March 2009
Winter Issue
KICKING UP AND OFF by Karen Tolman was so pleased with the turnout last night (January 30). Nearly 150 local people gathered at the Town Hall to help kick off the celebration of the newly forming Nelson Community Project. Not only did I have a wonderful time, I had the opportunity to meet some people that I hadnāt met before. Meeting new p eo p le , a n d resp ectfully sh ar in g conversations and ideas with each other, is a large part of this projectās goals. And last night enhanced that process for many of us. The evening started with social exchanges and a sumptuous supper organized by Susan Hansel, Lumina Greenway and Val Vanmeier. Kathy Schillem at followed with a brief introduction to The Nelson Community Projectās plans going forward, and then Betsy Street emceed supporting comments from the crowd. The Nelson Community Project, subtitled M O V IN G IN STEP ā NELSONāS FUTURE IS CALLING, takes off on Nelsonās long history of square and contra dancing, which for generations has brought people together. Appropriately, the entertainment portion of the evening started with a simple contra dance, called by Lisa Sieverts, with accompanying music by Gordon Peery, Nat Hewitt and Liza Constable. The six lines of contra dancers gradually segued into nineteen small circling āblobsā that mysteriously grew, absorbing people from the sidelines, into
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one large blob that encircled the entire room. Squeezing into the space, we circled around the hall as best we could, getting our feet āMOVING IN STEPā! From this blob, a very, very short skit, (skillfully penned my none other than myself and masterfully directed by Warren Hammack!), played upon our interacting circles. Some of the twenty-nine scripted parts were easily embellished, as they surely needed to be, and lots of laughs (continued on page 5)
Volume 26, No.1 REMINDER ! Nelson School District Meeting is on Friday, March 6, 7:45 pm Polls open 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Nelson Town Meeting Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 pm Polls open 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
Nelsonās Ice Storm: Many a yard looked like this on Friday morning, December 12, 2008 (French-Williams house)