Old-time music, also known as Appalachian string band music, is traditionally played on the fiddle, banjo, guitar and bass. Tunes are learned by ear and are ideal for community participation. The music is the sort that one would naturally hear at a square dance or a contra dance.

Acoustic musicians of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. The session is free and open to the public. Listeners are encouraged to attend as well.

The East Craftsbury old-time jam session is supported by the Allen Hilles Fund. The session occurs every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 6 - 8pm.

Join local artist Tule Fogg for this fun, collaborative painting experience! We will create giant circle paintings together over the course of three weeks, and each person will take home a piece of a painting at the end. You can come to just one or all three.

Class dates: Wednesdays, July 15, 22, 29 at 4pm

Space is limited so please sign up by emailing jwsimpsonmemorial@gmail.com

Play with clay to make a functional drinking vessel to bring home, use and treasure! Learn how to make a cup or mug using slabs, pinching and coils. We will then decorate our pots using colorful clay slips and surface design techniques such as sgraffito, wax resist, and transfers. The pots will then be glazed, fired, and returned to be used at your table. 

Monday, July 13, 4-6: Making your drinking vessel

Sunday, July 19, 4-6: Surface design

This class is free and open to all ages, but spaces are limited! To sign up, please email jwsimpsonmemorial@gmail.com

How To Play Guitar (Nicely) With Others : a beginner to intermediate class for adults with Ray Lewis

June 25 & July 9

IN TWO FREE CLASSES:

- review basic chords and keys

- learn to play efficiently

- explore rhythm & jam etiquette

Ray is a local musician with almost 50 years of guitar playing experience.

for questions: raylewisbanjo@gmail.com

Celebrate the legacy of "America’s favorite illustrator" in a 90-minute lecture exploring Norman Rockwell’s life, creative process, and impact on the national conscience.

Rockwell brought Americans together throughout the 20th Century with his virtuoso technique and affectionate interpretations of their country. Learn how his focus shifted from small town Americana to poignant civil rights and social justice illustrations for Look Magazine. Beneath his charismatic imagery lies a layer of compassionate reporting that gives his work gravitas.

This art talk will take place at the Craftsbury Community Care Center, and it is free and open to the public. It is the first in our Second Wednesday series, a collaboration between the Simpson Library and the Care Center to bring more humanities programming to East Craftsbury, that will feature a humanities presentation on the second Wednesday of each month at 2pm.

Pippa Drew is a central Vermont artist with an MA from Dartmouth College who specializes in Art Talks that explore the creative process.

Old-time music, also known as Appalachian string band music, is traditionally played on the fiddle, banjo, guitar and bass. Tunes are learned by ear and are ideal for community participation. The music is the sort that one would naturally hear at a square dance or a contra dance.

Acoustic musicians of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. The session is free and open to the public. Listeners are encouraged to attend as well.

The East Craftsbury old-time jam session is supported by the Allen Hilles Fund. The session occurs every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 6 - 8pm.

Four of Vermont’s beloved authors and illustrators, Reeve Lindbergh, Mary Azarian, Grace Worcester and Natalie Kinsey, are coming together in East Craftsbury for an informal conversation about their five favorite books. 

This is a fundraiser for the John Woodruff Simpson Memorial Library. Donations for the Library will be taken at the door.  There will also be a collection of items for the Hardwick Area Food Pantry. 

About the authors/illustrators:

Reeve Lindbergh--- Author of more than two dozen books for children and adults.   Works with libraries, Vermont Arts Council,  and other non-profit organizations.

Mary Azarian---Woodcut artist and children's book illustrator, she has illustrated more than 50 books, and has won the Caldecott Medal for children's book illustration.

Grace Worcester-----Director of Youth Services for Vermont Department of Libraries for 28 years, working with Vermont’s 183 public libraries, she served as an advocate for children's literacy.  Now she is an artist.

Natalie Kinsey----Author of more than 20 books for children.  Natalie works in schools to help students find their own family stories.

