in this hot event. The public will pick winners in 8 categories.

Passes for unlimited samples of chili will be available at the event or in advance at The Alpine Shop,American Flatbread, Forth ‘n Goal and Sweet Cecily.

The cost is$1/child under 12 or $2/adult. Water will be available for $1/bottle.

All proceeds will go to finance Better Middlebury Partnership events such as the Winter Carnival & Chili Contest, Spooktacular, and A Very Merry Middlebury.

In addition to the Chili contest, there will be snowshoe races and a sled dog demonstration on the town green at 2 PM. Also planned are: a fire-throwing exhibition on upper Main Street by the Flying Fists, a performance art group from Middlebury College, and an open house at the MiddleburyVolunteer Fire Department, located on Seymour Street, just off Main Street, from 2-4PM.

-Vermont Daily News report

Families with children under 7 years are welcome to catch the parade from the Little Jambalaya Viewing Zone, right in front of the FedEx/Kinko’s and the courthouse on the corner of Main St. and South Winooski.

There are many other great activities and music while waiting for the parade to begin on the Church Street Marketplace:

12pm-1pm: Gypsy-Swing Band Caravan of Thieves plays on the top block of Church St.

12pm: Registration for the King & Queen of Mardi Gras Costume Contest begins outside City Hall on the lower block of Church St. Winners get $500 EACH and will help lead off the Grand Parade with Alan Newman and Mayor Bob Kiss.

12pm-5pm: Magic Hat Mardi gras Headquarters open at the former Maplehurst Florist space on Church St for all your bead, mask and Mardi Gras needs. 

12pm-2:30pm: Concert poster artist Jim Pollock signs handmade Mardi Gras prints to benefit WRCC at the former Maplehurst Florist space on Church St.

12:30-1:30pm: Sambatucada warms up the crowd with their unique Afro-Brazillian beats in front of City Hall

1:30pm: The Mardi Gras Costume Contest concludes as Alan Newman crowns the King & Queen and hands over $500 to EACH of the winners in front of City Hall

2pm-2:30pm: Gypsy-Swing Band Caravan of Thieves plays on the top block of Church St.

2pm-2:30pm: Warms up with the crowd to the  unique Afro-Brazillian sound of Sambatucada in front of City Hall.

3pm: The Grand Parade  heads through downtown Burlington!

After the Parade: The Mardi Gras Parade Post-Party begins as soon as the last float has been filed away. Hit the purveyors of potables and foodstuffs around the Marketplace and fill up on New Orleans cuisine, Magic Hat beer and friendly folly with folks from all over the world.

For more information: http://www.magichat.net/mardigras2010/parade

-Vermont Daily News and Magic Hat information

Burlington, Vt. – January 30, 2010

 The showing will showcase work from first-time filmmakers to crews with National Geographic, including work  on extreme sporting in the Mont Blanc range by Guillaume Broust’s MedeoZ and Ed Stobart and Dominic Gill’s Take a Seat, which follows a tandem biker’s cycle from Alaska to South America.

-Vermont Daily News report

Pre-school students from the Learning Together Center at the Brook Street School in Barre, Vt., check out a display of butterflies at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture's booth at the Vermont Farm Show, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2010.(Vermont Daily News/Alden Pellett)

Barre, Vt. – January 26, 2010 – The Vermont Farm Show started off today at the Barre Civic Complex featuring exhibitors from across the state and country varying in topic  from farm supplies and equipment, to State Agriculture and Fish & Wildlife Departments, livestock breeders, dairy cooperatives, and restaurants, as well as agricultural exhibitors featuring Llama, Alpaca, and Emu farming.

Roland Hanchette, 68, of Strafford, Vt., says he’s been visiting almost every year since 1956. “It’s something to do in the middle of winter. As a hobby farmer, I used to sugar, so I like to come look at the equipment,” he said.
Brian Bailey of Barre, Vt., echoed the sentiment saying he came to drool over the equipment. Bailey said he took the day off to attend the opening day of the farm show.

