Autumn Events & Happenings

Sept. 26 — Oct. 1 - Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival

Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet, and Groton

Week-long event hosted by six Northeast Kingdom towns. Local history, entertainment, photo ops, church suppers, crafts and tours in Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet, and Groton. Each has special historic and cultural background and the local volunteer hosts are pleasant and informative.

Info: www.nekchamber.com

Sept. 27 – Oct. 26 - Vermont Fall Foliage Sampler Tours

Manchester – Pick up is in front of Southern Vt. Signworks

Head off the beaten path to view the spectacular fall foliage in the Shires of Vermont. You will see color up close and in mountain-valley vistas. Tours are led by local guide and given in an 8-passenger tour vehicle. You will also explore many of the area’s most unique places and get a flavor of the real Vermont. This tour was awarded Editors’ Choice for Yankee Travel Magazine. Advance reservations necessary.

Info: (802)362-4997 – www.backroaddiscovery.com – [email protected]

Sept. 28 – 30 – The Manchester Fall Art and Craft Festival

Manchester – The Events Field at Riley Rink

Under Camelot tents, formerly at Hildene, now at the Events Field at Riley Rink, 180 artists and artisans display and sell creations. Craft demos, live music, a food court featuring local restaurants, and the Vermont Beer Cheese and Sausage Tent make it a fun way to spend a day.

Info: (802)362-2100 – www.craftproducers.com – [email protected]

Sept. 28 – Nov. 5 – Revolutionary War & Fall Foliage Tour

Manchester Center – tour visits sites from Manchester to Bennington

Your guide will be Dick Smith, author of bestseller book, The Revolutionary War in Bennington County. You will see, via an 8-passenger tour vehicle, more than 25 points of interest including over 15 sites on the National Register involving Ethan Allen, the Green Mountain Boys & the Battle of Bennington.

Info: (802) 362-4997 – www.backroaddiscovery.com – [email protected]

Sept. 29 – Brandon’s HarvestFest

Brandon – Brandon’s Central Park

Come make Harvest People (aka stick figures, scarecrows, Leaf People…) with the experts. You can even take one home! Hay rides, apple pies, pumpkins, BBQ, Brandon Town Band.

Info: (802) 247-6401 – www.brandon.org – [email protected]

Sept. 29 &30 – 9th Annual Vermont Fine Furniture & Woodworking Festival

Woodstock – Union Arena

Watch traditional methods of woodworking, purchase products made from our forests and see for yourself why Vt. woodworkers are rated second to none. From bowls to beds, from mission to modern, there is something for everyone. Entries from the Vt. Woodworking Design Competition will be judged & exhibited. Explore the forest at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park with our free shuttle. Food, music, & kids activities. A Vt. Chamber Top Ten Fall Event!

Info: 802-747-7900 – www.vermontwood.com – [email protected]

Archaeology Weekend

Vergennes – Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Meet archaeologists and share hands-on presentations about shipwrecks, nautical archaeology, and the story of the Vergennes shipyard where the fleet was built that saved America in 1814. Event admission included with regular museum admission, Free admission for Children 5 and under as well as LCMM members.

Info: 802-475-2022 – lcmm.org/ – [email protected]

PUMPKIN & APPLE CELEBRATION

Woodstock – Billings Farm & Museum, Route 12N & River Road

Hands-on activities and educational programs highlight these two versatile fall crops and their historical importance in the winter diets of both animals and people.

Programs and activities include apple tasting, cider pressing, pumpkin bowling, apples-on-a-string, making pumpkin and apple ice cream, cooking apple butter in the farmhouse, apple races, and horse-drawn wagon rides.

Info: 802-457-2355 – www.billingsfarm.org

Wednesday, Oct. 3 – Richmond Congregational Church Chicken Pie Supper

Richmond

This traditional supper has been held for the last 64 years to celebrate the fall harvest and foliage season. The fare features chicken pie, mashed potatoes, squash, and cole slaw topped off with apple or pumpkin pie. 140 guests are seated at each of four different seatings. Reservations are required.

Info: 802-434-2516 – www.rccucc.org

Oct. 5 – 7 – The Stowe Foliage Arts Festival

Stowe – Stowe Events Field

180 artists and artisans, live music, craft demos, fabulous food, and the Vermont Craft Beer Cheese and Sausage Tent.