Music for Hard Times: Grief, Loss and Dying

The NEK Death Care Community, together with the John Woodruff Simpson Memorial Library, have put together a wonderful, free, welcoming community workshop about the power of music to hold us up during hard times in our lives. This workshop will include stories from community members about the power of music when a loved one is dying and a talk from a local chaplain about why music impacts our bodies, minds and spirits so profoundly. Farmsong, a local singing group that is available to sing at the bedside of loved ones, will share a few songs. Songleaders will teach simple songs to the group that can be especially useful in hard times. Participants will experience the power of music and come away with tools and resources for difficult times to carry forward.

This workshop is free and will take place at the East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church, 1773 East Craftsbury Road in Craftsbury, which is ADA accessible. Following the workshop, Heidi Wilson will be leading a community seasonal sing down the road at the J.W. Simpson Memorial Library from 3:30-5:30pm.

How To Play Guitar (Nicely) With Others : a beginner to intermediate class for adults with Ray Lewis

June 25 & July 9

IN TWO FREE CLASSES:

- review basic chords and keys

- learn to play efficiently

- explore rhythm & jam etiquette

Ray is a local musician with almost 50 years of guitar playing experience.

for questions: raylewisbanjo@gmail.com

Stop by for a game of ping pong, try out the new fabulous gaming table designed and built by Fran Rowell, and have a slice! Never played tiddlywinks? Now’s your chance. Have a favorite game? Bring it along. This will be fun for all ages, and pizza for everyone. Vegetarian and gluten free options.

Old-time music, also known as Appalachian string band music, is traditionally played on the fiddle, banjo, guitar and bass. Tunes are learned by ear and are ideal for community participation. The music is the sort that one would naturally hear at a square dance or a contra dance.

Acoustic musicians of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. The session is free and open to the public. Listeners are encouraged to attend as well.

The East Craftsbury old-time jam session is supported by the Allen Hilles Fund. The session occurs every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 6 - 8pm.

The theme of this community floral arranging workshop is community and celebration of spring!

Come create with flowers in a calm environment, each participant will make 2 floral jars one to keep and one to give.

Fresh flowers and local branches, materials provided. 

Free, all ages welcome!

At the Craftsbury Community Care Center, 1784 East Craftsbury Road, Craftsbury, VT. Fully ADA accessible.

Old-time music, also known as Appalachian string band music, is traditionally played on the fiddle, banjo, guitar and bass. Tunes are learned by ear and are ideal for community participation. The music is the sort that one would naturally hear at a square dance or a contra dance.

Acoustic musicians of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. The session is free and open to the public. Listeners are encouraged to attend as well.

The East Craftsbury old-time jam session is supported by the Allen Hilles Fund. The session occurs every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 6 - 8pm.

For beginners and experienced knitters alike, you can learn how to knit, fine tune your skills, or finish that unfinished project with certified knitting instructor, Lise Roussell.

For beginners and experienced knitters alike, you can learn how to knit, fine tune your skills, or finish that unfinished project with certified knitting instructor, Lise Roussell.

It is time to clear more treasures out of the Library attic and make way for new books in the collection! From classics to contemporary books for all ages. There will also be a selection of ephemera- old maps, posters, historic brochures. This sale will have something for everyone.

Old-time music, also known as Appalachian string band music, is traditionally played on the fiddle, banjo, guitar and bass. Tunes are learned by ear and are ideal for community participation. The music is the sort that one would naturally hear at a square dance or a contra dance.

Acoustic musicians of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. The session is free and open to the public. Listeners are encouraged to attend as well.

The East Craftsbury old-time jam session is supported by the Allen Hilles Fund. The session occurs every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 6 - 8pm.

Bilingual (español/ingles) grupo de juego para niños de todas las edades. Este grupo incluirá cuentos, canciones, actividades, y juego libre en ambos español e inglés.

This group will include stories, songs, activities and free play in both Spanish and English. For kids of all ages. Led by Marger Maldonado. 

Acompáñanos a conversar de manera informal acerca de diferentes tópicos. Está no es una clase, todos los niveles son bienvenidos, con enfoque en mantener una conversación fluida en español. Guiado por Marger Maldonado.

