Flying Pig welcomes Katherine Paterson on Nov. 18

Flying Pig welcomes Katherine Paterson on Nov. 18

The Flying Pig Bookstore will welcome legendary author Katherine Paterson to celebrate the launch of her newest book for young people, My Brigadista Year, a historical novel set in Cuba in the 1960s. The event begins at 1 p.m. at Shelburne Town Hall, 5240 Shelburne Road, on Saturday, Nov. 18, and will include a short reading and conversation with Katherine Paterson who will be signing copies of her new book. The Flying Pig will also have a full selection of the author’s earlier titles for autographing.

Halloween fundraiser coming to town

Halloween fundraiser coming to town

The Mahana Magic Foundation’s Monster Bash will be held at The Old Lantern in Charlotte on Oct. 27 from 7 to 11 p.m. The nonprofit foundation supports children who are coping with a parent or loved one with cancer. Its mission is to empower them through compassionate meetings with a child-life specialist, confidence-building ropes courses and new art-therapy opportunities.

Celebrating past, present and future art at the Clemmons Family Farm

Celebrating past, present and future art at the Clemmons Family Farm

Many of you may remember the intriguing signs for Authentica African Art Imports located along Route 7, Ferry Road, and in front of the shop owned by Jack and Lydia Clemmons on Greenbush Road. Located in what was once an 18th century blacksmith shop, Authentica included an art gallery and an enthralling assortment of exotic treasures collected by the couple during their work and travels in Africa between the 1980s and early 2000s.

Rendering the Clemmons Family Farm vision

Rendering the Clemmons Family Farm vision

A year ago at a breakfast Alice Outwater hosted at Shelburne Farms, Lydia Clemmons (the younger) alerted me to her family’s plans to transform their farm into an African American Heritage and Multicultural Center here in Charlotte. I was impressed with their undertaking and drawn in by Lydia’s enthusiastic rendering of the Clemmons Family Farm vision. But it was meeting Jackson and Lydia (the elder) Clemmons and listening to their inspiring and often poignant stories about their lives in Charlotte as well as their family history back to the time of slavery that fully engaged my heart.

Lion King to roar into town

Lion King to roar into town

The first-ever Champlain Valley Union High School summer musical, The Lion King, will be performed Aug. 11–13. Carl Recchia is the choral director at CVU and musical director for this production. His son, Ben, a 2016 CVU grad, is directing. Benjamin directed two shows at Charlotte Central School, Peter Pan and Seussical. Mary Recchia is the costume designer/builder.

Festival of Fools celebrates its 10th anniversary

Festival of Fools celebrates its 10th anniversary

This year’s performance lineup includes New York’s Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, Pinky Special and Rob Torres; Canadians John Park, Mike Wood, The Kif-Kif Sisters, and The Matt Velvet & Charlie Show; Strong Woman Mama Lou (Austin, Texas), Brushy One-String (Jamaica), Nigel Blackstorm (England), Kenny Raskin (Newton, Mass.), Mark Hayward (Wisconsin), Snap Boogie (Boston), and The Hokum Bros. (Charlotte).