Info: 802-253-7321 – www.craftproducers.com – [email protected]

Weston Antiques Show

Weston, Weston Play House

Featuring renowned dealers from across the U.S. with American and English furniture, accessories, Americana, folk art, silver, samplers, paintings, oriental rugs, jewelry and more. Price: $8, includes readmission. Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

For for more infomation: (802) 824-5307 – [email protected]

Oct. 6 – Discover Food & Wine at Smugglers’ Notch

Smugglers’ Notch Resort

Specialty foods from cheeses to chocolate to coffee and more. Wine tastings feature domestic and international wines, plus a special selection from Vermont vineyards. Mingle with enthusiastic food and wine experts while savoring their products in a beautiful mountain setting.

Info: 800-451-8752 – www.smuggs.com/pages/fall/promotions/columbus-day.php – [email protected]

Oct. 6 – 7 – 51st Annual Fall Foliage Art in the Park

Rutland – Main Street Park

The Chaffee Art Center invites you to their 51st Annual Art in the Park Fine Art and Craft Festivals, featuring the work of over 60 fine artists and crafts people. Handcrafted woodenware, clothing, pottery, jewelry, glass and more. Enjoy food and music while you shop. Convenient location at the Main Street Park at the junction of RT. 4 & 7. Free admission, donations benefit the Chaffee Art Center.

Info: 802-775-0356 – www.chaffeeartcenter.org – [email protected]

Harvest Weekend at Billings Farm & Museum

Woodstock – Billings Farm & Museum

A traditional celebration of the harvest featuring a husking bee and farm harvest activities including cider pressing, shelling corn, putting food by, and threshing grain. Enjoy hot spiced cider and homemade doughnuts.

Info: 802-457-2355 – www.billingsfarm.org – [email protected]

Fall Open Studio Weekend 2012

Statewide in over 150 locations

Most Vermont craftspeople work in studios located in or close to their residences. These are places of production and inspiration located in downtowns as well as at the ends of dirt roads. Wherever their locations, they are exciting places to visit because they reflect the dynamic yet organized process that is used to produce the finished work of art.

Info: 802-223-3380 – www.vermontcrafts.com – [email protected]

Oct. 7 – The Giant Pumpkin Regatta & Festival

Burlington – Waterfront

Gutted giant pumpkins are raced on Lake Champlain to benefit the PILOT youth leadership program. The festival includes vendors serving up food favorites, a Vermont craft “patch,” kids’ activities, contests, and more. This year’s event is from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. with races beginning at noon. More info can be found at www.LLLvt.org/pumpkin.

Info: 802-951-8845 – www.llvt.org/pumpkin.

Fall Dog Fest on Dog Mountain

St. Johnsbury – The Stephen Huneck Gallery, Dog Mountain

Bring your friends to the 12th Annual Fall Dog Fest on Dog Mountain. The event is free to all dogs and their families. Food, music, contests and more. There are ponds for the dogs to swim in and hiking paths for all to enjoy.

For more information: 800-449-2580 – www.gogmt.com

Excursions Off the Beaten Track

In the warmer seasons, Brown offers tours on about 160 miles of trails, logging roads and very rural back roads. (Photo courtesy of NEK Adventures)

Discovering Vermont on ATV or Snowmobile

By Ron Maloney

Ask a visitor, and the allure of Vermont lies in a rural splendor so enticing that even those who experience it every day cannot take it for granted.

And one of this state’s most rural and unspoiled areas is comprised of the three counties — Essex, Caledonia and Orleans— that make up its storied Northeast Kingdom.

Phil and Maggie Brown and their St. Johnsbury-based business, NEK Adventures offer an opportunity to experience Vermont up close and personally on a four-wheeler ATV in the spring, summer and fall or on a snowmobile in the winter.

For years, the Browns have operated a successful business, All Around Rentals, that provides party and equipment rentals.

“We rent tables, chairs, tents, bounce houses and equipment — about 3,000 items from drills to heavy excavating equipment — and we work 70 to 100 hours a week doing that,” Phil Brown said. “We have a lot going on.”

The impetus to diversify their business came because the snowmobiles they rented often sat idle.

“The rental business keeps us very busy, but one thing we were looking for was something we knew that would be there all seasons,” said Brown, who doubles as instructor and adventure tour guide. “Snow machine rentals are really weather dependent and no one else does ATV tours.”

So a few years ago, Brown thought it might be a good idea to offer tours for visitors from Vermont’s more urban areas or out-of-state who wanted to get out in the country and really experience it — and not just look at it from a highway.