Roger Albee, the Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, second-from-left, helps cut the ribbon for the Vermont Maple Foundation's new trailer at the Vermont Farm Show, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2010.(Vermont Daily News/Alden Pellett)

The 2009 Vermont Maple Festival’s Royal Couple John Landry and Queen Savanna Kittell-Mitchell attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony presenting the Vermont Maple Sugarmakers Association’s new mobile sugarhouse trailer today.

Hours:

• Tuesday, Jan. 26 – 9am-5pm
•  Wednesday, Jan. 27, 9am-7pm
•  Thursday, Jan. 28, 9am-4pm

Products contests will be held for: Home Products, Home Product Specialty, Honey, Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Apples, Eggs, Vegetables, Handspun Fibers, Silage, Hay, Maple Products, and Maple Syrup.

All Entries must have been produced in Vermont by resident farmers or homemakers, except for members in the VT-NH associations.

Entries  judged to be excellent in each class will receive the Rating of Excellent, $10.00 in cash and a ribbon. Christmas trees judged excellent will receive $12.00. The best products in each class will receive $10.00 award. The Outstanding Entry in each Category of Products will receive a special $50.00 “Award of Merit.”

-Vermont Daily News report

Vermont Winter Farmer's Markets. Bringing spring a little closer?

Middlebury Winter Farmers Market: 

Artisan baked goods and specialty foods, crafts for foodies seeking sustenance within the “eat-local” movement. Saturday, January 9, 9AM–1PM  – Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, Vt. No entry fee.

Rutland Winter Farmers Market:

Locally grown wintertime produce, handmade crafts, soaps, and more at what is fast becoming a weekly local Vermont tradition. Saturday, January 9, 10AM–2PM – Old Strand Theater, Rutland, Vt. No entry fee.

Shelburne Winter Farmers Market: 

About 25 vendors sell crafts, baked goods, fruits, flowers, fresh veggies, meat, and more. Saturday, January 9, 10AM–2PM – Shelburne Town Gym, Shelburne, Vt. No entry fee.

-Vermont Daily News report
 

Adults -$6, children and seniors – $4, under 5 free.

For more info – Vermont Fancy Felines

-Vermont Daily News report

Pat Palmer along with Jake and Jerry the Percheron draft horses give sleigh rides at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vt.(Vermont Daily News photo)

Shelburne, Vt. -  Join Pat Palmer of Thornapple Farm and his team of Percheron draft horses for a winter evening of star gazing.  Put on your woolies and brave the winter for one of these half hour rides, and don’t forget to bring a thermos with a warm beverage.

Monday, December 21,
Saturday, December 26
Wednesday, December 30
Times:  6:00 pm, 6:45 pm, 7:30 pm

FEE:  Members: $12/adult, $7/child age 3-13; Nonmembers: $15/adult, $10/child age 3-13; children under 3 are free.  All rides weather permitting. Reservations required: 802-985-8686

-Vermont Daily News report

Santa Claus  usually puts in an appearance and then heads on to the Little Theater where he greets the children at the magical “Christmas Visions”.  Troupes of singers parade the streets, and the village arts council, The YOH Players, offers entertainment at the Wassail Feast hosted by the Woodstock Inn & Resort Friday night. Pentangle offers a historic house tour of 5 or so of Woodstock’s notable historic homes. In the evenings, talented professionals guide local actors in a Christmas musical at the Town Hall.

Stores along Main Street often stay open late and visitors enjoy a stroll down the holiday-livened sidewalks of the classic New England avenue.

 For more info:Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend

-Vermont Daily News report

The event runs from Friday, Dec 4th through Sunday December 6th, at the Champlain Valley Exposition, Route 15/Pearl Street, Essex Junction, Vermont.  The new & modern facility has unlimited free parking, is on a bus line and is handicapped-accessible.

Hours:Friday, December 4 – 5pm to 8pm
Saturday, December 5 – 10am to 6pm
Sunday, December 6 – 10am to 5pm

Admission is good for the entire weekend!
$6 at the door
$3 children 6-12 years old; seniors(65+)
$15 family pass
children under 6 FREE

-Vermont Daily News report