Join us for an informal conversation on a range of topics. This is not a class, and all levels are welcome; the focus will be to keep the conversation in Spanish flowing.  Guided by Marger Maldonado. 

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, May 16, 6 to 10 pm Dave Rowell is hosting a benefit Barn Dance and Silent Auction at his Brassknocker Farm Barn in East Craftsbury. Funds raised at the event will go to support three local non-profit organizations: the Craftsbury Chamber Players, the Craftsbury Public Library, and the John Woodruff Simpson Memorial Library. 

This year’s dance features The Radio Rangers for great dance music, and a large silent auction. There will be delicious food for sale, and Blackbird Bistro is returning to provide the cash bar. Due to licensing and insurance restrictions BYOB is not allowed. 

Tickets to the Barn Dance are a suggested donation of $10- $20, children 10 years old and under free. Tickets can be bought in advance or at the door. You can purchase tickets in advance here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/old-fashioned-barn-dance-tickets-1983388181442?aff=oddtdtcreator

For beginners and experienced knitters alike, you can learn how to knit, fine tune your skills, or finish that unfinished project with certified knitting instructor, Lise Roussell.

Join us for our annual bird walk with Dave Brown. We will meet again this year at the Stoners’ woodlot at 495 Hanks Hill Road. Hanks Hill Road is accessed from Shadow Lake Road, just a short distance from the East Craftsbury Road. Bring binoculars, or you can borrow some from the library. Please note: terrain can be muddy and uneven.

For beginners and experienced knitters alike, you can learn how to knit, fine tune your skills, or finish that unfinished project with certified knitting instructor, Lise Roussell.

This month, the travel adventure book group accompanies Mark Twain on adventures in his book Roughing It, described by the author at the start: “This book is merely a personal narrative, and not a pretentious history or philosophical dissertation. It is a record of several years of variegated vagabondizing, and its object is rather to help the resting reader while away an idle hour than afflict him with metaphysics, or goad him with science.” Books available at the Simpson Library.

Old-time music, also known as Appalachian string band music, is traditionally played on the fiddle, banjo, guitar and bass. Tunes are learned by ear and are ideal for community participation. The music is the sort that one would naturally hear at a square dance or a contra dance.

Acoustic musicians of all ages and abilities are encouraged to attend. The session is free and open to the public. Listeners are encouraged to attend as well.

The East Craftsbury old-time jam session is supported by the Allen Hilles Fund. The session occurs every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 6 - 8pm.

Join cellist Fran Rowell for an afternoon of music and conversation for all ages at the Craftsbury Community Care Center. Fran grew up in East Craftsbury and has been a cellist with the Craftsbury Chamber Players for over 25 years. This program weaves together music and history from the earliest piece written for cello up to the present time. 

Bilingual (español/ingles) grupo de juego para niños de todas las edades. Este grupo incluirá cuentos, canciones, actividades, y juego libre en ambos español e inglés.

This group will include stories, songs, activities and free play in both Spanish and English. For kids of all ages. Led by Marger Maldonado. 

Acompáñanos a conversar de manera informal acerca de diferentes tópicos. Está no es una clase, todos los niveles son bienvenidos, con enfoque en mantener una conversación fluida en español. Guiado por Marger Maldonado.

Join us for an informal conversation on a range of topics. This is not a class, and all levels are welcome; the focus will be to keep the conversation in Spanish flowing.  Guided by Marger Maldonado. 

Andrew Wyeth: Beyond Realism a Lecture by Pippa Drew

Discover the haunting portraits and landscapes of Andrew Wyeth. Drawing from his deeply rooted life in Maine and Pennsylvania, Wyeth’s art transcends traditional realism to explore the complexities of human emotion and the natural world. Join local artist Pippa Drew to examine the legacy of this iconic American master.

Pippa Drew is a central Vermont artist with an MA from Dartmouth College who specializes in Art Talks that explore the creative process.

This art talk will take place at the Craftsbury Community Care Center. It is a collaboration between the Simpson Library and the Care Center, and is supported in part by a grant from the Pleasants Fund of the Greensboro United Church of Christ.