“I’m pretty busy, but the adventure tours are one of the things I most enjoy about my job,” Brown said. “We love the outdoors!”

And so do tourists and vacationers. What Brown does is provide an opportunity to experience the outdoors in a way that is made for someone with only limited time who’d like to cover some miles out in the backcountry.

“We know people who come up here on vacation and get to stay only a week or so are always looking for something else to do for maybe a day or half a day or something like that,” Brown explained. “We like the tourism industry, and there’s a pretty good niche here for something like this.”

In the warmer seasons, Brown offers tours on about 160 miles of trails, logging roads and very rural back roads in the Danville, Sheffield and Wheelock area. In the winter, the state has a 5,000 mile trail system that’s a veritable playground for snowmobiles and the people, like Brown, who ride them.

Snowmobiling and ATV riding aren’t just for the younger set, Brown said, although a lot of his business comes from families on vacation and couples who stay at a couple of local inns NEK Adventures offers packages with.

“The people we are mainly catering to are coming out here and vacationing with their families and are looking for something else to do for a day,” Brown said. “It’s a good opportunity for people of all ages. A number of our customers so far this season have been anywhere from 50 to 65 years of age — and older and younger.”

NEK Adventures offers two-hour, half-day and full day tours for individuals and small groups. Each trip begins with a short class in safety and the operation of whatever equipment will be used that day — Polaris ATVs in the summer or snowmobiles in winter.

The pace is a leisurely one with plenty of stops to see the wildlife, enjoy the scenic vistas or even stop at a local restaurant or food stand.

“About 95 percent of our people have never been on a snowmobile or ATV,” Brown said. “Vermont is just packed with beauty, and half of the adventure is just being on a snow machine or ATV. The sights, the feel and everything, it’s just an added bonus.”

Brown said he often kids with his customers that if they can deal with him, the rest of it just speaks for itself.

But the business has been building and the tours are gaining in popularity and are taking more and more of Brown’ attention. Soon, he said, he’ll have to hire extra guides.

“It’s a great way to see the country,” Brown said. “It’s unique in that you can get certain vantage points on a snowmobile or on an ATV that you can’t find in a car. It’s like ‘smellavision’ because you’re right out there, seeing the sights, hearing the sounds, experiencing the feels, the smell of the countryside and everything.”

NEK Adventures is located in St. Johnsbury, Vt. Phone: 802-748-7841; www.nekadventures.com

Vermont Birds: Summer Tweets

By Stephanie Choate

As the summer months roll around and the entire state turns a vibrant green, Vermont bird-watchers look for the return of familiar summer birds, along with a few that stay all year.

Erin Talmage, director of the Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington, relates a few distinctive birds to watch for.

Barred Owl. As evening falls and the fireflies come out, the occasional distant hooting call from the forest could be a young barred owl calling to its parents for food. This large owl can be seen all year throughout Vermont, and its distinctive call of “who cooks for you” has led some to call it the hoot owl.

Hermit Thrush. This spotted bird with a long, reddish tail is often seen and heard April through October, and occasionally in the winter. The hermit thrush was adopted as Vermont’s state bird in 1941, in part because legislators felt it represented native Vermonters, with its beautiful and tenacious song and its retiring and shy demeanor.

Veery. Though rarely seen, this thrush’s lovely song is often heard. The species shows up at the end of April or beginning of May and generally leaves at the end of September. The bird is said to be able to harmonize with itself.

Black-throated Green Warbler. These small songbirds arrive in Vermont in late April and leave in early October. They are one of a class of birds known as neo-tropical migrants, which come to Vermont during the summer to breed, and then return to Central and South America for the winter. For many birders, the influx of warblers in the spring is grounds for real excitement.

Baltimore Oriole. These medium-sized songbirds are a herald of spring in Vermont, with their beautiful, whistling song and bright orange and black coloring. They can be spotted on the highest tree branches, and, like hummingbirds, love fruit and nectar.

Black-capped Chickadee. These small, curious songbirds are common throughout the year and found almost everywhere in Vermont. They are often found on feeders, and are loved by many Vermonters. Their “chickadee-dee-dee” call is one of the easiest to recognize.

American Goldfinch. These yellow, black and white birds are also common year-round throughout the state and on feeders. In the spring and summer, the males lose their dull winter hues and become an electric yellow.

