News from Up North
December 8th, 2013 · No Comments · Posted in News from Up North, rural life
We are preparing to get slammed with another blast of snow, sleet, freezing rain. But we are also celebrating the installation of new storm doors as temperatures are forecast to plunge near O degrees Fahrenheit. That’s minus 17.7 degrees Celsius for our European friends.
We are stockpiling firewood like mad. Never have we been so glad for a little extra insulation….
Meanwhile, preparations for Christmas are in full swing in these parts.
Congratulations to students at Miss Olivia’s British School of Ballet in Hoosick Falls who will be participating in the Albany Berkshire Ballet Company’s production of the Nutcracker for the 36th year. But please note: These are not the same girls who took part in the inaugural production.
All are invited to take part in the Santa Lucia Festival of Lights, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, in Arlington, Vermont. There will be Christmas trees, luminary lighting, community carol singing. The event is free to the public, but all are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food items for the Arlington Food Shelf.
The Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce is offering prizes for the three best-decorated homes and businesses in the village. Winners will be selected by an anonymous panel of judges. First place: a $75 gift certificate, good for purchases at any chamber member store.
There’s still time to get your holiday cookies ready for judging at the pop-up “holiday shop” in the Hoosick Falls armory today. There are ribbons for the best entries, and contestants can also sample the product.
The annual Festival of Trees is in full swing at the Georgi museum in Shushan. Again on Saturday the museum will showcase more than a dozen trees and holiday tree crafts. The Cambridge branch of the Women’s Farm & Garden club will again provide a live tree. And there will be music from a woodwind quintet, along with singing by the local ladies trio Earthen Vessels.
The West Hebron United Methodist Church will host a display of paper, wood and ceramic scenes of the nativity made by church members today from noon to 3 p.m.
In Cambridge, the Community Chorale Society presents its annual Christmas performance “Never a Brighter Star” at 3 p.m. at the United Presbyterian Church. A reception follows the performance.
And today at 2 p.m. in Salem, local news anchors again take part in a rollicking cabaret at the Fort Salem Theater. Besides having fine voices, each of the performers is an accomplished broadcast journalist. Reservations are required.
From our Strange but True department comes news of an airborne egg putting the town of Hoosick’s ambulance out of commission. Authorities report that an egg tossed from on oncoming vehicle struck with such force that it was driven through the driver’s side mirror. The ambulance was expected to be out of commission for one to two weeks pending delivery of a new mirror.
Finally, Rensselaer Country Dairy Princess Lindsey McMahon suggests readers celebrate the holiday season by making yogurt-coated granola bars “to give you plenty of energy in order to fulfill the phrase shop ’till you drop, minus the dropping part.”
Grease an 8-by-8-inch pan and set aside. Then stir together 1 cup Rice Krispies and 2 cups quick oats. Meanwhile, in a small sauce pan, melt together 1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
Pour melted butter mix into dry ingredients and stir until everything is moistened. Press the mixture evenly and firmly into the prepared pan and allow to cool at least 2 hours before cutting into bars. Meanwhile, place 2 cups yogurt in a mixing bowl and slowly stir in 4 cups confectioners sugar until smooth. Dip the granola bars into the yogurt, then place on a cookie sheet and cover with wax paper until they are dry.
Bon appetit!
This edition of News from Up North was culled from actual news reports in the Washington County Area and is presented here for the enjoyment and edification of our readers. As always, stay alert and please drive carefully.
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