Double-crested Cormorant. These large black water birds flock to Lake Champlain between March and December. The somewhat gangly cormorants are often seen on docks or rocks, holding their wings spread wide to dry. They are experts at diving for fish, and their heavy bodies sit low in the water. Cormorants may be the state’s most debated bird—large populations have caused vegetation destruction and displacement of other birds.

Peregrine Falcon. These powerful predators were almost wiped out in the mid-20th century, but have now been removed from the state endangered list due to the hard work of private organizations, state agencies and many volunteers. Populations in Vermont continue to thrive.

Osprey. These large raptors, which can be seen gliding above bodies of water in the summer, were also recently removed from the state endangered list. They feed on fish, and their large nests made of sticks can be spotted on poles or dead trees over the water. They have white bellies, and from below, their outstretched wings are mostly white.

Common Loon. Like peregrine falcons and osprey, common loons were just removed from the state endangered list, and are now doing well in Vermont. Their haunting, eerie calls echo across quiet lakes and ponds during the summer months.

For more information about birds in Vermont, contact the Birds of Vermont Museum at 802-434-2167 or [email protected], or visit the Green Mountain Audubon Society website at www.greenmountainaudubon.org.

Approaching Summer Season, One Tulip at a Time

Late spring in Vermont is a feast for the senses: lilac bushes undulate in the breeze; crisp fiddleheads and tangy, sweet rhubarb come into season; cool mornings shift to short sleeve weather by midday and sunsets stretch into the late evening. Amidst all this renewal, visitors are already out exploring the robust line-up of events, open doors and unhurried roads. Mark your calendar, the VermontVacation.com Travel Planner  lists these featured events and many more.

June 15-17 • 33rd Annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival
The skies over Quechee and the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire will be filled with vibrantly colored hot air balloons ushering in the annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival. The longest continuously running hot air balloon festival in New England, the Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival is one of Yankee Magazine’s Top 20 Events of summer. Go aloft for an unforgettable view of a beautiful part of the world, www.quecheeballoonfestival.com.

June 16-17 • Vermont History Expo, Tunbridge fairgrounds
Designated by the Vermont Chamber as a Top 10 Ten Summer Event, the Vermont History Expo invites you to walk back in time at this country fair where more than 150 local historical societies, museums, and heritage organizations unite. Some exhibits commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and Vermont’s significant role in that war. In addition to learning opportunities, enjoy crafters, musicians and children’s games. Tunbridge Fairgrounds. View the full schedule at www.vermonthistory.org/expo.

June 21-24 • Wanderlust Vermont, Stratton
Wanderlust is a one-of-a-kind festival bringing together the world’s leading yoga teachers, top musical acts and DJs, renowned speakers, chefs and winemakers — all in a setting of breathtaking natural beauty. Come for fun in the sun and dancing under the stars; hiking on peaceful trails and mountainside yoga. Stratton, Vt. Wander at http://stratton.wanderlustfestival.com.

June 23 • Rockfire, An Elemental Experience, Websterville
This annual summer solstice event honors the immigrant communities that lived and worked at the granite quarries for more than a century, and embraces the recreation and beauty that the space offers today.  Enjoy more than 900 luminaries and 40 bonfires burning throughout the quarry while visitors walk the biking trails to see live performances. 59 Little John Rd., Websterville. www.rockfirevt.com.

June 23-24 • Native American Heritage Festival, Ferrisburgh
Discover the vibrant Native culture of the Champlain Valley Region as members of the Elnu and Missisquoi Abenaki tribes, the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk and Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation gather at Lake Champlain Maritime Museum for the annual celebration of the region’s Native American Heritage. Tribal members dressed in traditional garments will demonstrate singing, drumming, basket making, bead decoration, food preparation and other life skills. Sign up in advance for “Paddle to Prehistory” and travel by canoe to the site of an ancient Native American village with archaeologist Joanne Dennis.

June 22-24 • 14th Annual Stowe Wine & Food Classic at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe
A benefit for Copley Hospital and the Vermont Foodbank, the Stowe Wine and Food Classic is a one-of-a-kind food and wine experience, taking you from farm to table and vine to glass. Not only will you meet top winemakers and chefs, you will also get to know the farmers and producers these chefs count on for fresh ingredients. Enjoy more than 100 wines and an array of offerings from area restaurants, cheese makers and brewers, all in a casual and vibrant atmosphere. Learn more at www.trappfamily.com.

June 30 • Event in a Tent comes to Brattleboro
Music New England, a new presenting and performing arts organization, debuts its unique music festival model on the grounds of the Vermont Agricultural Business and Education Center in Brattleboro, (Famolare Farm.) The Event in A Tent fuses live music with other performing art genres and audience participation to create a singular entertainment experience under one 1,000-seat tent. Enjoy a family friendly atmosphere that encourages picnicking and socializing. Visit www.musicnewengland.org.

EXPO Line Dancing

The Largest Summer Event for Baby Boomers and Seniors in Vermont!

Free Admission!

Vermont Maturity Magazine is proud to present the 1st ANNUAL Central Vermont 50+EXPO on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel & Conference Center in beautiful Killington, Vermont from 9:30am-4pm!

The EXPO is open to all ages and offers a wide variety of exhibitors, art workshops, seminars, live entertainment, silent auction, wine tasting $5, microbrew tasting $5, great giveaways including tickets for two to see the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, plane tickets to Boston and much more!

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EXPO Line Dancing

Move, groove and have some fun!

Oscar Ballroom • 10:30 a.m.

Get your heart rate up and have some fun with line dancing.

Dance instructor Marilyn Sheldon and the Groovey Grannies will demonstrate a few dances, choreographed to a mix of different music, and invite participants to join in.

Line dancing has been around for centuries, and top hits and ‘50s favorites make it fresh and energized. There’s a style and pace to suit all ages and skill levels, and the dances are easy to learn. Plus, you don’t need a partner. It’s a fun, social way to get moving!

Sheldon teaches several dancing classes at the Godnick Center in Rutland, Vt. She taught physical education at Green Mountain College for decades, and has always loved dancing.

The dancing begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Oscar Ballroom.

EXPO Silent Auction

The Largest Summer Event for Baby Boomers and Seniors in Vermont!

Free Admission!

Vermont Maturity Magazine is proud to present the 1st ANNUAL Central Vermont 50+EXPO on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel & Conference Center in beautiful Killington, Vermont from 9:30am-4pm!

The EXPO is open to all ages and offers a wide variety of exhibitors, art workshops, seminars, live entertainment, silent auction, wine tasting $5, microbrew tasting $5, great giveaways including tickets for two to see the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, plane tickets to Boston and much more!

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EXPO Silent Auction

The Vermont Alzheimer’s Association will present a silent auction, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting their work.

After learning the latest in health, travel and wellness at the EXPO, get inspired at the Alzheimer’s Association, Vermont Chapter silent auction. From weekend getaways to Vermont products, the silent auction has everything you need to bring excitement to your summer.

Don’t miss out on all the silent auction has to offer! All proceeds will support statewide programs and services provided by the Alzheimer’s Association, Vermont Chapter. For more information on the Association, call 1-802-316-3839 or call the 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900.

The Silent Auction will begin at 9 a.m. and close promptly at 2 p.m.

Items will be available for pick-up at 3 p.m.

Auction Items include…	Value
Choices Restaurant gift certificate	$50
Pizza Jerks gift certificate	$50
Grist Mill gift certificate	$50
Sun-up Bakery gift certificate	$25
Pico Tickets -(6) 1-day lift tickets	$300
Northern Ski Works – (2) ski tunes	$90
Killington – Double Diamond Women’s Med Soft Shell Jacket	$100
Killington – Oakley Goggles – Jet Black – Unisex	$130
Killington – Smith – Optic Sunglasses – Unisex	$159
Accents and Images – Killington Black Diamond Tour T-shirt & Killington Hat	$40
Effie Dudley – Bangled Bracelet Set	$35
Summit Lodge – 2 nights lodging	$200

EXPO Art Workshops

The Largest Summer Event for Baby Boomers and Seniors in Vermont!

Free Admission!

Vermont Maturity Magazine is proud to present the 1st ANNUAL Central Vermont 50+EXPO on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel & Conference Center in beautiful Killington, Vermont from 9:30am-4pm!

The EXPO is open to all ages and offers a wide variety of exhibitors, art workshops, seminars, live entertainment, silent auction, wine tasting $5, microbrew tasting $5, great giveaways including tickets for two to see the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, plane tickets to Boston and much more!

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EXPO Art Workshops

Escapade Meeting Room

Bring some color and creativity to your day with a series of exciting art workshops presented by the Killington Arts Guild. Each workshop will last approximately 30 minutes, and will give participants a chance to experience a variety of art forms. Local artists and art lovers formed the Killington Arts Guild more than 15 years ago to promote art as an enriching part of everyday life. The artists will also have displays set up before and after the workshops.

10 a.m. Burnished Photography with Sally D. Curtis

Sally D. Curtis will demonstrate techniques using colored pencils to enhance photos.  Curtis is the president of the Killington Arts Guild, and works in several mediums. Traveling is a major passion, and her travels have led her to Europe, Hawaii, Australia, China, Costa Rica, and most recently, Chile. Burnished photography is an ideal art form for travelers, since it is a dry process and requires minimal equipment. After a quick demonstration of techniques, participants will have a chance to try burnishing their own photos.

11 a.m. Pastels with Alice Sciore

Graphic designer and fine artist Alice Sciore will hold a design workshop using pastels. Sciore is the vice president of the Killington Arts Guild and director of its art gallery. She is also involved with the Chaffee Art Center, the Vermont Watercolor Society and the National League of American Penn Women. Along with her design work, she paints in watercolors and oils, and also creates wood and clay sculptures.

12 p.m. Watercolors with Maurie Harrington

Killington-based artist Maurie Harrington will lead a watercolor workshop. Harrington draws inspiration from nature, from vibrant flowers to quiet snowy hillsides. Her work features impressionist styles created using a wet-into-wet technique and large brushes. Her artwork is displayed throughout New England, as well as several international galleries. Harrington will demonstrate composition planning, color mixing and methods of creating a dynamic painting.

1 p.m. Scherenschnitte with Edie Johnstone

Edie Johnstone presents a workshop on scherenschnitte, creating intricate design through paper cutting. Johnstone is a graduate of Brown University and Tyler School of Fine Arts, and is a former art teacher. Over the years, she has worked with a variety of media, but turned to scherenschnitte in 1985, creating her own designs for framed work and cards.

2 p.m. Oil painting with Nancy Nyerling Pisano

After years of teaching art in New Jersey, Nancy Nyerling Pisano enrolled in Parson’s School of Design to get back to creating art for herself. Most of her paintings reflect her love of the outdoors. Since moving to Vermont, she has been inspired by the state’s natural beauty, as well as local artists. Oil painting workshop participants will have a chance to paint designs on nostalgic maple sugaring sap buckets.

EXPO Seminars

The Largest Summer Event for Baby Boomers and Seniors in Vermont!

Free Admission!

Vermont Maturity Magazine is proud to present the 1st ANNUAL Central Vermont 50+EXPO on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel & Conference Center in beautiful Killington, Vermont from 9:30am-4pm!

The EXPO is open to all ages and offers a wide variety of exhibitors, art workshops, seminars, live entertainment, silent auction, wine tasting $5, microbrew tasting $5, great giveaways including tickets for two to see the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, plane tickets to Boston and much more!

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EXPO Seminars

Gateway Meeting Room

The Central Vermont 50+ EXPO is proud to offer a series of informative seminars specially designed for Vermonters age 50 and older. A variety of experts will present 45-minute seminars on subjects that impact our daily lives.

10 a.m. Phone Services for the hearing/speech-disabled

Vermont Relay representatives will provide an overview of this unique phone service, which allows individuals with hearing loss to utilize special CapTel phones to read what a caller is saying during a conversation. There will be a demonstration on how to use the phone, along with a discussion about who can benefit from it. Additional phone equipment will be available to review, as well as information on how qualified Vermonters can get certain phone equipment for free. This is a “must-see” seminar if you or a loved one is hard-of-hearing, deaf or speech-disabled and looking for an easier way to communicate with family and friends.

11 a.m. Health Coverage After Retirement

Are you turning 65 or retiring soon? Do you have questions about Medicare? Jill McDermott will lead BCBSVT’s presentation and provide general information about how Medicare Parts A & B work, as well as how to be sure you’re covered when Medicare requires deductibles and coinsurance or you exceed its maximums. She’ll also discuss Medicare Part D, a program through which the federal government teams up with private carriers to cover prescription drugs. After the presentation, Jill and other BCBSVT representatives will answer questions from the audience and have one-on-one discussions with people who have specific questions about their Medicare coverage needs and options.

12 p.m. Comparing Travel package Options

Vermont’s Green Mountain Tours owner Bill Greenwood will explain how to compare travel package options to help you determine your best travel value.

Presenter Bill Greenwood has been traveling for 52 years. He has been to 49 countries, all 50 states and across Canada. He is more than qualified to be your tour director.

1 p.m. Meeting the Needs of the Sandwich Generation

Baby boomers are rapidly becoming part of the ever-growing “Sandwich Generation,” with not only teenage or college-age children to care for, but also aging parents who require some level of support and care. This population is also faced with trying to plan for retirement in an economy likely to include higher inflation, taxation and volatility. Experienced financial consultant Michael Morera will outline the challenges and potential solutions facing the Sandwich Generation, including dealing with an unknown economy, caring for an aging parent, converting savings into a stable income and how grandparents can help with college.

2 p.m. Dating in Vermont

Dating expert and matchmaker Nicole LeClerc of Compatibles will present a seminar focusing on today’s world for mature daters. She will present common misconceptions, new approaches and an intense concentration on “realism” within dating for better connections. Movies, books and television commercials convince daters that the storybook fantasy is real romance. The pursuit of a romantic relationship should be fun and based in reality, not fantasy. This seminar will inform daters who are seeking a realistic approach to successful dating — what this means and how to get in the right mind-set for the ultimate result — your own real love story.

EXPO Wine & Microbrew Tasting

The Largest Summer Event for Baby Boomers and Seniors in Vermont!

Free Admission!

Vermont Maturity Magazine is proud to present the 1st ANNUAL Central Vermont 50+EXPO on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel & Conference Center in beautiful Killington, Vermont from 9:30am-4pm!

The EXPO is open to all ages and offers a wide variety of exhibitors, art workshops, seminars, live entertainment, silent auction, wine tasting $5, microbrew tasting $5, great giveaways including tickets for two to see the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, plane tickets to Boston and much more!

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2-3:30 P.M. – OSCAR BALLROOM

Don’t miss the Central Vermont 50+ EXPO’s exclusive wine and VT microbrew tastings. Tickets are limited—only 100 wine tastings and 200 microbrew tastings available—so arrive early!

Stop by the Vermont Maturity Booth (# 4) in the Oscar Ballroom to purchase tasting tickets, available for $5 each while supplies last.

Wine tasting – $5 fee

Try a selection of premium wines from a variety of celebrated vineyards:

• St. Francis Chardonnay (Sonoma, CA). A crisp Chardonnay with fresh flavors of butterscotch and pineapple from the traditional California vineyard. Perfect for a summer afternoon.

• Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling (Washington). A bold-flavored wine complemented by hints of sweet lime and peach.

• Graffigna Malbec (Argentina). Take a trip to South America with an intense, complex malbec. A velvety wine with berry aromas.

• St. Francis Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma, CA). A classic, rich red with subtle black currant flavors.

VT Microbrew Tasting – $5 fee

Sample some of Vermont’s most popular microbrews:

• Long Trail Blackberry Wheat (Bridgewater). Vermont’s quintessential summer beverage, a refreshing golden beer with just a hint of fruit.

• Long Trail Brewmaster Series Coffee Stout. Part of Long Trail’s limited-release specialty line, made with Vermont Coffee Company’s fair trade, organic coffee. A rich and satisfying gourmet stout.

• Switchback (Burlington). Vermont’s favorite draft-only amber ale, smooth and clean.

• Harpoon IPA (Windsor). Strong hoppy flavors and a clean finish shine through in Harpoon’s flagship beer.

Central Vermont 50+ EXPO — Schedule

Saturday, June 9, 2012 • 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Killington Grand Resort Hotel & Conference Center, Killington

Schedule at a Glance:

Live entertainment ~ Ovations at Killington

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. World-renowned Celtic group Gypsy Reel

1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. The Potluck Folk Singers

Dancing, wine & giveaways ~ Oscar Ballroom

10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Line dancing demonstration and lessons

2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Wine and Vermont microbrew tastings

9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sign up for giveaways at Booth 4

Silent Auction ~ Northstar Ballroom

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Silent auction to benefit the Alzheimer’s Assoc., Vermont Chapter

Art Workshops ~ Escapade event room

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Burnished photography with Sally D. Curtis

11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Pastels with Alice Sciore

12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Watercolors with Maurie Harrington

1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Scherenschnitte with Edie Johnstone

2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Oil painting with Nancy Nyerling  Pisano

Informative seminars ~ Gateway event room

10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Phone Services for the Hearing/Speech-disabled

11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Health Coverage After Retirement

12 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Comparing Travel Package Options

1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Meeting the Needs of the Sandwich Generation

2 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Dating in Vermont

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